Frank G. Barnes, Author at The Trivela Effect

Gabriel Magalhaes is planting the Ezri Konsa seed for Arsenal

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Gabriel Magalhaes is planting the Ezri Konsa seed for Arsenal

Arsenal didn't need to sign another defender, but they made Aston Villa weaker and signed a starter for the English national team in Ezri Konsa, who has proved to be quite useful as a regular starter with superstar man William Saliba injured until December. Gabriel Magalhaes, the best center back of the 2025/26 Premier League season when Arsenal won the title, praised Konsa heavily and planted the seed that Konsa can be a fixture for Arsenal's lineup one day. He said before the reunion game against his old club Lille in the Champions League, “Since he’s arrived at Arsenal, I think he’s adapted really quickly. He’s a top player and I really enjoy playing with him. We have the best centre-backs at Arsenal. We want to increase the level and we know he’s quality, and of course since he’s...

Bruno Fernandes is costing Manchester United in a familiar way

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Bruno Fernandes is costing Manchester United in a familiar way

Manchester United attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes has 3 goals and 2.5 key passes per game this season, but while those numbers look impressive, the reigning Premier League Player of the Season has rightfully been criticized by fans for his poor performances. The Red Devils are in the bottom half of the league table, and Fernandes is a big part of that. He is posting big numbers but hogging the ball at the expense of his team with a lot of negative plays that are making others look worse. And per WhoScored data, no outfield player in the Premier League has lost possession more so far this season than Bruno at 106. While possessions lost are not the worst thing for a playmaker if they are making big plays while taking these risks, Bruno only has one assist, most of his key passes ...

Steven Gerrard just gave Arsenal some serious bulletin board material

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Steven Gerrard just gave Arsenal some serious bulletin board material

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been making the rounds a lot as a pundit these days, and he is giving Arsenal some added motivation by saying he is already changing his pick to win the 2026/27 Premier League from last season's champions to their main title rivals Manchester City. Gerrard recently said, “Before a ball was kicked, I fancied Arsenal to just carry on, but now, what are we, six, seven games in…I’d put my money on Manchester City, having seen what I’ve seen yesterday. I’d put my money on City. They’re just so strong, and then you see the bench. 100% agree this City side look very good, but after last season you know that this Arsenal side have what it takes to go all the way. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds." Manchester City have won all of their six games this seas...

Michael Carrick unconvincingly said what Manchester United fans wanted to hear about Bruno Fernandes

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Michael Carrick unconvincingly said what Manchester United fans wanted to hear about Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United star attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes may be the reigning Premier League Player of the Season, but astute fans of the club are tired of him racking up stats at the expense of the team and don't want to see him as totally untouchable. Fernandes is in bad form despite solid key pass and goal numbers, and Man United fans watched the media grill Michael Carrick on the subject of Bruno while the Red Devils toil in the bottom half of the table. But while Carrick admitted that Bruno is not undroppable, he frustratingly did not make that clear and caged the language a bit by stating that nobody is undroppable in the team: "This is not on Bruno, this line, but nobody is guaranteed a place in the team. Don't take that as me talking on Bruno, just in general. There'...

Mikel Arteta pointed out exactly what Bukayo Saka needs to do to reach the next level

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Mikel Arteta pointed out exactly what Bukayo Saka needs to do to reach the next level

Arsenal superstar right winger Bukayo Saka is one of the best in the Premier League but many have noticed he isn't impacting games like he should in the sense of fulfilling his Ballon d'Or potential. Mikel Arteta told reporters ahead of the Arsenal Champions League fixture against Ligue 1's Lille that he would like to see Saka do more to get into scoring positions and take that responsibility on as the next step in his evolution. He said at the press conference, "That's where we need to get him. And if he misses the chance, so be it. At the end, the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals. And he's been getting into great positions. He's getting shots, he's getting one-touch finishes, tap-ins. And that's the kind of unpredictability that we have ...

Kobbie Mainoo told Clarence Seedorf exactly what Manchester United fans wanted to hear

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Kobbie Mainoo told Clarence Seedorf exactly what Manchester United fans wanted to hear

Kobbie Mainoo is one of the most talented young midfielders in the world and the future of Manchester United, and he is finally coming into his own again under Michael Carrick in 2026/27, just as Man United fans had hoped. The young England international recently sat down with AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf, who asked him what he can improve on. And Mainoo gave the exact answer United fans wanted to hear: Mainoo wants to be more creative and decisive. He said to Seedorf on Amazon Prime Video Sport, "I want to get better at the killer pass. The pass that leads to a goal, creating opportunities for my teammates and stuff, and being around it. "Now, I'm known as a connector, get the ball and move the ball and stuff. "I definitely want to decide games more with my passing, whether with...

Mikel Arteta has a different idea for Max Dowman in mind

13Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Mikel Arteta has a different idea for Max Dowman in mind

Max Dowman has mostly been playing as a No. 10 or left footed right winger who cuts inside for Arsenal, but in an effort to get their biggest young gem of them all more involved, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that it's time to start giving him minutes on the left wing. Arteta told reporters before the Champions League game against Lille, “We haven’t seen much of Max on the left, and I think especially the way we have evolved him and trained him in those two positions [centrally and on the right], probably at the moment is easier. But with the talent that he has, we need to throw him in that position at some point I think he will have the capacity to adapt to it.” Arsenal have nothing to lose by experimenting with Dowman on the left, even if it curtails his tantalizing goal scorin...

Arsenal fans get brutal Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi injury news

12Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Arsenal fans get brutal Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi injury news

Arsenal star defender Piero Hincapie and midfielder Martin Zubimendi both suffered injuries over the weekend in the 2-1 win over Leeds United, and according to a report from Hand of Arsenal, neither key rotational piece will be available against Lille in the Champions League. And both players could miss more time. More tests are going to be run on both Hincapie and Zubi to determine how long the talented duo will be out for the Gunners. Zubimendi and Hincapie suffered ankle injuries during the post game against the Peacocks. While Arsenal will have Bruno Guimaraes fully fit in the midfield to start next to Declan Rice to soften the injury to Zubi, it is still a tough blow to the depth. Meanwhile, Hincapie being out leaves a hole at left back, which will likely continue to be fille...

Jamie Carragher said what Liverpool fans have to admit about Ryan Gravenberch

12Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Jamie Carragher said what Liverpool fans have to admit about Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool got hosed by the refs after Ryan Gravenberch got booked a second time and sent, and the Reds were blown out 3-0 by Manchester City at Anfield from there on out. Gravenberch could do nothing about the blatantly terrible call from another horrendous Premier League referee, but, in truth, he hasn't been at his best level since the 2024/25 season when he was a Premier League Player of the Season candidate and Liverpool won the league. Still, Jamie Carragher, a Liverpool legend, knows just how important Gravenberch is, and he told the cold, hard truth about the Dutch international: Liverpool can't win without him. Carragher said after the game,"Ryan Gravenberch has to play in the Liverpool team. He has to. Now, he hasn't started the season really well with the new manager and...

Bruno Guimaraes just made Arsenal fans love him even more

12Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Bruno Guimaraes just made Arsenal fans love him even more

Bruno Guimaraes had himself a dream appearance off the bench against Leeds United, scoring the winning goal in the 70th minute for Arsenal while drawing three fouls in a dynamic, almost bubbly display in the midfield. And after the game, his words to the Arsenal faithful will only endear him to the fan base even more, “It feels unbelievable. In the last game against Brighton, we were not at the level that this shirt demands. Today, the mentality was bouncing back. This is my first official game at home, scoring an important goal, three important points - I’m very happy!” Arsenal fans will be elated to hear Bruno G. call the team out for how terrible they were in that 3-0 loss to Brighton, because that was indeed totally inexcusable from the defending champions. Bruno really elevat...