Frank G. Barnes, Author at The Trivela Effect

Viktor Gyokeres is quietly staking the claim Arsenal were waiting for

7Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Viktor Gyokeres is quietly staking the claim Arsenal were waiting for

Even though Viktor Gyokeres won the Premier League in his first season at Arsenal and played a useful role as an anchor for the team, his actual performances and goal-scoring record after banging home 38 in the Primeira Liga was far from impressive. Gyokeres doesn't look like he's worth the money after scoring just 14 goals in 36 appearances last season, and he hasn't even started a single game for the Gunners in the 2026/27 season, with Mikel Arteta preferring Kai Havertz. But Havertz scores less than even a middling Gyokeres. And since it's just his second season at the club, there is still just that little bit of hope from Arsenal that the Swedish international can bust out once he figures this league out. Well, Gyokeres hasn't lost his scoring touch in the Nations League. In f...

Roy Keane made a point Arsenal fans hope Eberechi Eze takes to heart

7Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Roy Keane made a point Arsenal fans hope Eberechi Eze takes to heart

Although Eberechi Eze played a role in Arsenal winning the Premier League title in just his first season since joining from rivals Crystal Palace and made a name for himself in the North London Derby by embarrassing Tottenham Hotspur, the England international has yet to live up to his price tag. Eze has been a passenger in most games, and while there are moments of the sheer quality that made him a huge star for Palace, he has not shown the consistency and all-around game that merits a step up to a bigger team like the Gunners. After a couple of more disappointing displays for the Three Lions over the international break, Manchester United legend Roy Keane decided to take Eze to task, and while Arsenal fans generally don't care for what a Man United icon has to say about one of thei...

Myles Lewis-Skelly is beyond what Mikel Arteta expected for Arsenal

7Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Myles Lewis-Skelly is beyond what Mikel Arteta expected for Arsenal

So many managers dream of taking a young fullback prospect and turning them into a midfield general. Liverpool tried to do that with Trent Alexander-Arnold bu failed, and not everyone can make the transition like Joshua Kimmich did for Bayern Munich. But against the odds, Myles Lewis-Skelly has fully transitioned this season from one of England's most promising left back prospects into a legitimate standout in center midfield. Honestly, MLS, with his grit and athleticism, looks 10 times the player in midfield than he did on the outside of the defense. The young England international looks like an ideal Mikel Arteta scrapper in the defensive midfield with a pass completion percentage beyond 93, no dribbles completed allowed, and nearly two fouls drawn per game. Arsenal love having mid...

There is a clear problem with Arsenal selling Noni Madueke

6Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

There is a clear problem with Arsenal selling Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke is never, ever going to be a main starter for Arsenal, because the right wing job is locked down by Bukayo Saka, who, for all the haters want to say, is one of the best in the world in his position. But even though Madueke obviously hasn't started a game this season, the useful England international was quite useful indeed to Arsenal, too, last season, starting 16 games as they won the Premier League. There are, of course, big clubs around Europe interested in the former Chelsea man, as they want to bring the explosive right winger in to their teams as a new starter, since he'd be better than their options. Mike McGrath of The Telegraph has reported that European powers Atletico Madrid and Juventus have Noni high on their list, and there are other clubs expected to jo...

Morgan Rogers just showed how he can explode even more for Chelsea

6Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Morgan Rogers just showed how he can explode even more for Chelsea

Listen, Chelsea definitely raised more than a few eyebrows when they splurged a record 117 million pounds on Aston Villa's big gem Morgan Rogers, but so far, I don't see anyone questioning the money spent or the player they bought. Because Chelsea felt good about their right wing, attacking midfield, and striker situations, but they needed that world-class left winger. So far, Rogers has been a smash hit, scoring three goals for Chelsea through five games, and you can make a case that he's been their best attacking player this season, even on the same team as two top players like Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro. Well, over the international break, Rogers continued to boost his stock, and he finished off the three weeks with an assist for Ballon d'Or favorite Harry Kane in England's 3-0 wi...

Arsenal CM Mikel Merino just served notice to the rest of the Premier League

6Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Arsenal CM Mikel Merino just served notice to the rest of the Premier League

Mikel Merino isn't even a starter for Arsenal, but he's still one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. And in case you forgot about that, just watch how badly he cooked Croatia with this go-ahead goal for Spain in the Nations League in the 89th minute. I mean, that touch and finish with the left foot into the near post of the goal, smacking the postage stamp, is exactly what football is all about. And it's exactly what Merino is all about. The guy is maybe the most clutch goal-scoring midfield hero for both Spain and Arsenal, to the point where he can play the false nine or desperation striker role better than actual strikers in this league (here's to you, Big Dominic Solanke). Merino's finish here is a lovely message to Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and the rest of the ...

Projecting the Premier League top 5 heading into Matchday 6

6Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Projecting the Premier League top 5 heading into Matchday 6

It's time to start thinking about the Premier League again now that the September/October international break is wrapping up. After 5 Matchdays, it's time to project the teams that will make it to the Champions League from the English top flight next season by finishing in the top 5. And with the way the season has gone thus far and how poorly a few of the big clubs have been, it's not easy to predict who is Champions League bound for the 2027/28 campaign. 5. Manchester United Why they could be this high: We can't forget that Manchester United finished third in the Premier League last season and showed real improvement in terms of how they created chances and played with the ball under Michael Carrick, who was a great midfielder himself. When everyone is healthy, Man United are above ave...

The 5 Premier League players under the most pressure after the international break

6Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

The 5 Premier League players under the most pressure after the international break

It's time to talk Premier League again, as the season will return after the break in just a few days, starting with reigning champions Arsenal taking on surprise package Leeds United on Saturday. Although the break is a reset point for most, there are a handful of players who find themselves under immense pressure right now and are going to be squarely under the microscope when the action returns. Manchester United LW Marcus Rashford Marcus Rashford has started four games for Manchester United this season, and while he's had at least three key passes in three matches and has been pretty good on the ball with his dribbling, he really hasn't emerged as a clear option in the 11 for the Red Devils. And he wasn't even a player they wanted to keep for this season; they just had to take him bac...

5 Premier League teams we still don’t know what to make of

6Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

5 Premier League teams we still don’t know what to make of

The 2026/27 Premier League season is back in action again this weekend with Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City vs. Liverpool headlining a host of tantalizing matchups. But as we await the next games, let's take a look at five teams that we are all having a hard time figuring out just where they will end up in May when the season concludes. Chelsea Chelsea sit 10th in the Premier League table right now, and their defense looks like a mess. They have clearly missed Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park both defensively and even going forward in possession, and they have to be honest and say that losing Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City was a pivotal switch that does not bode well for their hopes of getting back to European football. The Blues have talent on t...

Premier League Grades for every Big 6 club heading into October after the international break

5Oct

By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments

Analysis

Premier League Grades for every Big 6 club heading into October after the international break

The 2026/27 Premier League season is back in action after the September/October international break, and now that the cobwebs are clearing and our minds are getting integrated back into thinking about club football, it's time to take a step back and grade how all the Big Six clubs have been doing so far this season. Arsenal Honestly, even though Arsenal are not in first place right now. I have been blown away by the job Mikel Arteta has done thus far, and I really like how the attack looks with Greek star Christos Tzolis out on the left as compared to Gabriel Martinelli. On paper, Tzolis is less dynamic, but I don't really think Martinelli was doing enough to take players on and stretch the pitch anyway. So that small drawback is nothing compared to the huge benefit of having a player wh...