Frank G. Barnes, Author at The Trivela Effect

Viktor Gyokeres has made Arsenal realize what they need from Julian Alvarez

24Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Viktor Gyokeres has made Arsenal realize what they need from Julian Alvarez

Arsenal spent about 55 million pounds on Viktor Gyokeres last summer transfer window, and while it is hard to say that he met that price tag from Sporting CP in terms of pure performance on the pitch and certainly came nowhere near the 39 goals he scored in Liga Nos, he definitely was a success in the one most important way that the Gunners were looking at. Because look, maybe it had more to do with the other players, but Arsenal did win the league with Gyokeres at striker. And they did not win the league without him before that, even though they had talented center forwards like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. From an Arsenal perspective, the big change that Gyokeres brought was a profile in the box who could bring that level of threat and open up the field for the rest of the player...

Christos Tzolis success for Arsenal will come from a key element they never had

23Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Christos Tzolis success for Arsenal will come from a key element they never had

Arsenal actually had a decent attack with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka, and while it was the weak point of a side that won the Premier League, the attack was still good enough that it didn't hold the Gunners back from finally taking home the title. But Arsenal are now ten times better as an offense with Christos Tzolis, whose goal scoring and assist providing exploits at Club Brugge were clear enough to the Gunners at the time of his signing. Though he did not score or assist in the 3-0 opening win over Coventry, Tzolis had three key passes and two fouls drawn in a highly successful debut in which he was quite arguably the best player on the entire pitch. What Arsenal were missing and what Tzolis is providing is a directness f...

Arsenal have one last doubt before Riccardo Calafiori becomes the best in the world

23Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Arsenal have one last doubt before Riccardo Calafiori becomes the best in the world

Arsenal are so loaded with talent defensively that it's easy to forget the players besides David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, and William Saliba who were the heroes of the Premier League title run last season. But Arsenal have some more serious ballers in their ranks, and the one with the most upside is Italian international Riccardo Calafiori, who captured the attention of the world in 2023/24 under Thiago Motta when Bologna made a fairytale run to the Champions League - and then the following summer for Italy when he was the one positive of another national team disgrace. Calafiori was among the many Arsenal players who looked incredible in the 2026/27 Premier League season opener against newly promoted side Coventry, showing a different level of class with his touches, turns, and work...

Xabi Alonso is the last hope for Jamie Gittens

22Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Xabi Alonso is the last hope for Jamie Gittens

Jamie Gittens joined Chelsea in 2025 for a whopping 56 million euros after what was really only a great half season, and unlike Nicolas Jackson at Villarreal, he was really only great in the first half of the 2024/25 season for Borussia Dortmund up until Niko Kovac's arrival made BVB more defensive (to their benefit). But the England international showed enough explosiveness and dribbling quality to make the Blues invest heavily in him as a solution on the left wing, which has been a gaping hole for them. Gittens flopped miserably in his first season at Chelsea, and while an adjustment period was always going to be necessary for an especially raw player who did take a lot of time to come good at Dortmund in the first place, it was jarring to see how much he struggled. Despite many...

Martin Zubimendi already proved what was really behind his Arsenal struggles

22Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Martin Zubimendi already proved what was really behind his Arsenal struggles

Arsenal dominated Coventry 3-0 on Friday night to open the 2026/27 Premier League season, and it was no surprise to see how easily the reigning champions destroyed one of the newly promoted sides. Though, of course, Ipswich and Hull scored upset wins, and that actually makes what Arsenal did all the more impressive. Christos Tzolis stole the show with an insane game in his Arsenal debut, and he might be the next big thing in the Premier League. And the former next big thing, Martin Odegaard, was like a new signing again with how much better he looked on Matchday 1 than almost any point last season. But if you ask me - and by reading this article, you are essentially asking me - the biggest storyline wasn't those guys, but rather defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi. Zubi is going...

The 10 Best Defensive Midfielders in the Premier League Right Now, Ranked

21Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Rankings

The 10 Best Defensive Midfielders in the Premier League Right Now, Ranked

The Premier League is loaded with elite midfield talent, but the best defensive midfielders do far more than simply tackle, intercept and protect the back four. A modern No. 6 must be able to win the ball, resist pressure, progress possession and control matches. Some are pure destroyers, others are deep-lying playmakers, while the very best can dominate both sides of the game. With that in mind, these are the 10 best defensive midfielders in the Premier League right now, ranked based on their current level, consistency, defensive ability, technical quality and overall importance to their teams. 10. Mateus Fernandes — Tottenham The Dynamic Midfield All-Rounder One of the new breakout stars in the Premier League, Mateus Fernandes is a ball of energy with highly underrated techn...

What Makes Pedri So Good? Barcelona Star’s Playing Style, Position and Tactical Analysis

20Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

What Makes Pedri So Good? Barcelona Star’s Playing Style, Position and Tactical Analysis

Pedri has established himself as one of the most intelligent and technically gifted midfielders in world football, but what exactly makes the Barcelona star so effective? He may not always dominate the headlines with spectacular goals or assists, yet Pedri can influence a match in ways that are harder to measure. His positioning, awareness, ability to escape pressure and understanding of space allow him to control games from midfield and make Barcelona function at a higher level. In this tactical analysis, we'll break down Pedri's playing style, best position, biggest strengths, weaknesses and why he is so important to Barcelona. What Is Pedri's Playing Style? Pedri is a cerebral center midfielder who likes to play between the lines in the final third where he can playmake, oft...

The 25 Best Premier League Players Right Now, Ranked

20Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Rankings

The 25 Best Premier League Players Right Now, Ranked

The Premier League has no shortage of world-class talent, but ranking the division's very best players is about more than simply looking at reputation, trophies or what a player accomplished several years ago. This ranking focuses on who the best Premier League players are right now. Current form matters, but so do consistency, individual quality, importance to a team's success and the ability to influence matches at the highest level. Players are also judged on the standard they have established over the current period, rather than being ranked solely on a brief hot streak. From elite defenders and midfielders to some of the most devastating attackers in world football, these are the players setting the standard in England's top flight. Here are the 25 best Premier League players right...

The 25 Best Players in La Liga Right Now, Ranked

19Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

All-Time Lists

The 25 Best Players in La Liga Right Now, Ranked

La Liga has no shortage of superstars in 2026/27. From the three-headed monster at Real Madrid to Barcelona's seemingly endless collection of elite young talent, the league remains home to some of the most gifted footballers anywhere in the world. But this isn't a ranking of the most famous players, the players with the biggest transfer values, or the players with the best careers. This is about who the best players in La Liga are right now. Current ability matters most. So does recent form, consistency, importance to their team, and the simple question of how much of a difference they make when they're at their best. That means established legends still have their place, rising stars can force their way into the conversation, and some massive names have been left surprisingly low. Wit...

Ranking the 5 best offenses in the Premier League as the 2026/27 season approaches

16Aug

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Rankings

Ranking the 5 best offenses in the Premier League as the 2026/27 season approaches

Before the 2026/27 Premier League season officially begins, let's take a look at the best offenses in the league and rank them in order. 5. Liverpool Alexander Isak makes Liverpool very boom or bust, and Bradley Barcola is not yet confirmed as a new signing, with Cody Gakpo's own future on the left wing up in the air. But if Florian Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha play up to their potential surrounding new ace striker Hugo Ekitike and Isak stays healthy and effective, this Liverpool attack can be crazy good under Andoni Iraola with the level of talent they have in the midfield behind them, such as Dominik Szoboszlai. They are risky to trust, but the raw talent Liverpool has is difficult to deny. 4. Chelsea Chelsea's attack looks so much better on paper with Morgan Rogers replacing the woeful ...