Rodri aims subtle dig at Cristiano Ronaldo as he wades in on Lionel Messi debate​

Mikel Arteta has challenged Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard to replicate the “unbelievable” chemistry of Barcelona‘s all-time great midfield of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

Ødegaard’s return from an ankle injury has sparked a dramatic upturn in Arsenal‘s form, winning three games in a week and scoring 13 goals with Saka at the heart of their best football.

Only Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah (18) has more Premier League goal involvements than Saka’s 15 so far this season.

Last season, Ødegaard passed the ball to Saka more times (322) than any other combination of non-defenders aside from Manchester City duo Mateo Kovačić and Rodri and created 40 chances in open play for each other.

Asked if he had ever seen a better understanding between two players, Arteta referenced Barcelona’s legendary trio who played together 182 times, winning 68 per cent of games in addition to winning the World Cup and Euros together with Spain.

“They can be [the best] in this case because they are an attacking midfielder and a winger,” said Arteta of Ødegaard and Saka.

“But I’ve seen centre backs, I’ve seen midfielders between them having … I always think about Barcelona with Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta — it was unbelievable. They didn’t even need to look at each other.

“Our two centre backs — [William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães] — naturally there is a chemistry there that is unbelievable.

“So, try to develop those more and more because there is something there that is very difficult to put a number to it. But it’s close in a natural way and the more relationships you have make the team the better.”

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho said earlier this week that Saka, 23, could be a Ballon d’Or contender if he believes in himself.

Pushed on how the England international had developed in recent years, Arteta continued: “The way he presents himself, the way he talks, the decisions that he makes. He has a massive role in the team. He is the main figure, with two or three players at the club.

“He plays for the national team. He is a very established player right now and he is deciding matches for us. He has earned the right to be that way but at the same time he has stayed so humble, close and charming to everybody.”

Ruben Amorim has warned Manchester United fans that “a storm will come” despite his positive start as head coach.

Amorim is unbeaten in his three games in charge and led United to their biggest league victory since 2021 with a 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

The 39-year-old takes his team to Arsenal on Wednesday and has suggested they will eventually be “found out” while the players continue to get to grips with his methods.

“I would like to say different things, but I have to say it again: the storm will come,” Amorim said.

“I don’t know if you use that expression, but we are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games. I know that because I know my players and I know football and I follow football. We are in the point in that we are putting simple things in the team, without training.

“So let’s focus on each game, on the performance, what we have to improve, trying to win games. 
And that is the focus. I know it’s really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences.

“We want to win all the time, no matter what, we are going to try to win, but we know that we are in a different point, if you compare to Arsenal.”

While Amorim’s players are still learning about his tactical system, Amorim is also learning about United.

The Portuguese coach has been in the job for three weeks since replacing Erik ten Hag, and he has admitted the attention and the workload which comes with managing one of the biggest clubs in the world has taken him by surprise.

“A little bit, because you don’t know how is life in this kind of club,” he said.

“So it’s always a surprise. I think I can manage that, but you have to do so much more than coach the team. 
You improve and other things in yourself as a coach, you have to manage the time in a different way.

“You have less time to prepare for the games, not just because you are playing after two days, but also because you have a lot to do. I can say I was a little bit surprised, but at the same time I was expecting something different.”

Lamine Yamal dished out advice for recreating his “trivela” assist on FIFA after starring in Barcelona‘s 5-1 win against Mallorca in LaLiga on Tuesday.

The 17-year-old returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 3 after recovering from an ankle injury as Barça ended a three-game winless run in the league.

He won the penalty that led to Barça’s second goal and then set up Raphinha for the third with a sublime pass with the outside of his boot, which he pointed out can be easily recreated on PlayStation.

“I think the button on FIFA is L2 [for the trivela pass],” he told Esport3 after the match. “It is something I can do quite well, something I usually do and something I will keep doing.”

It’s the second time this season that Yamal, who has a league-high eight assists, has teed up Raphinha with the outside of his boot. He played a similar pass, albeit from a much longer distance, in the win over Villarreal earlier in the season.

“I am really happy for Raphinha, we have a good understanding,” Yamal said. “And he knows when I am in that area of the pitch, I will always try that pass.”

Ferran Torres‘ opener was cancelled by Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi before the break, but Barça pulled clear in the second half courtesy of a brace from Raphinha, his 15th and 16th goals of the season, and strikes from substitutes Frenkie de Jong and Pau Víctor.

De Jong’s goal, set up by Victor, also came after Yamal had played another pass in behind the Mallorca defence with the outside of his boot.

The win moved Barça four points clear at the top of LaLiga, although second-placed Real Madrid have two games in hand, starting with Athletic Club on Wednesday.

“It was a really important win after two defeats [in three games] in LaLiga,” Yamal said. “So it was important to win with a result like this. We are really happy.

“We have been good in the Champions League, but in LaLiga we were dropping silly points. This was a big win for everyone. The goals for those that play less will give them a lot of confidence.”

Barça have now won all 12 league games that Yamal has started this season. They have failed to win any of the four when he has not been in the starting lineup — losing three and drawing one.

“Lamine is always important,” coach Hansi Flick said of the teenager’s return to fitness. “With his quality, he is a huge difference in our team. He also could score today one or two goals.”

Flick, who rested striker Robert Lewandowski against Mallorca, also joked he was happy to see the back of November after defeats to Real Sociedad and Las Palmas and a draw against Celta Vigo.

“Today was really important to win this match,” he added. “We deserve this win, these three points. We created chances, scored [them] and it was really fantastic.

“We are happy. We are happy that s— November is over and now we start with December.”