top of page
News image template
Ed Conway, economics and data editor
Feb 20
Sky News gains rare access to Bank of England's gold vaults

Rather than approaching in a straight line, the tunnel begins to twist and turn round dramatically. The angle of the curve is part of the explanation for why there is an enormous gap between the carriages and the platform at the station - bigger than nearly anywhere else on the network. Why the curve? Why the gap? The main answer is: the tunnels have to go around the single most intriguing, and least visited place in central London: the Bank of England's vaults. Far deep beneath the ground, right in the heart of the financial district, is a city within a city. Some 40% of the Bank's floor space is to be found not above ground but under the earth, and at the heart of this underground network is the biggest gold storage facility in Europe. Mark Kleinman blog: See the latest from Sky's City editor There is more gold in the vaults here at the Bank of England than in Fort Knox - more than in any other single place in the world, save for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. And now, for the first time, Sky News has been invited down into the vaults to see them for ourselves. It almost goes without saying that the security measures to be granted access were thorough in the extreme. We had to pass through a number of gates and steel doors, to be stripped of our phones and any money on us, to turn our cameras off and agree not to divulge the precise mazy path we took from the Bank's main lobby through to the vault. But once we finally reached the gold, the sight of it was breathtaking. The Bank has 12 vaults, each of which holds thousands of bars of gold. We filmed in one of them - vault 4 - but caught glimpses of two of the other vaults beyond it, a hint of the vastness of this store of wealth. All told, there are more than 5,000 tonnes of gold in the Bank's vault. While that's about 1,000 tonnes short of the holdings in New York, in another sense, the Bank's vaults are only the tip of a bullion iceberg, since the Bank is only one of a number of major vaults dotted around London. That comes back to an important point: London remains the world's capital for the trade in physical gold. Thanks in part to history, it remains the primary place in the world where countries, companies, and individuals trade the precious metal with each other in physical form. The vast majority of the gold in the Bank's vaults belongs not to the Bank of England (it owns only two bars for display) or even the UK government (we'll come back to that in a moment) but to other countries. For this is where more than 60 central banks around the world store their gold, to enable them to trade it. There are curios aplenty. I was shown bars of gold that were recovered from shipwrecks and explosions, the scars still visible on them. There are bars with the Soviet hammer and sickle still branded on them, though no Nazi swastikas. There were a few such bars here, but they were melted down some years ago. For the most part, you can trade the gold without it even leaving the vault. Each bar (they are all of standard size, 400 troy ounces, which works out at between 12 and 13 kilograms - which by the way makes them surprisingly heavy) has a serial number or bar code and when they get bought and sold, all that happens is the code is assigned to a different customer; the bar stays where it is. But sometimes, customers insist on moving the physical bar, and that's where things get interesting. The Trump effect For early last year, a remarkable phenomenon took place. As investors fretted that Donald Trump might be about to impose tariffs on the movement of precious metals, as well as everything else, the price of gold in New York, normally pretty much identical to the London price, jumped higher. All of a sudden, there was an opportunity for anyone with the wherewithal to shift physical gold across from London to make a quick turn. So investors rushed to take gold bars out of the vaults here and fly them across to the US (via Switzerland where they were melted down from London dimensions to New York dimensions). The idea of gold flying around the world might seem a little odd until you note that even in normal times many planes flying into and out of London Heathrow have a gold bar or two inside the cargo hold. This is how the gold market works - very much beneath the radar. When that flurry happened a year ago, the Bank actually had trouble satisfying the urgent demand for bars, in large part because it's simply not equipped for this kind of thing: there is only one gate through which bullion deliveries happen, and physically moving that much gold was an inordinate challenge. However, in the following months, the prices equalised and gold began to flow back into the Bank's vaults. Their holdings, while a little lower than at the beginning of last year, began rising again. Gold's enduring importance Only a little over 300 tonnes of gold in the vaults here belongs to Britain. It used to be considerably more but, in a decision which has been chewed over extensively since then, back in the late 1990s Gordon Brown opted to sell more than half of Britain's reserves off. Back then the gold price was around $275 per ounce. Today the price is close to $5,000 (£3,714). A recent analysis found that the sale, which involved swapping the gold for bonds, resulted in a $47bn notional loss. The figure would likely be higher today, since gold prices have risen since then. "I think at that point there was a genuine debate about whether it's sensible to have reserves - whether you can make them more useful," said the governor, Andrew Bailey. "And I think the Gordon Brown debate was very much about how gold just sits in a vault - that it's not useful in that sense. So I think you've got to put it into that context now." The governor said that recent events, including the spike in gold prices, had underlined the importance of the asset, and London's part in its market. "Gold is viewed as a flight-to-safety hedge against uncertainty in the state of the world - and that's been true for quite a long time," he said. "There is no question that the greater uncertainty around world events has again prompted that. But I think there's something even more true at the moment: that if you look at the mix of what are viewed as the flight-to-safety assets, [there's] gold, but dollar assets were also viewed [as safe havens]. "The dollar is somewhat the focus of attention at the moment in that much of that question around uncertainty in the world. So I think that's putting even more emphasis at the moment on gold as the safe asset. So we've seen an even bigger price rise in gold." In short, much of the recent rise in gold could be put down to the "Trump effect" with investors fretting about his economic policy, his trade war and the pressure he is trying to put on the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. History matters All of which puts London's bars in the spotlight. They are, in one sense, no stranger to politics and to controversy. After all, this is the repository of much of the world's governmental wealth. So whenever regimes change and try to shift that wealth, London is often part of the conversation - as the ultimate custodian. Take Venezuela: the Maduro regime has been demanding the repatriation of its gold reserves - stored here at the Bank - for some years, taking the Bank of England to court over it. But since the government does not recognise the regime, it has thus far refused. A government decision - but one which places the Bank right in the middle of events. Do such episodes underline the trust investors have in London as the safest, most logical place to put their gold? That's a question some have been asking in recent years, especially after G7 nations seized overseas assets owned by the Russian government following the invasion of Ukraine. Adrian Ash, director of research at Bullionvault, said: "London's position as the world's central hub for physical gold was only strengthened last year by the risk of President Trump imposing trade tariffs on US gold imports. Exports of gold bullion out of China are still effectively banned, making the metal's No.1 consumer a dead-end for global flows. Shanghai and Beijing's push to attract foreign gold holdings has so far failed to beat worries over property rights and the rule of law. Again, London stands out with its long history of political and legal stability." When it comes to gold, history matters. That's part of the explanation for this continued wonder under the ground in London. An extraordinary warren of vaults with extraordinary wealth within them.

News image template
No Writer
Feb 20
Tributes flood in for Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane, who has died aged 53

He had been diagnosed with with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. In a statement, a representative said: "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world". Dane's career took off when he joined long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy as the much-loved Dr Mark Sloan - better known to fans as "McSteamy". He played the charming surgeon from 2006 until 2012. His character's mark on the still-running show was so great that Seattle Grace Hospital, where the series is set, was renamed the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The actor was later cast as Cal Jacobs, the antagonist in HBO's hit, Euphoria. Dane married actress Rebecca Gayheart in 2004, and they have two children. Ashton Kutcher, John Stamos, Nina Dobrev, Robert Patrick, Maria Shriver and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson are among the celebrity names who have also paid tribute to Dane. Kutcher wrote in a post on X: "The Franklin strip fanatics fantasy football league will miss Mr Eric Dane. "We know you'll be watching from the booth. Miss you, buddy. Let's keep fighting the fight to solve ALS." Kevin McKidd, who portrays Owen Hunt on Grey's Anatomy, posted a picture of Dane to his Instagram stories, writing "Rest in Peace, Buddy". In 2025, Dane went public with the news he had been diagnosed with ALS, later using his platform to advocate for greater awareness of the disease. Dane and Gayheart wed in 2004, and separated in September 2017. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, but later filed to have the petition dismissed.In a December essay for New York magazine's The Cut, reflecting on Dane's diagnosis, Gayheart called their dynamic "a very complicated relationship, one that's confusing for people". She said they never got a divorce, but dated other people and lived separately. "Our love may not be romantic, but it's a familial love." Read more from Sky News:'This was addiction': Parents' anger at ZuckerbergNASA astronauts were 'stranded' in space by mishap Actor Patrick Dempsey paid tribute to his Grey's Anatomy co-star, describing him as the "funniest man". Speaking on The Chris Evans Breakfast, Dempsey said: "I just woke up this morning, and it was very sad to read the news. It's hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children. "I was corresponding with him, we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago, and some friends of ours went in to see him and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak. "He was bedridden, and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly. "He was the funniest man - he was such a joy to work with - and I want to just remember him in that spirit, because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it. "He had a great sense of humour."

News image template
Deborah Haynes, security and defence editor
Feb 20
UK has not agreed to let US strike Iran from British bases, Sky News understands

The Times first reported the lack of permission. The newspaper said, as a result of the UK's reticence, Donald Trump had withdrawn his support for a deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer to hand the Chagos Islands, which include Diego Garcia, over to Mauritius. US military plans to strike Iran involve the use of a British and American military base on Diego Garcia as well as RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which hosts a US fleet of heavy bombers. Under long-standing agreements between London and Washington, the Pentagon is only able to launch operations from the two sites, as well as other air bases in the UK that are home to US warplanes and personnel, with advance approval from the British government. This has not yet been given in relation to any potential strike against Iran because of concern that such a mission would be a breach of international law, according to The Times. President Trump on Thursday said the world would find out "over the next, probably, 10 days" whether the US would reach a deal with Iran to end its nuclear ambitions - or take military action. He has been surging forces to the Middle East - including two giant aircraft carriers and supporting warships and jets - to increase his options for launching a significant military operation against the Islamic Republic should talks fail. Mr Trump spoke on Tuesday evening by phone with the British prime minister. The topics covered included the Iran crisis, but not the Chagos Islands. However, the following day, the president launched a new attack on Mr Starmer over the Chagos Islands deal, even after his own State Department had said it supported the UK's decision to give the territory to Mauritius and lease back Diego Garcia. In a post on social media, Mr Trump explicitly mentioned the utility of Diego Garcia and Fairford for US military operations against Iran, and appeared to suggest why it would be within international law for the UK to grant such deployments, given that it too could be under threat. "Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime" Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. "An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly countries." He then said: "We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them." Read more:Why is the Chagos Islands deal controversial?Trump to PM: 'Do not give away Diego Garcia' The UK is not thought to be preparing to support the US in any military offensive against Iran. However, the Royal Air Force has deployed six F-35 warplanes to RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus, and sent four Typhoon jets to Qatar, as part of efforts to bolster its own defences in the event of any Iranian counterattack in response to American strikes. On the Chagos Islands deal, the government has repeatedly defended its decision to hand over the territory to Mauritius, saying it would avoid a costly legal battle while securing access to Diego Garcia for 100 years.

News image template
No Writer
Feb 20
Mikel Arteta urges under-fire Arsenal to show what they are made of against Spurs after Wolves setback

Arsenal's title credentials have been questioned after they threw away a two-goal lead to the Premier League's bottom club at Molineux, giving Manchester City the chance to close the gap to two points. Pep Guardiola's side could cut the deficit when they host Newcastle on Saturday, but Arteta insists his players are ready to get back on track in Sunday's game, which is live on Sky Sports. Wednesday's result means Arsenal have now lost seven points from winning positions since the turn of the year, and only won only two of their last seven Premier League games. Unlocking Eberechi Eze could be key for Arsenal - The RadarArsenal's Wolves collapse | Questions for Mikel ArtetaGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 "What I have seen is a tremendous reaction again and I am not surprised at all," said Arteta. "When you lose points with the last kick of the game and in a very unpredictable manner, nobody can really understand that. "But this is football and that is the beauty of football. "That was a chapter. We have a long season and chapter 27 says we drew against Wolves in this manner. "What I am interested in is the next one. What is this team made of? What do we do about this and how we write our own destiny from here and going forward? "That's it. You have to react to it because life moves on and as unfortunate as it was, there is nothing we can do. However, what we can do a lot about is what happens next." Asked if Sunday's derby, which will see Igor Tudor take charge of his first game with Spurs 16th, is the biggest in recent memory, Arteta added: "It's the one that is next and it is one we cannot wait to play. "We'd all love to play the game today to get that feeling we have in our tummies and use it in the right way. "We have to show it on Sunday." Arsenal could welcome Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz back from injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Arteta saying there is a "big possibility" they will be available. Tudor '100 per cent sure' of Spurs survival While Arsenal are competing for the title, Spurs are hovering only two places above the drop zone. But new boss Tudor is adamant they won't be relegated under his watch. Asked how confident he was that Spurs would be in the Premier League next season, Tudor insisted: "One hundred per cent." New boss Igor Tudor to play back three against Arsenal? Tudor had earlier stated that he did not want the players to be thinking about a relegation battle, only the work they need to do to improve. "This is not important. Fighting for every position, relegation, first position, UEFA places, you achieve the position because of what you do during the week and on Sunday. It is a consequence of this. It brings you nothing if you think about relegation. "All these goals are far away. I never give them importance. I never speak about results and what we want to achieve at the end of the season. I don't believe in this. I believe in today's training. This is all I want the players to think about. The position is a consequence of this. "Five points [above the relegation zone], 10, two, it is the same. We need to be focused. Let's focus on this and see what we can attain. Looking down or up brings you nothing." Asked what he had said to his players, Tudor replied: "The players want to have clarity about what we want. This was the goal. To send a message about values and how we want to play." Of facing Arsenal in his first game, he added: "It is an amazing game to restart. I have heard a lot of good things about them. We need to show them that we care and we want to make a change immediately." He would not be drawn on who will captain the side in the absence of the suspended Cristian Romero. "You will see on Sunday."

News image template
Henry Vaughan, home affairs reporter
Feb 20
Man denies drugging and raping his wife along with others

The defendant, who is in his 60s, but cannot be named for legal reasons, entered not guilty pleas to 48 offences. He is accused of drugging his wife in order to rape and sexually assault her on his own over more than two decades dating back to the early 2000s. Between 2023 and his arrest last year, he allegedly invited other men to sexually assault and rape his wife while she was unconscious. He appeared at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court along with 12 other men, aged between 28 and 73, who also cannot be identified. All are charged with conspiracy offences and all but two are alleged to have also committed so-called contact sexual offences. The husband is charged with 23 counts relating to offences committed on his own - including some multiple incident counts - eight conspiracy offences and 17 attacks allegedly committed with other men. The charges include: Four counts of conspiracy to rape. Three counts of conspiracy to commit sexual assault by penetration.One count of conspiracy administer a substance with intent to overpower to allow sexual activity.18 counts of rape.13 counts of sexual assault by penetration.Seven counts of sexual assault.One count of administrating a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to allow sexual activity. One count of sharing photographs or films of person in intimate state for purpose of sexual gratification. Appearing by video-link from Forest Bank prison, the clerk took 23 minutes to read out the 18-page indictment as the man pleaded not guilty to each count. Family members of the alleged victim and the defendants sat in the public gallery. Five of his co-defendants appeared alongside him, while another five, who are on bail, appeared in the dock, and two others appeared from different prisons. Five of the men are yet to enter pleas, six denied the charges, while a man in his 50s pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to assault by penetration, conspiracy to administer a substance and assault by penetration. A 12-week trial has been listed to start on 1 September this year.

News image template
No Writer
Feb 20
Eric Dane: Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria star dies aged 53

His representatives said he died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known also as Lou Gehrig's disease. Dane announced his diagnosis last year, and had become an advocate for ALS awareness before his death. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the centre of his world," said a statement. Described as "determined to make a difference for others" with the disease, his representatives said he would be "lovingly remembered" and "deeply missed". "Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he's received," they added. Read more from Sky News:Andrew released after arrestSky News gains rare access to Bank's gold vaults Dane starred in ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy from 2006 until 2012, and reprised his role in 2021. He was also celebrated for his part in HBO's Euphoria. Other appearances included Saved By The Bell, Gideon's Crossing, Marley & Me, and X-Men: The Last Stand. He was married to Rebecca Gayheart, a fellow actor and model. His memoir is due to be published later this year.

News image template
Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
Feb 20
Record-breaking budget surplus as government's tax income rises

January had the biggest budget surplus since records began in 1993, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It meant the government received more money than it spent last month, leaving £30.4bn left over. Money blog: Every Michelin-starred restaurant with a less than £50 meal It's £15.9bn more than the surplus in January 2025, although the figures are not adjusted for inflation. The surplus is even higher than anticipated by independent forecasters the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - about £6.3bn bigger. Why? While there was little change in government spending, the highest-ever recorded surplus resulted from revenue being "strongly up" and lower interest rates, the ONS said. Self-assessed tax revenues were nearly £6bn more than planned for and capital gains tax receipts surged. Lower interest rates have meant borrowing money cost less. The cost of borrowing was £1.5bn in the month, £5bn lower than the time last year. A relief for Reeves It's been described as a "welcome relief" and "good news" for Chancellor Rachel Reeves by analysts from Big Four accounting firm PWC and economic research firm Pantheon Macroeconomics. "This decline eases immediate pressure on the public finances", PWC's economist Nabil Taleb said. Paying more on debt can mean public finances are more exposed to economic shocks. But the path ahead is not without hazards for Ms Reeves. The room she has to spend money before breaking her self-imposed fiscal rules - to bring down government debt and balance the budget by 2030 - has narrowed since the November budget. Lower gross domestic product readings, a key economic measure, may already have eroded the sums Ms Reeves has to spend before breaking her fiscal rules. Anaemic economic growth and a rising unemployment rate could mean tax takes stall. And the January tax revenue figures could be a one-off. The month is key for the exchequer because of the influx of self-assessed income tax receipts. Further evidence economy 'picked up smartly' Good news for the economy also came in the form of retail sales, which recorded a far better than expected January. The total volume of retail sales, which measures the quantity bought, increased by 1.8% last month, the ONS said. It was the largest increase since May 2024. There continued to be "strong" sales at online jewellers as they reported "demand had hit unprecedented levels", the ONS added. Also selling well were works of art, furniture and technology, This data gave "further evidence that economic growth picked up smartly in the New Year as budget uncertainty fades", Pantheon's chief UK economist Rob Wood said. Retail sales figures matter as they measure household consumption, the largest expenditure in the UK economy.

News image template
No Writer
Feb 20
Eberechi Eze has struggled for Arsenal since Spurs hat-trick but Gunners can unlock his potential - The Radar

Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column in which Nick Wright uses a blend of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know stories from up and down the Premier League. This week: 🔺 Eze's Arsenal struggles examined❓ The change of role that could help🔍 A player to watch this weekend Arteta's Eze conundrum Eberechi Eze's hat-trick in Arsenal's 4-1 win over Spurs in November felt at the time like the start of something special. Mikel Arteta raved about the "joy" and "aura" he had added. Eze said his prayers had been answered. Fans may have felt the same about theirs. Arsenal's Wolves collapse | Questions for Mikel ArtetaGot Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺 Three months on, though, as Arsenal prepare to face the same opponent, the club he was close to joining before his move to the Emirates Stadium in August, he remains a conundrum for his manager, his role undefined, his plight typifying Arsenal's issues. There was a reminder of his game-changing ability, albeit against a lowly opponent, in the FA Cup win over Wigan. Eze took risks on the ball, wowed with his passing, and peppered the opposition goal with shots. "That's what we want from him," said Arteta. But three days later, he was back among the substitutes against Wolves. Eze has only started one of Arsenal's last 11 Premier League games, seemingly struggling to win the trust of a manager finding it difficult to strike a balance between control and creativity. Arsenal don't have enough of either right now. Meanwhile Eze has been moved around. Bukayo Saka was one of Arsenal's better players at Molineux. But his inclusion at No 10, rather than on the right, came at Eze's expense. "If I was Eze, I'd be thinking, 'Am I going to play for Arsenal too many more times this season?'" said Paul Merson on Sky Sports. Of course, Eze is not exempt from blame. He was poor when handed a rare start in the 1-1 draw with Brentford last week, substituted at half-time. He struggled to find consistency even when starting regularly in the opening months of the season. But as Arsenal's season falters, finding a way to get Eze back to the level of the £67.5m superstar who destroyed Spurs in the autumn should be a priority. And where better to start than at a ground where he has scored three times in his last two visits? Having scored six goals in eight appearances against them in total, Eze in fact counts Spurs as one of his favourite opponents. One of the most striking aspects of his hat-trick display against them was how often he was able to get into scoring positions. His goals came from a total of six shots, the most by any player. He had the most touches in the opposition box too, with seven. Arsenal had Merino leading the line in the absence of injured trio Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. But his role was far removed from that of a conventional striker. Instead, he dropped into midfield, making space for Eze to attack. The rotations enabled a fluid Arsenal performance which they repeated when they blew away Bayern Munich three days later. Again, Eze and Merino combined to great effect. All but one of Arsenal's seven goals across the two games came from open play. Arsenal were less convincing in their subsequent 1-1 draw with 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, seemingly fatigued after an intense week. And as Arsenal's injuries eased and players returned, the Eze and Merino partnership was quietly broken up. Merino, of course, is no longer an option due to injury, and Eze has so far struggled to build chemistry with Arsenal's other strikers. He and Gyokeres didn't exchange a single pass against Brentford. He and Jesus only exchanged two passes against Wolves. He has not even had the chance to start a game with Havertz up front. Partnerships matter. But another big issue is that Eze just hasn't had enough of the ball. Despite Arsenal averaging 58 per cent possession to Crystal Palace's 42 per cent last season, he is having considerably fewer touches, his influence diminished. Eze needs to demand it, of course. At times, most recently against Brentford, when he only attempted 17 passes before his withdrawal, he has appeared inhibited, lacking the confidence to take responsibility, or, perhaps, to express himself as freely as he did at former club Crystal Palace. The context is very different at Arsenal, where Arteta places huge emphasis on control. Eze is having to adapt to an entirely different style of play, on and off the ball, and to opponents who generally sit deep and squeeze the space in the final third. With less room to work in near the opposition box, Eze has frequently found himself dropping far away from goal, into areas where it is more difficult to hurt opponents. GeniusIQ tracking data logs a player's availability to receive passes and shows that the proportion of Eze's instances of availability between the lines has dropped from 40 per cent at Crystal Palace last season to just 26 per cent at Arsenal this term. Eze is actually available in more space, on average, than at Crystal Palace. But this is because he is too often outside of the opposition block rather than in it, confronted by multiple banks of defenders rather than one, his route to goal blocked. A change of position could offer a solution. Eze has mostly featured as a right-sided No 10 for Arsenal but playing off the left of their front three, with licence to drift inside, might afford him more opportunities to receive the ball in the left-hand half-space, the zone in which he thrived for Crystal Palace. Eze has not featured there since the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in December, when his defensive lapse allowed Matty Cash to score. Eze had played 67 per cent of Arsenal's Premier League minutes going into that game. He has only played 20 per cent since. It proved a turning point, in other words, for a manager who demands unwavering defensive consistency from his attackers. Eze's error at Villa Park was not the only occasion early in the season when he appeared to lack that level of consistency off the ball. Overall, though, Eze has upped his efforts out of possession. A return to GeniusIQ's tracking data reveals a huge increase in the speed and intensity with which he is tracking back in transition compared to previous seasons. He has adapted. Eze has undoubtedly found the step up to Arsenal difficult. Some might even argue it is too much. But his output at Crystal Palace placed him among the Premier League's top 20 players for goals and assists and Arsenal have seen that player, albeit only in flashes. Unlocking his full potential, and trusting him to rediscover the "joy" and "aura" that defined his last performance against Spurs, could be key to kick-starting Arsenal's title push. Player Radar: Who else to keep an eye on Before Arsenal's meeting with Spurs on Sunday, Vitor Pereira will hope to make a winning Premier League start to his Nottingham Forest tenure against Liverpool. On the evidence of Thursday's Europa League win over Fenerbahce, platforming Morgan Gibbs-White is a big part of his plan to turn their season around. Live Radar: What's on Sky this weekend? West Ham against Bournemouth is the Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm, kick-off 5.30pm Watch Crystal Palace vs Wolves, Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool and Sunderland vs Fulham from 1pm across Sky Sports on Sunday, kicking off at 2pm, before Spurs vs Arsenal at 4.30pm. On Monday Night Football, it's the David Moyes derby as Everton go up against Man Utd, live from 6.30pm ahead of the 8pm kick-off. Read last week's Radar column The last column examined Brighton's struggles this season before their defeat to Crystal Palace put more pressure on Fabian Hurzeler.

bottom of page