Waching daily Jan 1 2019

 Arsenal have caught the eye under Emery this season but the stats show it's not quite the great transformation

 The Gunners are only a point better off than this time last season under Arsene Wenger and they have conceded five more goals

  **PREDICT FIVE RESULTS AND WIN £25,000 - FREE TO PLAY HERE**  Smith thinks the only answer is to get the chequebook out

 "He has to spend in January," she told Sky Sports. "When Rob Holding comes back that will make a difference as he was really starting to come into form

 "The way Emery wants to play, he can play the ball out from the back. "Arsenal were trying to do it but as soon as they were pressed they didn't have the quality

 "If that's the way he wants to play, he has to bring in defenders with pace and quality on the ball

That's the only way. "Going forward they are great, they always look like they will score goals, but defensively is where the problem is

I'm sure he will be looking to strengthen there." Trending   Arsenal were thumped 5-1 by Liverpool on Saturday despite taking the lead at Anfield as the defence capitulated

 Smith added: "In the first half they posed a genuine threat going forward and scored the opening goal but defensively they are so poor

 "They look so unorganised, the defending line is poor and they were making errors

 "Every time Liverpool pressed them they looked vulnerable and like they could concede

Defensively they've had injury problems there but they need to strengthen "It will take time for Unai Emery to build the team he wants

You can see what he's trying to do, the style he's trying to play, trying to play the ball out the back, but I don't think they have the players to do that at the moment

"

For more infomation >> Arsenal transfer news: Unai Emery told he 'HAS TO SPEND' on new signings in January - Duration: 2:37.

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Premier League transfer news: Deals to be announced TODAY? Arsenal, Liverpool included - Duration: 2:53.

 Premier League transfers are ready to fly through following the opening of the January transfer window

 Clubs will waste no time in signing reinforcements with a number of deals already in the pipeline for several big names

 Liverpool are ready to send a player out, while title rivals Manchester City could be set to reluctantly part with a wonderkid before his contract expires in the summer

 Arsenal ace Aaron Ramsey is set to be one of the hottest properties on the free agent market this summer though he could leave the Emirates far sooner

 The Welsh midfielder has been strongly linked with several European heavyweights in the last few days and a deal could be reached soon if Arsenal choose to cash in

 Express Sport rounds up some of the biggest deals that could go through in the early stages of the January transfer window

Dominic Solanke (Liverpool) to Crystal Palace The Reds youngster is crying out for game time, and the Eagles are crying out for a striker

A medical has reportedly already taken place with the loan deal set to be rubber-stamped

Adrien Rabiot (PSG) to Barcelona The PSG midfielder has been unsettled all season with the Ligue 1 giants, while Barcelona have been forced to deny a pre-contract agreement before January

Timothy Weah (PSG) to Celtic Weah has been strongly linked with a loan deal and posted a teasing Instagram story about the Old Firm derby on Sunday

A deal is imminent.Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) to Juventus The Welsh midfielder may take more time to ponder his options but Juventus' interest could snowball very quickly given the amount of interest in his services on a pre-contract agreement

Brahim Diaz (Manchester City) to Real Madrid City's young star has all-but joined the La Liga side

His contract expires at the end of the season, but City could rake in around £15million as Real Madrid seek to beat off the competition for his signature

For more infomation >> Premier League transfer news: Deals to be announced TODAY? Arsenal, Liverpool included - Duration: 2:53.

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Chelsea transfer news: Higuain deal 'likely', Isco transfer statement, Real Madrid's Hazard advice - Duration: 3:14.

Gonzalo Higuain is the most likely player to secure a Premier League move this January, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

The most likely transfer is if you've got an existing player on loan at the club," he told Starsport.

But they may be looking to move on too.. "He is currently on loan, so it would make sense.

If he wants to move to the Premier League, it's now or never.". Real Madrid star Isco insists he will not be joining Chelsea next month - but the Spaniard has remained coy about his summer transfer plans.

Reports have suggested Isco could be looking to leave the Bernabeu after falling out with several of his team-mates.

But the 26-year-old has rubbished suggestions he's seeking a move.. "I'm very excited about the new year," he told Deportes Cuatro.

I'm not going to go in the winter market, I'm very happy.. "Of course I want to continue with Madrid to continue winning titles."

Real Madrid will be telling Eden Hazard not to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge so they can make a move in the summer.

That's the view of German journalist Raphael Honigstein. He told Sunday Supplement: "I think he expected Real Madrid to come in strongly for him after the World Cup and that never happened.

I think right now I'm not sure he even has a decision to make.. "I'm not sure how concrete the offer really is from Real Madrid.

I'm sure they are interested in him. I'm sure they're telling him, 'Don't sign a new deal we'll talk to you later'.

But I don't know if he's actually 100% sure that he can force that deal through at the moment."

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For more infomation >> Chelsea transfer news: Higuain deal 'likely', Isco transfer statement, Real Madrid's Hazard advice - Duration: 3:14.

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Liverpool news: Reds hero makes Roberto Firmino claim after Arsenal hat-trick - Duration: 3:14.

 That's the claim of Reds hero John Aldridge, who saw Firmino bag his first hat-trick for the club in the 5-1 win over the Gunners

 Firmino has struggled this season having scored just four Premier League goals before Saturday's triple

 He capitalised on some poor Arsenal defending for his first, finished off a mazy run to double his tally before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot

 The win at Anfield continued Liverpool's unbeaten Premier League campaign and extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points

 **PREDICT FIVE RESULTS AND WIN £25,000 - FREE TO PLAY HERE** They now travel to second-placed Manchester City on Thursday in a crunch clash (8pm)

 And Aldridge was glad to see Firmino find some form ahead of that encounter. "Roberto Firmino hasn't been himself so far this season," Aldridge wrote for the Liverpool Echo

 "He's not been as influential and he's been giving far too many balls away. "But that was Firmino back to his best on Saturday night

 "His second goal was sensational with the way he embarrassed two Arsenal defenders before producing a cool finish

 "Something hasn't been right with Firmino but he should take a huge amount of belief from the first hat-trick of his Liverpool career

 "If I could have picked anyone to score a hat-trick in that game it would have been Firmino

 "We've had big contributions from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane recently and now we've had a match-winning performance from Firmino

That's massive for him." Mohamed Salah had already scored a penalty before Firmino took his spot-kick with the Egyptian handing the ball to his team-mate

 And pundit Ian Wright believes that togetherness could play a key role in Liverpool's title quest

 He told Premier League Productions: "This is why people do become champions, because you're sharing it out

 "You're sharing the love about. He's thanking him and that's what it comes down to

 "It's going to need all of them. It's going to take the effort of all of them for them to end up winning this

 "Those are the kind of things that stand you in good stead with your team-mates."

For more infomation >> Liverpool news: Reds hero makes Roberto Firmino claim after Arsenal hat-trick - Duration: 3:14.

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Chelsea latets news: Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson makes Eden Hazard transfer replacement claim - Duration: 4:08.

CHELSEA midfielder Ross Barkley could benefit should Eden Hazard leave the club at the end of this season.

That is the view of Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, who says that the former Everton man is constantly improving and can be a big player for Maurizio Sarri in the future.

Merson says that he does not expect Belgium international Hazard to remain at Stamford Bridge, and Barkley can help to fill his void.

The 25-year-old made the move to Chelsea for £15m in January and after finding life in west London difficult to begin with, he is now showing signs of his potential.

The England international has featured prominently under Sarri this term and has contributed with three goals and three assists so far in the Premier League.

And Merson says he believes that Barkley's understanding of the game is a big contributor to his improvements.

He's a good player and Chelsea have a lot of games coming up in the new year," Merson told Sky Sports.

I don't see Eden Hazard being there next season, and Barkley may be one of those that has to step up

I think the older he gets, the better he'll get.. "He's definitely improved as a player, and I think he'll improve again

I've always been a fan of his, but didn't think he understood the game as much as he does now.

He took too many touches, but now knows when to release the ball. He has learned very quickly."

Hazard has been a long-term target for Real Madrid and with his contract expiring in 18 months' time a big decision about his future is on the horizon.

The 27-year-old has previously admitted that a move to the Bernebeu in future would be "a dream" and the Spanish giants are long time admirers.

And they are still seeking a replacement for their all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Juventus in the summer.

But German journalist Raphael Honigstein says he is unsure whether the European champions will renew their interest in the coming months.

He told Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement: "I think he expected Real Madrid to come in strongly for him after the World Cup and that never happened.

I think right now I'm not sure he even has a decision to make.. Get Chelsea latest news updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing