Mikel Arteta has claimed he’s been ‘fighting with the Premier League‘ to make a significant rule change following Arsenal’s win against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

The English champions ran out comfortable winners as goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed a 3-0 victory at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The north Londoners were never in trouble after taking a first-minute lead, and look set to mount another title challenge.

Arteta had the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres to call upon from his substitute bench, while the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri didn’t even make the matchday squad.

Mikel Arteta Wants the Premier League to Make Change

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Despite the impressive squad depth displayed by the Gunners on Sunday afternoon, Arteta isn’t happy he has to leave some talented players out altogether. Martinelli, Jesus and Nwaneri have all been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

But Arteta explained that he would have liked to include the trio, as they all ‘deserve’ a place on the bench at least. “Really sad to not have their availability,” he said in his post-match press conference.

The Spanish coach claimed to have been fighting with lawmakers in the English top flight to allow more players in the matchday squad. Calling for a change to the current guidelines, which allow nine substitutes per team, he said:

It’s not the first time he’s mentioned the same regulation, as Arteta pleaded with the Premier League to increase matchday squads from 20 players to 23 in January.

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Martinelli has been linked with a move to Galatasaray, but the Brazilian winger confirmed he wasn’t interested in pursuing a move to Turkey earlier this week. Despite that stance, a transfer away from the Emirates doesn’t appear to be off the cards following his Community Shield snub.

Jesus, meanwhile, is behind Havertz and Gyokeres in the pecking order. The former Manchester City forward is among the top earners at the club, meaning a move away could suit all parties. Fabrizio Romano confirmed Nwaneri is set to leave Arsenal too, after spending part of last season on loan at Marseille.

Arsenal cruised to a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield and one of Mikel Arteta’s men put in a superb performance that will surely convince the higher-ups to keep him.

A dominant display from the Gunners saw them ease to victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Riccardo Calafiori gave the Premier League champions the lead in the very first minute with a tidy finish.

Kai Havertz added a second 27 minutes later, before Martin Odegaard came up with a moment of brilliance to make it three-nil in the 48th minute. Arteta’s side controlled proceedings and toyed with a lackluster City side playing their first competitive game since Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola.

As is often the case with the Community Shield, managers give opportunities to players not yet considered guaranteed starters before the season begins. Arteta and his bosses were reminded of just how talented one of their exit-linked stars is.

Arsenal 3-0 Man City: Lewis-Skelly Shut Down Exit Talk

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Arteta started new signing Bruno Guimaraes in a midfield three alongside Odegaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The latter’s future has been uncertain in recent weeks amid reports claiming he has been offered to Manchester United and Chelsea.

Lewis-Skelly had looked set to follow in Bukayo Saka’s footsteps and be the next superstar to emerge from the club’s Hale End academy. But he found game time hard to come by last season, with Arteta preferring Calafiori at left-back.

The 19-year-old is thought to want to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place in Arteta’s team. Judging from today’s showing, he is more than up for the fight, putting in a marvelous performance that makes the Gunners’ apparent stance over potentially selling him extremely confusing.

Lewis-Skelly, whom Declan Rice called ‘very special’, set up Calafiori for the opener, putting the Italian through on goal with a clever pass after fighting off pressure from defenders. That was just the start of a perfect response to rumors over a summer exit, showing his manager and the hierarchy why he should be going nowhere.

Midfield Myles is The Way Forward

Lewis-Skelly might not reclaim the left-back starting berth from Calafiori, but he should be considered for a starting role in Arteta’s midfield. His press resistance, along with his spatial awareness, is hugely effective, and he drifts into pockets before picking out a teammate, as he did assisting the opener.

The England international could shine in a midfield three alongside Guimaraes and Rice. All three possess different profiles that could make for a well-balanced unit.

Guimaraes operates more as the deep playmaker, controlling the tempo and using his creativity. Rice is the engine room, working box-to-box and helping on the defensive side aswell as making late runs into the box.

Jamie Carragher is one of many who can’t understand why Lewis-Skelly could be sold. He responded to his assist with a post on X:

There’s certainly a lot for Arsenal fans to like about their team’s performance in their win over City. Lewis-Skelly’s showing will have delighted them and potentially ensured his name is no longer mentioned in the rumour mill.

Naturally, having won 13 Premier League titles with Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson has managed a plethora of outstanding players.

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Wayne Rooney to Roy Keane, the Scotsman has overseen the careers of some of the best players to ever grace the game. While he is widely regarded as the greatest manager of all time, his success wouldn’t have been possible without possessing so many talented footballers.

Ferguson enjoyed a hugely successful stint at Aberdeen, as well as a fruitful spell at St. Mirren back in the 80s, but his most noteworthy tenure is obviously his illustrious 27-year reign at Old Trafford.

The Theatre of Dreams played host to an exceptional crop of players through multiple generations. With that said, here is the greatest XI of players who played under Sir Alex.

Goalkeeper and Defenders

In between the sticks, Peter Schmeichel narrowly pips Edwin van de Sar into the line-up. While both players were excellent, Schmeichel’s legacy as arguably the undisputed greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history means he edges the Dutchman. The Dane’s heroic shot-stopping led United to five Premier League titles, a Champions League, three FA Cups, a League Cup, four Community Shields and a UEFA Super Cup. Few goalkeepers come close regarding silverware amassed with one club.

At right-back, Gary Neville’s longevity and defensive solidity secure him a spot in this prestigious XI. While the likes of Antonio Valencia and Rafael took the torch from Neville and shone later in the Ferguson era, neither player got close to the level of the Englishman. He retired having only played for the Red Devils, making 602 appearances in the process.

Rio Ferdinand’s exceptional defensive abilities mean he cannot miss out. After signing from Leeds as an astute defender who had some deficiencies, he improved to become one of the best centre-backs in the game throughout his spell in Manchester. Many might argue that Ferdinand’s partner in crime, Nemanja Vidic, should be alongside him in this eleven, but it’s hard to look past Jaap Stam.

Unlike some of the others in this team, Stam didn’t spend the majority of his career at Old Trafford. He signed from PSV Eindhoven in 1998, led the Red Devils to a treble in his debut season, before leaving for Lazio in 2001, just three years later. In that time, his imperious defensive qualities established the Dutchman as one of the best centre-halves on the planet.

On the left-hand side of defence, some may argue for the magnificent and eccentric Patrice Evra, but the legendary Denis Irwin cannot be overlooked. Named as the third-best left-back in Premier League history behind only Ashley Cole and Andy Robertson, the Irishman had it all and was an indispensable figure in seven separate title-winning sides.

Midfielders

Forming the double pivot in Sir Alex’s dream team are Keane and Paul Scholes. Not only do both players merit their places based on their accomplishments and ability, but they actually formed an extremely functional partnership in real life for several years for United.

The two players had the perfect blend of attributes to create a world-class midfield. Keane brought the defensive nous, protecting the back four with his tough-tackling and exceptional ability to read the game. Meanwhile, Scholes was United’s playmaker for two decades, orchestrating Ferguson’s side’s build-up with his breathtaking passing.

Off the right, Ronaldo couldn’t be ignored. The Portuguese arrived as an 18-year-old prospect and developed into a global superstar under Sir Alex. Boasting electric pace, fancy step-overs and an eye for goal, the legendary manager honed Ronaldo’s skills so that he could become one of the greatest players of all time in his last few years at United, and for over a decade after that.

On the other flank, Ryan Giggs’ presence in this eleven was inevitable. While he developed into a central player in his latter years, for the majority of his career the Welshman was a marauding winger who played 941 games under Ferguson, scoring 168 goals and winning 13 Premier League titles in the process.

Forwards

Ferguson’s success ultimately derived from having several outstanding forwards who were elite at putting the ball in the back of the net. The likes of Robin van Persie, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Mark Hughes and Ruud Van Nistelrooy don’t make the cut, which highlights just how good the chosen two were.

Eric Cantona, United’s enigmatic figure in the 90s, spent five years in the north-west and produced countless moments of magic along the way. His technical quality and intelligence were on another level.

Rooney, among the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen, was United’s poster-boy during the glory years, breaking the club’s goalscoring record and winning five league titles in the process.

Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 16-08-26.