All posts by h716a5.icu

Chelsea could send Jadon Sancho back to Man Utd! Stunning reversal of loan deal possible at cost of 'financial penalty' following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments on winger

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Chelsea could reportedly send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United in a stunning reversal of their loan deal by paying a "financial penalty".

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Chelsea have obligation to buy SanchoYet the Blues could bypass this clauseMan Utd return still possibleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Sancho moved to Stamford Bridge on a season-long loan following a breakdown in his relationship with former United boss Erik ten Hag last season. The agreement includes an obligation to buy if Chelsea finish 14th or higher in the Premier League, triggering a fee between £22-25 million depending on their final position. With Enzo Maresca's side currently sitting in fourth place, well clear of 14th-placed United ironically, the conditions for a permanent transfer appear likely to be met.

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According to thethere remains a possibility that Sancho could return to Old Trafford this summer if Chelsea decide to back away from the deal, though this would come at a 'significant financial cost' as per the terms agreed with United. The west Londoners are said to be scouting several wingers, with Real Betis talent Jesus Rodriguez emerging as a potential target for the summer transfer window.

Another factor complicating the situation is Sancho’s contract negotiations. Typically, when a player joins a club on loan with an obligation to buy, personal terms are agreed in advance to ensure a seamless transition. However, the report claims that the 24-year-old has not yet reached an agreement with Chelsea regarding long-term wages and other terms.

DID YOU KNOW?

United are still feeling the financial burden of Sancho’s £73m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 with club chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who name-checked the winger as one of several signings from the previous regime INEOS are having to put up with, confirming that another £17m of the transfer fee was due to be paid this season. Sancho, who has 16 months remaining on his lucrative five-year contract, earns a reported £250,000 per week, with United currently covering a portion of his wages while the Blues paying £100,000. If he were to return to Old Trafford, the club would once again be responsible for his full salary, creating further financial headaches for United’s new ownership group.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

Sancho’s potential return would present a major challenge for INEOS, as the club would be forced to find a new buyer for yet another high-earning player who is no longer part of their plans. With the summer transfer window approaching, Chelsea must soon decide whether to keep Sancho or cut their losses, while United face the risk of being stuck with an expensive and unwanted asset.

Andrew McDonald: Coaching recruitment 'won't become a distraction' on Pakistan tour

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The new CA chair has indicated the next head coach will be confirmed next month

Andrew McGlashan23-Feb-20222:06

McDonald: Touring Pakistan after decades an ‘exciting challenge for Australia’

The next head coach of the Australia men’s team is likely to be confirmed during the upcoming tour of Pakistan, but Andrew McDonald, who is taking interim charge for the trip and is the favourite for the long-term position, is confident the process of replacing Justin Langer will not take the focus away from the on-field ambitions.Lachlan Henderson, the new Cricket Australia chair, has said in recent days that the appointment of a new head coach will not be a drawn-out process and is likely to come to a conclusion in March. That raises the prospect of McDonald finding out midway through the tour whether he has the job or not, although he said he has yet to have conversations with CA on the matter.”Very happy with whatever timelines they want to work within. It won’t become a distraction,” McDonald said. “That will just be happening in the background, our focus is firmly on the first Test in Rawalpindi and the preparation here, so we are firmly focused on that as a coaching staff.Related

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Challenge of the unknown for Labuschagne and Australia

“What happens outside of that with the process they run and how that looks is entirely up to the admin base to work through that and I’m sure they won’t be making that a distraction for us at all. The coaching stuff is well and truly in the background for us here.”When Langer resigned earlier this month CA chief executive Nick Hockley indicated the board would look for one replacement rather than splitting the roles between red and white ball, although speaking to ABC Radio, Henderson said it was a topic he would take more soundings on.”I’m open to advice on that [split coaching],’ he said. “I think it is a very time-consuming role for one individual and maybe a more distributed method of coaching is the way of the future. They’re the sort of things that are playing out at the moment. We are going for a single head coach to be installed in the near future.”How it plays out after that will depend a bit on that appointment, their availability and how that works across all forms of the game in what’s going to be a really busy 12 to 18 months. It may be that person is not available for every single tour around the world over the next 18 months.”George Bailey, the national selector, is of the view that the new head coach sitting out some series would not present a major challenge – it was used during the Langer era with McDonald leading limited-overs tours of India and New Zealand, while he was due to oversee the recent Sri Lanka T20Is before Langer’s departure.”Essentially, what you’re after is trying to find the very best person for the role, and you want to keep them in there as long as possible,” he said. “If that means that they don’t do absolutely every tour that’s fine.”I don’t think there’s an easy answer. I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all and I don’t necessarily think whichever structure is landed on by Cricket Australia will necessarily be the right one when you next have to make that appointment.”For now, McDonald is enthused by the challenge that lies ahead over the next few weeks in Pakistan as Australia tour the country for the first time in 24 years.”I’ll work through it once we see what the job looks like,” he said. “There’s been some speculation around split roles, whether it’s one coach and all that type of thing, that’ll all come out. The key thing for us is to focus on the cricket. We’ve got a big job in the next three days, then getting the preparation right when we land, so that’s where are our thoughts are firmly focused to give these players the best opportunity to succeed.”You can see the excitement within the group. It’s a little bit of the unknown as well and think that’s always exciting going somewhere people haven’t been before. We’ve got a creative element to what we can do as well on the back of Australian teams not being there for a period of time.”

Wolves now readying 2025 move to sign "elite" £15k-p/w attacker for O’Neil

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Wolves are now preparing to make a 2025 move to sign a new forward who has caught the eye with several strong performances in Europe, according to a fresh report.

Gary O'Neil secures back-to-back Wolves wins

A 4-1 thrashing of Fulham, thanks largely to an excellent performance from Matheus Cunha, meant that Wolves grabbed their second successive win of the season as they look to recover from a woeful start to the Premier League campaign.

Without a victory in their opening 10 games, a 2-0 win over bottom-of-the-league Southampton got the ball rolling before a hefty win over Fulham helped Gary O’Neil’s side move out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Cunha

With a promising fixture list ahead, the Old Gold will be hoping that they can continue their upward momentum and pull clear of the drop between now and the New Year when they next face a side in the top half of the Premier League.

Bournemouth (Home)

Everton (Away)

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Leicester City (Away)

“It’s probably one of my favourite performances in my time as a coach. We knew this was going to be a really tough test with the players we were missing”, O’Neil explained after the Fulham win.

“It wasn’t as if we nicked a win today – I thought we were good value. It’s something that the players deserve. We’ve had a really good response to a tough afternoon at Brentford.”

Now, they are looking for additional firepower, and could turn to a former Leicester City man to secure it.

Wolves chasing 2025 move for "elite" forward

That comes as one report has suggested that Wolves are already “planning to make an offer” for 24-year-old forward Yunus Akgun.

Forget Cunha: Wolves' "tenacious" star could be their next big-money sale

The Wolves star could go for double what they paid for him

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 27, 2024

The Turkish international had a season on loan with Leicester City in the Championship but failed to catch the eye, and has since returned to Galatasaray, where he has turned in a series of excellent performances.

Akgun, whose technique was described as “elite” by the Europa League account on X, has shone in that competition so far this campaign, with four goals in four games so far, including finding the net against Tottenham.

And it is claimed that Wolves are “closely following the young star”, and that “the plan is to make an offer to him, or for him, at the end of the season if he continues to perform as he has so far”.

Though no fee is mentioned, Akgun will be in the final year of his £15k per week deal in Turkey, which could make him a potential bargain as Galatasaray fight not to lose him for nothing.

With Cunha among the Wolves stars linked with a move away from the club in the coming transfer windows, the Old Gold may well be looking to reinforce their attack pre-emptively, and Akgun would certainly be a low-cost option.

Arsenal get their man! Andrea Berta snubs ‘top-level opportunities’ to join Gunners – with Premier League giants finding sporting director successor to Edu

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Arsenal are set to appoint former Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta as their replacement for Edu in the same role.

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Berta to replace Edu at ArsenalArrives after long stint at Atletico MadridSigned off on huge dealsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Berta left Atletico after 12 years in January and has been considered a chief option for the Gunners since, considering his track record of keeping the Spanish side competitive with Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as sanctioning high-profile deals. He has previously held roles at Parma and Genoa in Italy and now The Athletic report he is set for north London.

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Berta was fundamental during a period of huge success for Atletico, who won two La Liga titles, the Europa League and finished as Champions League runners-up twice during his period at the club. He bought and sold Antoine Griezmann and Rodri for large sums and last summer spent £180 million ($232m) on Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher, Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth to regenerate Diego Simeone's squad once more.

DID YOU KNOW?

Edu left a vacancy at the Emirates in November and is set to take a role overseeing Evangelos Marinakis' multi-club network. That group includes 2024-25 Premier League surprise package Nottingham Forest.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal look set to finalise the appointment of Berta during a crucial period of their season. Their Premier League hopes hang by a thread, sitting 16 points behind leaders Liverpool with two games in hand ahead of their game at Manchester United on Sunday, but they are almost certainly in the Champions League quarter-finals after thrashing PSV 7-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Nida Dar helps Pakistan end 18-match World Cup losing streak

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Claims career-best figures of 4 for 10 to restrict West Indies to 89 for 7 in rain-hit game

S Sudarshanan21-Mar-2022Pakistan Women 90 for 2 (Muneeba 37, Selman 1-15) beat West Indies Women 89 for 7 (Dottin 27, Dar 4-10) by eight wickets
20 overs per sidePakistan aced the trial by spin on a Seddon Park surface where run-making was not easy to end their record 18-match losing streak in Women’s World Cup. Playing her first match in the competition, left-hand batter Muneeba Ali scored 37 off 43 balls and helped chase down 90, with seven balls and eight wickets to spare, in a 20-overs-per-side game.The win got Pakistan their first points while jolting West Indies’ chances of making the semi-finals. The last team Pakistan had beaten in a World Cup was also West Indies, back in 2009.Muneeba played out a maiden off Hayley Matthews in the first over of the chase, but soon got a measure of her, hitting the offspinner for back-to-back fours in the third over. She also worked the offspin of Anisa Mohammed behind square on the leg side and ran well between the wickets to help Pakistan get off to a positive start.Afy Fletcher, who troubled Bangladesh in the previous game, struck immediately to dismiss Sidra Ameen, who went for a wild slog to be bowled. But Muneeba found the ropes in three out of next five overs to keep Pakistan in front at the halfway stage. Her partnership with captain Bismah Maroof also stood out for the numerous tap-and-runs to rotate strike, something Pakistan were guilty of in their previous outings.But Shakera Selman’s introduction saw Muneeba slice a short ball to backward point. This, after she saw a catch go down as well as survive a run-out chance – both off the same delivery, a ball before her dismissal.Maroof then found an ally in young Omaima Sohail, who survived some nervy moments to help Pakistan see through the chase with minimum drama, an anomaly given the number of close finishes this tournament has seen.It was the magic of Nida Dar, who picked up her career-best ODI figures earlier, that helped Pakistan keep West Indies to 89 for 7 after a delay of over five hours due to rain and wet outfield.Deandra Dottin hit a flurry of fours in the first three overs, including three in an over off Diana Baig, after Pakistan opted to bowl. But from the other end, left-arm spinner Anam Amin, who came into the XI for Ghulam Fatima, kept it tight by bowling a maiden in the final over of the four-over powerplay.That brought about a wicket for Pakistan as Hayley Matthews top-edged one to backward point off Fatima Sana in a bid to break free. Captain Maroof kept the pressure on by bowling Amin’s four overs at one go and bringing on another left-arm spinner in Nashra Sandhu soon after.Dar struck with her first ball to dismiss Dottin for 27 as West Indies’ scoring rate dropped further on a surface aiding the spinners. Stafanie Taylor promoted herself up to No. 3 but failed to have the desired impact, eventually falling for 18 off 31 to Sandhu, who delivered a wicket-maiden in the 17th over of the innings.Apart from Dottin, Taylor and Fletcher, no other West Indies batter could get into double digits as Dar ran through the middle order, picking two wickets in two balls at one point. Offspinner Sohail also made inroads by getting one to spin past Chedean Nation to bowl her.Fletcher and Aaliyah Alleyne struck some useful blows towards the end, adding an unbroken 26 off 23 balls for the eighth wicket. But it wasn’t enough for them to notch up a fourth win that could have smoothened their passage to the semi-finals.

Move over Deki: Spurs have found their very own Odegaard in £63m "magician"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur might just be the most inconsistent team in the Premier League.

In the last month or so, Ange Postecoglou’s side have handed Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first wins of the season while then demolishing Aston Villa 4-1 and, most impressively, embarrassing Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad.

Fans will be hoping that the unexpected result against Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut will see the North Londoners embark on a run of good form, and based on the performances of their players in that game, we wouldn’t be surprised if that happens.

From top to bottom, Postecoglou’s starting lineup reminded the rest of the league just how good they are, and there’s one player in the Australian’s squad who’s beginning to look like Tottenham’s answer to Martin Odegaard.

Spurs' creative midfield talent

Before we get onto the player in question, let’s examine a few of the other creative midfielders exceeding expectations for Spurs this season, starting with someone who loves playing at the Etihad, Dejan Kulusevski.

Now, the Swedish maestro did start off the right of Dominic Solanke for the game on Sunday but has mainly played in midfield this season, and to say he’s adapted to life in the middle of the park well would be a colossal understatement.

Of his eight goal involvements this season, six of them have come in central or attacking midfield roles, and according to FBref, which compares players in Europe’s top five leagues, the former Juventus ace sits in the top 1% of midfielders for expected assists, touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the top 4% for shot-creating actions, per 90.

Another of the club’s midfield gems who hasn’t been quite as impressive as Kulusevski but has still shown glimpses of promise is fellow Swede Lucas Bergvall.

The 18-year-old has only played 325 minutes of first-team action so far, but in that, the “uber-complete” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has provided two assists and shown more than enough for fans to get excited about just how good he’ll be a few years down the line.

That said, neither he nor his older compatriot are looking like the club’s answer to Odegaard. That accolade goes to another creative midfielder.

Spurs' own Odegaard

So, it’s probably fairly obvious at this point that the Spurs ace who is Ange’s own Odegaard is, of course, James Maddison, whom FOTmob now value at €75m, which is £63m.

The Englishman was once heavily compared to the Norwegian in 2021 when it looked as if Arsenal were trying to decide which one to sign, and while things haven’t been all plain sailing for the former Foxes star in North London, he’s starting to show that he can be just as good.

For example, like the former Real Madrid wonderkid, he’s just as adept at scoring goals as he is creating them, as evidenced by his Lilywhites tally of nine goals and 13 assists in 46 appearances, compared to 11 goals and 14 assists in 55 appearances for the Norwegian in the same period.

Moreover, while the Drammen-born dynamo is the Gunners’ captain, Postecoglou made the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by analyst Statman Dave, one of the club’s co-vice-captains last summer, which is about the most he could do with Son Heung-min still in the side.

Furthermore, Maddison’s leadership qualities were on show in the match against City, as he maintained his composure, scored two goals and continued to lead by example as the game progressed.

Finally, when we look at their underlying creative numbers from the entirety of last season, as the Arsenal man has missed so much of this season, we see that, once again, the pair are incredibly similar.

For example, according to FBref, they rank very closely in several important metrics, including non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key and live passes, shot and goal-creating actions and passing accuracy, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.47

0.55

Progressive Carries

2.65

2.45

Progressive Passes

10.0

9.45

Passing Accuracy

84.3%

80.7%

Key Passes

2.97

2.83

Live Passes

55.0

55.8

Shot-Creating Actions

6.41

6.79

Goal-Creating Actions

0.67

0.80

Ultimately, while there are times Maddison fades out of games, his unreal innate talent is undeniable, and as he continues to improve this season, it will become more apparent that he is Postecoglou and Spurs’ answer to Odegaard.

Spurs star who got sold by Poch for big money has become an 'embarrassment'

The veteran international has not had a great season so far.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 26, 2024

'Not nice' – Bruno Fernandes fires back at Sir Jim Ratcliffe after Man Utd co-owner's 'overpaid' comments and gives his honest opinion on Roy Keane

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Bruno Fernandes has hit back at Sir Jim Ratcliffe over his claims that some Manchester United players were 'overpaid' and 'not good enough'.

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Captain not pleased with co-owner commentsRatcliffe said several United players 'overpaid'Fernandes says 'club agrees to contracts'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ratcliffe criticised a number of United players in a series of interviews this week and Fernandes admitted that the INEOS chief and Red Devils' co-owners comments had not gone down well in the dressing room.

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Fernandes told reporters: "We need to prove ourselves every day in training, every day that we have a game. We can’t relax at this club. You know that there's a big standard, a big attention that you get from the media, from everywhere. You need to realise that sometimes you need to put your focus on your game, trying to improve yourself. It's not nice to hear certain things obviously. I don't think that any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you're not good enough or you're overpaid or whatever. Everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to do the contracts at the time you come here or at the time you do a new contract or whatever and it's about yourself proving that you can be important for the club."

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Fernandes scored a hat-trick as United thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 at Old Trafford to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League. It was just the latest in a long line of talismanic performances from the Portuguese, although certain pundits continue to criticise his attitude as well as his form. Roy Keane has doubled down on criticising the captain recently but Fernandes said he had no issue with the legendary United skippers' views on him.

He said: "No, everyone has an opinion and that's fine. I can't change the mind of people. Like everything I have to do is go on the pitch and try to do the best I can for the club. Roy Keane was an amazing captain for the club, one of the best as everyone says. I didn't have the chance to see much from him, only last few years, but was a great player that won everything for the club. He's massively respected from everyone and has all my respect. He has to give his opinion in a programme and this is what he thinks about me. What I’m doing on the pitch to try to change his mind, or trying to do something that he probably sees as a good thing. Obviously, I do it in my own way, I don't want to copy anyone. I try to be the best captain that I can for my teammates, I try to help everyone in the best way I can and the best way I know. I have a lot of things to improve, not only as a captain but as a player, as a person, as a human being and that's fine. Criticism is going to be always part and it's going to make me grow and understand that there's still a long way to go."

DID YOU KNOW?

Fernandes revealed that he had received an offer to leave United last summer before signing a new contract. And despite the team's dismal campaign, he insisted he was happy at Old Trafford. He explained: "I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave, we talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying. They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with Ten Hag also. He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild that they want to do in a different way. I heard what they had to tell me. I thought that we could be successful. Unfortunately, we didn't start the season very well. Erik had to lose his job by the results we had and the performance we had, but the fault was on everyone and everyone together with the manager.

"Now we are in a different moment with a new manager that thinks in a different way, that has a different way of playing. I'm still very happy at the club, I'm being always happy at the club to play for this club, to represent the club is a big honour for me. It doesn't matter where we are in the league, it will always be an honour for me to be at this club and I will try my best to keep the club fighting for everything we can."

ICC quarterly meeting: Bilateral calendar, quadrangular T20 event proposal in focus

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The game’s chief executives will meet on Friday to continue scheduling discussions which will eventually give face to the next FTP

Osman Samiuddin08-Apr-2022The game’s future bilateral calendar comes into sharp focus again in Dubai this weekend, as cricket boards get together for the ICC’s quarterly meetings. The game’s chief executives are meeting in person for only the second time since the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday to continue scheduling discussions that began last year which will eventually give face to the next Future Tours Programme (FTP).There is little expectation that a calendar will be finalised at the end of this weekend, but the meeting is expected to be the first in which attention will be devoted to bilateral commitments from 2023 onwards.Related

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ICC 'confident' 2025 Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan

Over the last year, the building blocks of the calendar – the ICC events for the next cycle – have been finalised. A decision was made to continue with the World Test Championship but scrap the ODI Super League.With most Full Members now operating a domestic T20 league, all that remains is to squeeze the bilateral commitments of the WTC into the calendar. Boards have had virtual discussions but will now get into a room and go through what one official likened to “speed-dating” to chalk out their series for the next cycle. Those commitments will then have to be run past their own boards before they are finalised.It should not be that complicated a process. Every member plays six series – three home and three away – over a two-year WTC cycle and with only nine members in the league, it’s a matter of picking six out of eight opponents and deciding where to play.In Pakistan’s case, it is even simpler: without India they only have to secure six series out of seven opponents. The PCB plans to negotiate nothing less than three-Test series in the cycle but their challenges in these discussions – of balancing international commitments with domestic leagues – are illustrative of what some boards are facing.Two ICC tournaments in the next cycle – the Champions Trophy Pakistan are due to host in 2025 and the men’s T20 World Cup the following year – are scheduled for February. That eats into Pakistan’s home season as well as their preferred February-March window for the PSL. Another logistical consideration by then will be that Ramadan – on the Islamic lunar calendar – will be occurring in those months.It is a calendar proposal by the PCB chairman Ramiz Raja that has received attention in the run-up to these meetings. Ramiz will present a proposal for a quadrangular T20 event in which he sees the two biggest bilateral rivalries in cricket – India vs Pakistan and Australia vs England – playing a single-league tournament annually.The likelihood of the proposal being accepted is low, given the inherent complications: any cricket between India and Pakistan is beholden to political realities; Ramiz sees this as an ICC-run tournament, which, given how many tournaments the ICC does now run, seems impractical; how the other eight Full Members feel about not being part of this tournament will also, obviously, be a factor.Indeed, the PCB itself does not hold out especially high hopes for the proposal but is likely to use it as a springboard to start discussions about the future of bilateral T20Is. Ramiz has argued that these games hold little context in the presence of franchise leagues and outside the T20 World Cup.In that light, the scrapping of the ODI Super League last November appears relevant again. It was scrapped because of the expansion of the ODI World Cup to 14 teams – the Super League was 13 teams in all, from which the top eight plus the host qualified directly. But going back to ICC rankings-based qualification means bilateral ODIs in the next FTP will also be played with minimum context.

After Monaco: £25m Arsenal man unlikely to play another minute for the club

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Arsenal came into their Champions League clash with Monaco on Wednesday evening amidst some injury chaos that had engulfed the squad.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the likes of Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber had all missed training.

Gabriel and Calafiori have missed the last three matches now, ultimately sitting out of the 3-0 win against the Ligue 1 outfit in midweek too.

That being said, Partey and Timber were both in the squad, although only one of them started; a certain Mr Partey.

The Ghanaian has been used as a makeshift right-back at times this season to cover for injured players while Timber has had to do so on the opposite side at left-back.

It’s rather remarkable that even has to be done. This Arsenal side has huge depth at full-back but not many of them can stay fit. Presently, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White both find themselves on the sidelines too.

As a result, it allowed 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly to start on Wednesday and boy did he do well.

Myles Lewis-Skelly's first Champions League start

What a performance this was from the teenager. Handed a first Champions League start by Mikel Arteta, the young Englishman took to the field at the Emirates Stadium as an inverted left-back.

He has played there before this term, notably coming off the bench in games against Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League, as well as PSG and Shakhtar Donestk.

The fact he was trusted against some of the biggest clubs across the continent speaks volumes of how highly the coaching staff rate the Hale End gem.

Speaking at full-time, Arteta waxed lyrical over the academy graduate and was in awe of the quality of performance he’d just seen from someone with just six senior appearances to their name.

That praise, however, was justified, even if he did only last just over an hour on a cold north London night. He left the field having played a pivotal part, though.

Minutes played

64

Touches

53

Accurate passes

45/47 (96%)

Key passes

0

Tackles

1

Ground duels won

4/5

Possession lost

2x

Dribble success

2/2

The teen’s best moment came in the build-up to the opening goal of the match. Lewis-Skelly was fed the ball in midfield and he was hounded quickly by a Monaco player.

Rather than getting flustered and panicking, he evaded the press in beautiful fashion before playing a pass with surgical precision into Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian was guilty of missing two gilt-edged opportunities before this but made amends on this occasion, sweeping the ball into Bukayo Saka who scored the first of his two goals on the night.

A host of Arsenal players immediately rushed towards Lewis-Skelly for his genius piece of play and rightfully so.

After this performance, Arteta will no doubt have been given a healthy selection dilemma. As we’ve seen with fellow teenager Ethan Nwaneri, these Hale End stars are almost showing that they’re too good to miss out.

Injuries dependant, we could well see Lewis-Skelly back in that inverted role against Everton on Saturday but that doesn’t particularly bode well for a couple of players.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Lewis-Skelly's emergence is bad news for £25m Arsenal man

Having been selected at left-back against Man United a week ago, Zinchenko was primed for another start against Fulham and Monaco but didn’t make the squads due to injury.

We knew the Ukranian was unlikely to be fit over 24 hours before this match which sparked a debate, would the lesser-spotted Kieran Tierney play?

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.

Arteta hinted he could well get minutes in his pre-match press conference, saying that he’d earned an opportunity.

Sadly for the Scot, he didn’t see a single minute of action against Monaco and was left to rue a night where he would have featured for the first time in 16 months in Arsenal colours.

Tierney spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad and then picked up an injury during Euro 2024 when he was in action for Scotland.

Since then it’s been a case of rehab for the £25m signing and he’s appeared in a few squads since returning to the grass for full training at London Colney.

Signed for

£25m

Games

124

Goals

5

Assists

13

That said, you do now have to question the defender’s future at the club even more. This looked like a time for the former Celtic man to revive his career in London but in spite of several defensive injuries, it was an 18-year-old who was picked ahead of him.

Now, had the night gone awfully for Lewis-Skelly then Tierney’s worries over game time may not be so big. Unfortunately for him, the teenager had a mighty fine night that has bumped the Scotland international even further down the pecking order at left-back.

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.

To put it simply, it would be a surprise if we ever saw the 27-year-old play another minute for Arsenal.

It’s a sad eventuality, it really is. 124 appearances have fallen his way since moving from north of the border. So good were his displays throughout most of that time that he was described as the Gunners’ “future captain” by his fellow Scot and pundit, Ally McCoist.

Alas, that dream will never become a reality. In January, an exit surely looms for Tierney.

Arsenal have found one of the best Emirates-era signings all for just £38m

The incredible international has been brilliant for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 10, 2024

Craig Overton leads Somerset fightback on truncated second day

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

England quick follows determined batting with inspired spell to dent Hampshire’s progress

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2022Hampshire 144 for 5 (Holland 49, Overton 3-21) trail Somerset 211 (Overton 44, Abbott 3-60) by 67 runsCraig Overton claimed his 400th first-class wicket as Somerset fought back strongly at the end of a rain-shortened second day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Hampshire at Taunton.The visitors looked to be cruising towards a first-innings lead when reaching 107 for one in reply to 211, Ian Holland leading the way with 49.But the final session saw Overton produce an inspired seven-over spell, removing Holland and James Vince, as Hampshire lurched to 117 for four before closing on 144 for five.The England seamer ended the day with three for 21 from 18 overs, keeping his side in the game as they led by 67 runs.Early morning rain created a wet outfield and no play was possible before lunch. The action got underway at 1.40pm with Hampshire immediately looking to be positive and make up for lost time.Felix Organ, unbeaten on 15 overnight, played Overton through the offside for four, but in the same over, the second of the day, he threw the bat at a wide one and edged a chest-high catch to Lewis Gregory at third slip.New batsman Nick Gubbins faced a testing start. But Somerset’s seam attack, Overton apart, were unable to match the nagging accuracy of their Hampshire counterparts on the opening day.Some loose deliveries allowed Gubbins and Holland to take the total to 63 for one from 26 overs when a problem with the ball led to it being changed.It was 69 for one when the rain returned to cause a break in play. Holland had moved to 36, playing and missing at times, but also employing careful shot selection to take few risks.Play resumed at 3.20pm and Gubbins soon produced the shot of the day, a superbly timed back-foot stroke that sent the ball racing past bowler Gregory for four.Gubbins followed up with two boundaries off the next over, sent down by Josh Davey, and was looking in ominous form.He had moved to 26 when more rain sent the players off. Tea was taken, with Hampshire 95 for one from 36 overs, with Holland unbeaten on 44.Somerset desperately needed a breakthrough when play resumed at 5.30pm with a possible 19 overs left in the day.They got it when Overton finally found the outside edge of Holland’s bat as he pushed forward and wicketkeeper Steve Davies took a straightforward catch.Holland had faced 111 balls and hit three fours. It was Overton’s 400th first-class wicket and he continued to be the pick of a Somerset attack, who didn’t enjoy the best of luck.With his score on 34, Gubbins edged Peter Siddle just short of Overton in the slips, having been beaten by the previous delivery.Siddle then struck in controversial circumstances when Gubbins, on 36, was judged caught behind by umpire Alex Wharf stretching forward to a ball just outside off stump.Gubbins stood for several seconds in disbelief over the decision before dragging himself off. Before they knew it, Hampshire were 117 for four as Vince fell lbw to an Overton delivery that nipped back off the seam.Ben Brown and Liam Dawson quickly added 27 before what proved the last delivery of the day saw Dawson trapped plumb lbw playing across a ball from Gregory.