Newcastle United
Why Eddie Howe’s Half-Time Hook of Nick Woltemade Raised Questions
Woltemade has settled at Newcastle but Howe’s half-time substitution at West Ham divided opinion yet
At the London Stadium a decision by Eddie Howe caught more attention than the match itself: Newcastle’s in-form forward Nick Woltemade was withdrawn at half-time with his side trailing to West Ham. The substitution felt abrupt. Howe also replaced Anthony Gordon and Emil Krafth at the break, but Woltemade’s removal prompted particular surprise given the form he has shown since joining from Stuttgart in August for an initial £65 million.
Woltemade’s early months on Tyneside have been influential. He has scored freely — the montage of his six goals in 11 games celebrating powerful headers, flicks, back-heels and penalties captured that impact and concluded with the line “I ain’t afraid of no goals.” He has been a key attacking presence, offering clever link play and energetic pressing, and he scored in the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
The substitution had a wider ripple effect. More than 600,000 of the 10 million Fantasy Premier League managers transferred Woltemade into their teams for the round, expecting returns. Fans, too, voiced frustration as the forward sat on the bench, wrapped up and withdrawn from the view of supporters, while West Ham recorded their first win under Nuno Espírito Santo, with Lucas Paquetá and Freddie Potts impressing.
Tactically the change was curious. Will Osula was introduced to add direct pace behind West Ham’s back four, a style not natural to Woltemade, who links and ghosts into attacking positions and often thrives with a No 9 ahead of him. Yoane Wissa, when fit after his cruciate ligament injury, is expected to offer a complementary presence, and Callum Wilson now plays for West Ham.
Woltemade is just 23, reportedly exceptionally fit and careful with his energy. He wears 27 at Newcastle for personal reasons while he has worn 11 for Germany and did so at Stuttgart. German supporters have already shown their admiration and there were even disgruntled reactions from Bayern Munich powerbrokers Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeneß when he moved. Howe will have to decide how to balance the forward’s form and the fixture congestion ahead in Premier League and Champions League action.
Manchester United
Premier League to Stage Only One Boxing Day Match in 2025 Calendar Revision
Boxing Day will host only Manchester United v Newcastle at Old Trafford amid packed December schedule
The Premier League has confirmed a significant adjustment to its winter schedule for the 2025/26 season: Boxing Day will feature a single top-flight fixture, Manchester United vs. Newcastle United at Old Trafford. The decision marks a departure from the long-standing holiday period format and follows a reworking of the December calendar.
Instead of a crowded Boxing Day, the league said there will be 10 matches between Dec. 20–22, no matches through Christmas Day and then Manchester United hosting Newcastle at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. The league pointed to congestion across competitions as the root cause: European club competition expansion, a revised domestic calendar and changes to the FA Cup reduced the number of available weekends.
“The Premier League would like to acknowledge the circumstances that have led to a reduced number of matches on Boxing Day this season – impacting an important tradition in English football,” the league said Friday.
The statement elaborated on the scheduling constraints. “There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions—which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup. This ultimately left the Premier League as a 33-weekend competition—fewer than previous seasons, despite being a 380-match competition since 1995,” the league said.
“With fewer weekends to work with, the League is bound by how the calendar falls. The League can give an assurance that next season there will be more Premier League matches on Boxing Day—as the date falls on a Saturday.”
The recent changes guarantee no team will play two matches within 60 hours of each other. The league published the full slate from Boxing Day through New Year’s Day as follows:
Dec. 26, 2025 — Manchester United vs. Newcastle United
Dec. 27, 2025 — Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City
Dec. 27, 2025 — Arsenal vs. Brighton
Dec. 27, 2025 — Brentford vs. Bournemouth
Dec. 27, 2025 — Burnley vs. Everton
Dec. 27, 2025 — Liverpool vs. Wolves
Dec. 27, 2025 — West Ham United vs. Fulham
Dec. 27, 2025 — Chelsea vs. Aston Villa
Dec. 28, 2025 — Sunderland vs. Leeds United
Dec. 28, 2025 — Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Dec. 30, 2025 — Burnley vs. Newcastle United
Dec. 30, 2025 — Chelsea vs. Bournemouth
Dec. 30, 2025 — Nottingham Forest vs. Everton
Dec. 30, 2025 — West Ham United vs. Brighton
Dec. 30, 2025 — Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
Dec. 30, 2025 — Manchester United vs. Wolves
Jan. 1, 2026 — Crystal Palace vs. Fulham
Jan. 1, 2026 — Liverpool vs. Leeds United
Jan. 1, 2026 — Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Jan. 1, 2026 — Sunderland vs. Manchester City
Arsenal
Evaluating the Premier League’s Best Midfielders
Assessment of the Premier League’s leading midfielders: roles, form, transfers and impact. Season 25.
The Premier League currently fields an unusually deep pool of midfield talent, spread across the traditional powers and beyond. Below is a concise assessment of the players outlined in the original draft, concentrating on roles, recent form and defining attributes.
Xavi Simons arrived at Tottenham Hotspur last summer from RB Leipzig and is still adapting to English football. The Netherlands international has shown glimpses of his creative brilliance. A versatile attacking midfielder, Simons excels in small spaces, using a low centre of gravity and a quick turn of pace to influence play around the penalty area.
Martin Ødegaard remains one of the division’s top midfielders despite a dip in stock over the past year due to injuries and questions over his long-term role. The Arsenal captain is often deployed into the wide right space by the system, but he has built a strong relationship with Bukayo Saka. He may be better suited to a traditional attacking midfield role where his playmaking and left foot are most threatening.
Bruno Guimarães has been a model of consistency since joining Newcastle United in 2022. An all-action presence, he combines tackles, accurate diagonals and timely goals with a tireless work rate, forming a central trio with Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.
Martín Zubimendi turned down Liverpool in summer 2024 before joining Arsenal. The Spaniard has adapted quickly, offering defensive midfield control through a blend of ferocity and finesse.
Sandro Tonali returned from a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules and has repaid Newcastle’s faith since early in the 2024–25 season. He contributes goals, tempo, ball carrying and accurate distribution, backed by tenacity.
Dominik Szoboszlai impressed Liverpool supporters with spectacular strikes on arrival but has been noted for his work ethic. Used across midfield and even at right back, he is valued for stamina, clean ball striking and passing range.
Enzo Fernández required time to settle at Chelsea but now matches the expectations of his £107 million transfer fee, offering box-crashing runs and chances from both deeper and more advanced positions.
Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, has been hampered by injuries and missed nearly all of 2024–25. On form he remains one of the best defensive midfielders, a calming, intelligent presence essential to Manchester City.
Bruno Fernandes has been Manchester United’s standout player in recent years, producing double-digit goals and assists in each of his five full seasons at the club with exceptional touch and vision.
Alexis Mac Allister rose to prominence at Brighton & Hove Albion, claimed the World Cup while representing the Seagulls, and has since become Liverpool’s deep-lying playmaker.
Cole Palmer, a Manchester City academy product, emerged at Chelsea as a talisman after a breakthrough debut season in 2023–24 and is described as a generational talent.
Florian Wirtz has had a subdued start since his £116 million move to Liverpool but previously spearheaded Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double in 2023–24 and is expected to improve.
Ryan Gravenberch was redeployed into a combative defensive midfield role under Arne Slot in 2024–25, playing a key part in Liverpool’s title and winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Declan Rice, acquired for £105 million, has transformed Arsenal’s midfield. Effective as a holding player and in a box-to-box role, he contributes goals, assists and set-piece delivery and is viewed as a complete midfielder.
Arsenal
October 2025: Premier League Player and Manager of the Month Shortlists
October Player and Manager of the Month shortlists feature Cash, Guimarães, Haaland and Amorim. fans
The shortlists for the Premier League Player and Manager of the Month awards for October have been published.
Matty Cash’s individual form was central to Aston Villa’s resurgence in October. The Villans went three for three, with Cash making a huge impact at both ends of the field. His second goal of the campaign downed Manchester City last time out, after a glorious pass the week prior had put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword.
Bruno Guimarães dominated Newcastle United’s highlight packages this month. A delicious strike from range stole the show in victory over Nottingham Forest, and he saved the best for last with a 90th-minute winner against Fulham to keep the Magpies climbing the table.
Erling Haaland, September’s Player of the Month, remains among the favourites. Three goals in three games saw Haaland reach 11 for the campaign—nobody else in the squad has more than one to their name.
October was a breakout month for Bournemouth summer signing Junior Kroupi. He marked his first Premier League start with two goals against Crystal Palace and followed that with another strike against Nottingham Forest to lift the Cherries into second in the standings.
Bryan Mbeumo forced his way into the race with a dazzling October. Nobody in the league managed more than his four goal involvements—three goals, one assist—as United roared to a three-game winning streak.
Sunderland’s understated summer signing Nordi Mukiele has proven to be a masterstroke. His goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers helps his case, and he was a defensive force across October while adding menace with long throws.
Igor Thiago moved into second in the Golden Boot race with two goals for Brentford this month, scoring against West Ham United and converting a penalty to see off Liverpool. Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber emerged as one of the most in-form right backs and helped the Gunners build a record-breaking defence which did not concede a single goal this month.
On the managerial front, Ruben Amorim enjoys his first nomination as Man Utd manager after a dream October that delivered back-to-back Premier League victories and three consecutive wins over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion. Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola also feature among the nominees.
Previous winners listed include Jack Grealish (Everton, August) and Erling Haaland (Man City, September).
