Tag Futebol

Big picture – tackling spin top of teams’ agenda

How to bat on this Mirpur pitch is a question that might be baffling both Bangladesh and West Indies ahead of the second ODI, to be played on Tuesday. The Bangladesh batters spent a long time in the middle, visualising, the day before the game, all standing in a circle, with head coach Phil Simmons providing the sermon. West Indies have suggested that they picked up a clue or two by watching their opponents in the first ODI, which produced just 340 runs in 88.4 overs.What’s for certain is that Bangladesh will double down on their spin-to-win strategy after they added Nasum Ahmed to the ODI squad. The left-armer picked up five wickets in three T20Is against Afghanistan recently, a tally bettered only by Rashid Khan in that series. He will complement Tanvir Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, who took a six-wicket haul this weekend.Related

• 'I stuck to my process' – Rishad makes light work of dark pitch

Bangladesh, however, are looking for improvement in the batting. They put up a modest 207 in the first ODI, with Towhid Hridoy the only half-century-maker. Newcomer Mahidul Islam also made an important contribution (46 off 76). But, overall, Bangladesh batted slowly. They are yet to get out of the habit of playing too many dot balls and finding too few boundaries.West Indies will also look for batting improvement after getting bowled out for 133. Brandon King and Alick Athanaze went after the spinners in the first game but both of them fell to Rishad, and that was followed by a collapse. There was not much resistance from even the likes of Shai Hope and Roston Chase, the only batters in the line-up to have previous experience of playing ODIs in Bangladesh.The bowlers therefore will once again have to keep West Indies in the contest. Jayden Seales took three wickets while Khary Pierre, playing his first ODI in five years, bowled well for just one wicket. But Chase and Gudakesh Motie have to get among the wickets, especially in these conditions.

Form guide

Bangladesh WLLLL
West Indies LWWLLRishad Hossain picked up six wickets in the first ODI•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight – Rishad Hossain and Brandon KingRishad Hossain coming to Bangladesh’s rescue both with the bat and the ball in the first ODI is exactly what is expected of him. Six wickets and a quick 26 would be too much to ask of him every day, but a legspinner has to provide breakthroughs where other bowlers fail. Another bag of wickets could bring the ODI series to a favourable end for his team.Brandon King was one of the few West Indies batters to show a positive mindset in the first ODI. He struck boundaries with ease until Rishad had him caught behind for 44 off 60. As long as King was at the crease, West Indies had hope. He added 51 runs for the opening stand with Athanaze, who also attacked the Bangladesh spinners while the ball was new. King, though, carried on for a bit more. The problem was King getting out after getting set, something he can’t afford to do.

Team news – WI lose Shamar, Blades to injuries

Bangladesh usually rotate their fast bowlers every game so Hasan Mahmud or Tanzim Hasan Sakib are likely call-ups.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Soumya Sarkar, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mahidul Islam, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 7 Nurul Hasan (wk), 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 10 Tanvir Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanA day out from the game, West Indies appeared likely to trust the same batters to do better on this difficult Dhaka pitch. Can they cope with the injury-enforced absences of Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades? Akeal Hosein and Ramon Simmonds have been added to the squad as their replacements for the remaining two ODIs.West Indies (probable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Alick Athanaze, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt, wk), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Gudakesh Motie, 8 Justin Greaves, 9 Romario Shepherd, 10 Khary Pierre, 11 Jayden SealesKhary Pierre came away with figures of 10-2-19-1 on Saturday•AFP/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions – complexion of the pitch in focus

There is unlikely to be much change in the pitch, which looked unusually dark, for the second ODI. There is dry weather in the forecast.

Stats and trivia – Pierre returns after five years

• Tanvir Islam bowled his most expensive over in international cricket in the first ODI, when he conceded 18 runs.
• Bangladesh used just seven (of 39) overs of pace in the first ODI, only the fifth occasion they have bowled seven or fewer overs in a match that they won.
• Khary Pierre returned to the West Indies playing XI after missing 73 ODIs since January 2020.

Quotes

“It is a lot of pressure if you don’t do well on these kind of surfaces. I just try to keep it simple and stick to my plans. I think once you put the ball in the right areas and do not go wicket-hunting, I think it will be the best suitable for the wicket. You can leak runs if you try to go wicket-hunting.”

Liverpool made sweeping changes in the summer transfer window, going where no team had gone before in spending more than £400m in a single transfer window.

A multitude of sales meant the total net spend fell behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, but the scale of Liverpool’s transformation cannot be understated, with FSG breaking the British transfer record twice.

First, Florian Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, and the world-class playmaker has been one of the most worrying parts of Arne Slot’s side’s struggles this season, yet to score or assist in the top flight.

Alexander Isak has been a concern too, signing on deadline day for £125m. The former Newcastle United striker was called “the best striker in the Premier League” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher last year, but injuries and a struggle to click under Slot’s wing have left him with one goal and one assist across all competitions so far.

These players have to come good. Surely they will. These are two of the world’s finest, after all. However, the blunder of the Darwin Nunez deal serves as a cautionary tale that FSG perhaps haven’t heeded.

Why Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez

Nunez is one of the biggest and most frustrating enigmas of recent times at Liverpool. A maverick of a forward, the 25-year-old was horribly inconsistent across his three years at the club, only scoring 25 Premier League goals in total and missing so many more golden opportunities.

Given that he signed from Benfica for what would have been a club-record £85m fee (not reached due to clauses being left unmet), Nunez can only be considered a flop of a signing, never able to string together the prolificness needed to lead the line at Liverpool.

The likes of Wirtz and Isak will be worried that they face assuming similar reputations, no doubt, although both have arrived at Liverpool from a higher station than Nunez, who was sold to Al-Hilal this summer.

In any case, Nunez will be remembered fondly for his efforts and, for the most part, tenacity in a Liverpool shirt, but it’s clear that had Liverpool’s fortunes been bleaker across his years at the club, he would have faced more scathing rebuke.

And that might be the case for one new Redman. This player arrived this summer for a hefty fee and looks utterly lost in Slot’s system. In this, he is in danger of falling into a similar category.

The Liverpool star in danger of becoming Nunez 2.0

Signed from Bournemouth this summer for a £45m fee, Kerkez arrived at Liverpool with a weight of expectation and a reputation as one of the most exciting young left-backs in the world.

He was breathtaking in Andoni Iraola’s team last year, but Kerkez has fallen by the wayside across the opening months of his move to Merseyside.

Kerkez’s transfer fee might come in at less than half of that of someone like Nunez, but this is still a pretty penny for a full-back, and he faces a plummet into similar territory as the Uruguayan if he fails to hit a consistent vein of form.

There’s no question that this young man has what it takes to thrive at Liverpool; he was included in the 2024/25 PFA Team of the Year, after all.

However, Kerkez has really struggled across these opening months in Liverpool, a shadow of that south coast star.

Erratic and at odds with the tactical role that has been provided for him, the 22-year-old has lost his place in the starting line-up in recent weeks, unable to effectively add to the build-up.

Last season, Kerkez ranked among the top 12% of Premier League full-backs for progressive carries per 90 (2.86), but this has been reduced under Slot’s wing, ranking among the bottom 36% this year, with a 1.55 average (data courtesy of FBref).

But the wider shift of Kerkez’s tactical role is more clearly understood when looking at the wider scope of his malaise since that big-money transfer to Liverpool.

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

10 (9)

Goals

2

1

Assists

5

0

Touches*

59.6

50.8

Accurate passes*

28.6 (80%)

27.5 (86%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.5

Dribble (success)*

0.6

0.3

Recoveries*

4.7

2.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.6

Clearances*

2.6

3.4

Duels won*

4.0 (54%)

3.7 (61%)

Errors made

4x

2x

The £75k-per-week talent is no longer making those overlapping runs into the box, and neither has he found fluency and balance in his creativity this season. Given that he has been branded a “nervous wreck” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, it’s hard to see what he is offering his new club at this present moment, and that is why he has been benched for the Reds’ past two matches in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Of course, it is far too early to write Kerkez off, and this argument has been formed to underline the need for improvements on Kerkez’s part, but also with the hope for patience. This is a young and talented left-back who is struggling to perform in a system that has malfunctioned across the past several months.

Let’s not forget how Robertson struggled to adapt in Klopp’s team after joining from relegated Hull City for about £8m in 2016. Imagine if Liverpool had sold the Scotsman after that up-and-down maiden year, written him off before he ripened.

Equally, we cannot ignore the depths of Kerkez’s struggles since joining Liverpool, so incongruent on the flank of Slot’s system.

Given the coach’s need for hearty contribution from his full-backs in the build-up, it’s somewhat confusing that Kerkez has been signed for a big-money fee; he is an athletic, touchline-hugging kind of player, darting up and down and getting involved in attacks and stretching the width of his side.

Whether Liverpool fashion a superstar out of this young Hungarian is anyone’s guess at this stage, but we know he needs to do more, lest he fall into a similar category as Nunez before him, signed for a big fee after hitting heights in a smaller sphere but ultimately tripping up when heading down Anfield Road and putting on the heavy Liverpool shirt.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

حُسمت هوية المنتخبات المتأهلة لدور الـ8 من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، بعد انتهاء منافسات دور الـ 16 للمسابقة العالمية.

وتقام بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا، بدولة قطر، من الفترة 3 نوفمبر وتنتهي 27 من الشهر ذاته.

طالع..مواجهات دور الـ 8 من كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عاما

منتخب مصر بقيادة أحمد الكاس، ودع منافسات بطولة كأس العالم من دور الـ 32 بعد خسارته أمام سويسرا 3-1، وذلك بعدما تأهل من دور المجموعات كأفضل مركز ثالث ضمن أفضل المنتخبات التي احتلت المركز الثالث للمجموعات الـ12.

على الجانب الآخر، حسم منتخب المغرب تأهله إلى دور الـ 8 بالفوز على مالي بنتيجة 3-2، كممثل وحيد للكرة العربية في المسابقة. المنتخبات المتأهلة لدور الـ 8 من كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

1- إيطاليا

2- البرتغال

3- سويسرا

4- بوركينا فاسو

5- اليابان

6- البرازيل

7-المغرب

8-النمسا

On the brink of a new era at Ibrox, the 49ers have already been handed one request by the next Rangers manager, who is beginning to form his backroom team.

Gerrard on the brink of Rangers return

It’s been an incredibly busy week for Rangers, who called time on Russell Martin’s tenure last week following a disastrous spell in charge. The former Southampton boss lasted just 123 days and picked up just one win in seven Scottish Premiership games. It was a run that simply could not go on, no matter how badly the 49ers wanted their first appointment to work out.

Since then, it has been all hands to the pump in their search for a new manager which is seemingly about to end with Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend is reportedly on the brink of returning to Ibrox in his first job in management since leaving Al-Ettifaq in January. Arriving with it all to do, Gerrard will be hoping to achieve the same success as his last tenure, having won Rangers’ 55th league title.

Gerrard, according to former England teammate Rio Ferdinand, is chomping at the bit to get back in the technical area and now has the chance to do exactly that at the club he’s had the most success as a manager.

Rangers have already lined up his backroom staff, with Jermain Defoe, Gary McAllister and Steven Davis set to return to the club with him alongside another previously unnamed coach, who has now been revealed.

Gerrard requests Steve Holland at Rangers

According to The Daily Record, Gerrard now wants Rangers to hire Steve Holland as part of his backroom staff in his first request as manager. The former England coach has been out of a coaching role since managing Yokohama Marinos in Japan in a short spell earlier this year, but could now hand Gerrard a major boost.

Rangers on verge of hiring new manager who shares agent with £100m+ Real Madrid superstar

The Gers are closing in on the appointment.

ByBen Goodwin Oct 10, 2025

Having been the England assistant for four years from 2013 to 2016, Holland is someone that the former Liverpool midfielder should know well and given that Michael Beale’s Rangers return seems unlikely, the Gers should go all out to welcome his preferred choice.

The 45-year-old recently spoke about the importance of leaning on his backroom staff, including Defoe and McAllister.

Whilst they will be important appointments for Gerrard, the experience that a man like Holland would provide is simply invaluable at this stage of his managerial career.

Tottenham Hotspur return to action at the end of this week with a clash against Aston Villa at home in the Premier League after the international break.

The Lilywhites are currently third in the table, with one loss in seven matches, and Thomas Frank will be hoping that his team continues to thrive in the top-flight.

He may, however, look for more from certain players in the coming weeks. Xavi Simons, for example, is yet to score a goal since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer.

The Netherlands international, as shown in the graphic below, hit double figures for goals in the 2024/25 campaign for the German outfit before his move to England.

These statistics suggest that there is more to come from the attacking midfielder, who played in a central midfield role against Leeds United last time out, as a goalscoring threat.

Frank needs the Dutchman to step up with more goals and assists this season because the Danish tactician will be without James Maddison for some time yet.

Why James Maddison's injury is a big blow for Spurs

The England international suffered an ACL injury in pre-season and is set to be out for the majority of this season. He recently revealed that his target is to return before the end of the campaign.

This means that the former Leicester and Norwich star will not be available for selection to Frank until near the end of the season at the earliest, which is a big blow because of the quality that he can provide at Premier League level.

Maddison, who has 107 goals and assists in his top-flight career (Transfermarkt), ended the 2024/25 league campaign with a return of nine goals and seven assists in 21 starts for Spurs.

The English attacking midfielder proved that he is worthy of wearing the number ten shirt for Tottenham with his performances in the Premier League, with a consistent stream of goals and assists at the top end of the pitch.

24/25 Premier League

James Maddison per 90

Percentile rank vs AMs

xG

0.29

Top 4%

Goals

0.45

Top 3%

Shots on target

0.84

Top 7%

xA

0.29

Top 4%

Chances created

2.03

Top 10%

Assists

0.35

Top 4%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Maddison ranked as one of the most effective attacking midfielders in the Premier League last season when it came to scoring and creating goals per 90.

The likes of Rafa van der Vaart, Harry Kane, Robbie Keane, Teddy Sheringham, and Glenn Hoddle all donned the number ten shirt before the Spurs star inherited it from Kane in the summer of 2023.

Maddison’s impact at the top end of the pitch, with goals and assists, shows that he is worthy of being a number ten for the club, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to get back to his best after an ACL injury.

If the England international does not get back to his best in an attacking midfield role for Spurs, that number ten shirt could be up for grabs in the not-too-distant future.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Expand Collapse

Whilst some may look to Xavi Simons as a potential successor to Maddison’s number ten shirt, there is an exciting young star in the academy system who could steal the number ten from the vice-captain.

Luca Williams-Barnett made his first-team debut for Tottenham off the bench against Doncaster in the League Cup earlier this season, and could have a bright future in North London.

Why Luca Williams-Barnett can steal the number ten shirt for Spurs

Per Transfermarkt, the 17-year-old starlet has worn the number ten shirt for Spurs at U18, U19, and U21 level so far, which shows that he is a fan of the number.

This suggests that his dream would be to wear the number ten shirt for Tottenham at first-team level in the future, but he currently has Maddison in his way and will need to emerge as a star for Frank’s team to have a shot at claiming it.

Williams-Barnett’s form for the club’s academy so far this season suggests that he is well on his way to breaking into the senior side, which would then put him into contention to steal that shirt number.

The teenage talent, who was hailed as “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored eight goals and provided five assists in ten appearances in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, which includes a three-minute appearance for the first-team.

Williams-Barnett, typically deployed as an attacking midfielder, has delivered consistent performances at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals in his number ten role.

Luca Williams-Barnett

24/25

25/26

Appearances

23

10

Minutes

1857

719

Goals

20

8

Minutes per goal

93

90

Assists

12

5

Minutes per assist

155

144

Minutes per goal contribution

58

55

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the 17-year-old starlet’s form since the start of last season has been breathtaking, with a goal or an assist every hour or so on average.

Not only is Williams-Barnett an output machine who can score and create goals at an exceptional rate, but the Spurs sensation also “scores bangers”, per analyst Ben Mattinson on X.

That comment from Mattinson is backed up by the two goals from the attacking midfielder in the video above, as it shows that he is an effective finisher from range.

However, it is now down to Williams-Barnett to prove that he can score and create goals at an impressive rate for the senior team, as he has done at U18, U19, and U21 level so far.

Related 18-year-old Spurs gem is a "superstar" with more talent than Vuskovic

Tottenham Hotspur have a whole host of exciting youngsters to watch out for.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Oct 13, 2025

If Frank provides the England U18 international with a chance to play regular minutes for the first-team, the impressive attacking midfielder may just steal Maddison’s number ten shirt in the future.

There is a lot to be happy about as an Arsenal fan at the moment.

While the games against Liverpool and Manchester United weren’t great, Mikel Arteta has got his team playing a more entertaining brand of football this season, which has seen them score 11 goals in five games so far.

Moreover, the attacking additions to the team seem to be adapting well, with Eberechi Eze getting an assist on his first start, Viktor Gyokeres already scoring three, and Noni Madueke looking like a serious threat on the right.

On top of all of that, Hale End seems to have produced another superstar in Max Dowman, although there is another youngster in the squad who could have just as high a ceiling.

Max Dowman's incredible rise

While those with a real knowledge of academy football would have been aware of Dowman for some time, most fans started to hear about him last season.

In just 23 appearances across a number of youth teams, totalling 1945 minutes, he put the ball in the back of the net 19 times and provided five assists for good measure.

In other words, the Chelmsford-born gem averaged 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes, which is utterly unreal and lends credence to talent scout Jacek Kulig’s bold claim that he is the “most exciting prospect” he has seen “since Lamine Yamal.”

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

The club itself clearly view him as a future star as well, as he was soon training with the first team, and while he wasn’t able to make any senior appearances last year due to rules over his age, no such barriers exist this season.

He made an instant impact on the pre-season tour, winning a penalty in the match against Newcastle United and then impressing against Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal.

The strong performances have carried on into the season proper now, with him winning another penalty against Leeds United and then being trusted to come off the bench away to Liverpool.

In all, it feels like the sky is the limit with Dowman, which could also be said for another of the club’s new young stars.

Arsenal's youngster with as much potential as Dowman

What’s so amazing for Arsenal is that, at the moment, you could argue there are a number of players with ceilings as high as Dowman, from Ethan Nwaneri to Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Chalkboard

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

However, in this instance, the player in question is a summer signing: Cristhian Mosquera.

The young Spaniard cost the club just £13m back in July, and it would be fair to say he has since made that fee look utterly absurd.

Already described as a “backline leader” last October by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the towering defender looked pretty good during pre-season, but it was against Liverpool where folk began to take notice.

He was forced on in the fifth minute to replace the injured William Saliba, and while most youngsters would wilt under such intense pressure, he played the next 85 minutes as if he was a seasoned professional with a decade of experience, making three clearances, blocking two shots, and making four tackles.

Clearances

3

Blocked Shots

2

Tackles

4

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Lost Possession

5

Touches

62

Accurate Passes

47/51 (92%)

He was even more impressive against Nottingham Forest, as on top of displaying his defensive nous, the level of opposition allowed him to show fans his ability on the ball and passing range.

In 94 minutes of action, the game-breaking “monster,” as dubbed by one analyst, took 92 touches, completed 75 passes, won 100% of his ground duels and completed eight defensive actions.

Then again, despite it being his Champions League debut, the former Valencia gem was utterly unfazed by the game on Tuesday night, not giving Bilbao even a sniff of a goal.

Ultimately, just as Dowman looks like he could be a generational attacking talent, Mosquera looks like he has everything needed to become a world-class defender, and it might not take long at all.

"This fella" – Keown blown away by Arsenal star who outshone Martinelli

There’s another member of the team who’s perhaps not getting enough credit.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 17, 2025

It’s understood that ICC’s willingness to engage with them comes as cricket prepares to make its Olympic comeback in 2028

Firdose Moonda14-Apr-2025The 25 Afghan women cricketers initially contracted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in 2020 could be the first beneficiaries of the ICC’s new support initiative, announced after their board meetings at the weekend. Nineteen of those 25 players are residing in Australia, and have support from the organisation Pitch Our Future, which hopes to work with the ICC in developing the rollout of a funding and high-performance programme for these players.ESPNcricinfo has learnt that Pitch Our Future will provide the ICC with a full list of the names of the formerly-contracted players, including those in Canada and the UK, as well as guidelines on a player-development programme which includes an education and a life-skills programme. Pitch Our Future was launched after an Afghan women’s XI played Cricket without Borders in Melbourne on January 30. It already has a fund-raising campaign, a budget for the next three years, and plans for more matches and tours, including a possible trip to the Women’s World Cup as spectators.ESPNcricinfo has established that the Afghan cricketers were not aware that there were any plans by the ICC to assist them, and had not had any communication from the ICC in the lead-up to their announcement of their initiative. The cricketers have been writing to the ICC for at least two years, most recently with a request to be recognised as a refugee team, which went unanswered.Related

ICC to formally support Afghan women cricketers

Cricket at LA28: both men's and women's events to be six-team contests

The ICC previously had an Afghanistan task force which aimed to address the issue of the ACB’s non-compliance with Full Member requirements to have a women’s team, but they were hamstrung by the rules of their own organisation. As a member-run body, the only way the ICC could recognise the Afghan women was if the ACB first did the same.The issue was in a state of inertia until last weekend when the ICC’s women’s cricket committee put forth a proposal for a task force and dedicated funding. The board voted in favour of the proposal in the majority, while the ACB neither endorsed nor opposed the initiative. The task force will be formed in the coming weeks, and will consider issues like where training camps will be held, and how matches will be organised. However, this does not yet create a pathway for the Afghanistan women’s team to compete at an international level as they are not being officially recognised by the ICC or the ACB.It is also understood that the ICC’s willingness to engage with Afghanistan’s women cricketers comes as cricket prepares to make its Olympic comeback after 128 years at LA 2028. It was recently announced that the cricket competition would be a six-team affair, and while it is not clear how qualification will be decided, the International Olympic Committee has a strict gender-equality principle in place.That means that all federations and their members must adhere to gender-equality guidelines, irrespective of whether particular members have qualified or not. FIFA, the world’s governing body for football, has pledged similar financial support to Afghanistan’s former women’s football team, who are all resident in Australia.ESPNcricinfo, meanwhile, has asked the ICC for further details, including the source of the funds for their initiative. Pitch Our Future currently runs a crowd-funding campaign, but any more money could come from an amount ring-fenced for women from the ACB’s disbursements or elsewhere.It is also not known what the extent of the BCCI, the ECB and CA’s involvement in this initiative will be after they were named as partner boards. Currently, neither the ECB nor CA is willing to play against Afghanistan in bilateral men’s cricket in protest over the lack of women’s rights in the country, but one source believes this collaboration could open the door for that to change.

Last weekend’s opening Premier League match of the season for Arsenal was a struggle.

Mikel Arteta’s men were hardly free-flowing in pre-season and that was in evidence at Old Trafford as they laboured to a 1-0 victory.

Alas, the Gunners did win and secured three points that built a platform for an incredible 5-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday evening.

Arsenal were perhaps a little slow to get going on the goals front but they eventually burst into life on a day of many positives for the north Londoners.

The biggest positives from Arsenal's win over Leeds

Let’s be honest, there was only going to be one result here this weekend. Before the game had got underway a certain Eberechi Eze was announced to the Emirates Stadium faithful as an Arsenal player.

The saga was remarkable. Eze was on the verge of signing for rivals Tottenham Hotspur only for a call between Arteta and the England international on Wednesday paved the way for an incredible hijack.

The Gunners board came together and within hours they had a deal agreed with Crystal Palace.

Once of Hale End, it marks a stunning return to the Arsenal and the thought of the 27-year-old playing in this attack is mouthwatering.

Speaking of which, it was a day of joy for Viktor Gyokeres. Last weekend, he was grilled, he was the scapegoat for an underwhelming performance away in Manchester.

In all honesty, it wasn’t his fault. Arsenal struggled to create and Gyokeres was left isolated. Well, he hit back at the critics superbly on Saturday, scoring twice.

While the Swede’s second was a well taken penalty, his first goal in a competitive match for the Gunners was an excellent one. Riccardo Calafiori, who picked up two assists on the day, pinged the ball in behind for the forward to run onto.

Gyokeres found possession in his favoured left channel, burst into the penalty area and then tucked the ball home at the near post.

For Arsenal’s big marquee signing, it was the perfect response to last weekend, but he wasn’t the only to find form.

Bukayo Saka found the net in explosive fashion while Jurrien Timber, making his first start of the campaign, bagged twice.

Chalkboard

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

So, it’s all rosy as far as the Gunners are concerned, but for a player who failed to get on the pitch, it was not an ideal day.

Arsenal star will suffer after Madueke and Eze arrivals

On Saturday, there weren’t too many surprises as far as the team sheet was concerned but it was eye-catching to see that Noni Madueke started on the left hand side of the pitch.

With Eze having also now signed, the competition for places in that area is likely to be fierce.

Madueke did not score or assist on his first start for the Gunners but it was a productive first outing, notably registering two key passes, attempting five crosses and winning half of his duels, via Sofascore.

There will be better performances to come from the summer arrival but it was perhaps a landmark day for Gabriel Martinelli.

A week ago, the £48m-rated Brazilian was given the nod and like Gyokeres, became a scapegoat for the sluggish performance that played out.

Minutes played

60

Touches

14

Accurate passes

3/5 (60%)

Shots

1

Key passes

1

Successful dribbles

0/1

Crosses

0

Possession lost

7x

Times fouled

1

Fans have seemingly run out of patience and on today’s evidence, you’d now be hard pressed to consider Martinelli a regular starter again.

In 2024/25, he started 25 of the 33 Premier League games he featured in, scoring eight times in the process. That’s a handy tally but it’s not the elite level Arteta requires to win the league.

Leandro Trossard received a pay increase in midweek but the Belgian is in a similar boat. He’s a tremendous squad player but you are unlikely to get an elite level of performance out of him on a consistent basis.

Madueke is still getting up to speed but on a day where he made his first start and Eze signed, it was damning that firstly, Martinelli wasn’t selected to start, and secondly, that he didn’t feature off the bench.

What’s more damning is that Arsenal picked up injuries too. Yet, with Martin Odegaard and Saka going off, the Brazil international was nowhere to be seen. Ethan Nwaneri and the remarkably talented 15-year-old that is Max Dowman were both preferred.

A great day for Arsenal it certainly was, but Martinelli should be fearing for his place in the side now moving forward.

With Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal continuing to do battle over Eberechi Eze’s signature, the Lilywhites have reportedly set their sights on an impressive alternative who is fighting with the Crystal Palace star for an England place.

Latest on Tottenham's Eze pursuit

With the Premier League season now underway, Spurs have just two weeks to strengthen Thomas Frank’s side. So far, the North London club have welcomed Joao Palhinha, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, with the latter particularly impressing against Paris Saint-Germain. Following the news that James Maddison is likely to miss the majority of the campaign, however, they must return to the transfer market to welcome one last star.

Book EPL Hospitality

Secure your matchday experience with Seat Unique.

Buy Premium Now

Having his own say on potential incomings recently, Frank told reporters: “We are definitely in the market in general. Of course, when players get a long term injury we need to look into that.”

The former Brentford boss will be well aware just how important it is to add a crucial creative spark back to his side in Maddison’s absence, and one player who would add that in abundance is Eze.

The Crystal Palace star has been the subject of a transfer battle between both Tottenham and Arsenal this summer, but it now looks as though it is the Lilywhites who are in pole position ahead of their North London rivals.

As Fabrizio Romano reported, Tottenham are preparing formal talks with Palace over a move to sign Eze and the player himself is now keen on the move. But even as all signs point towards Frank’s side, those in North London are still reportedly considering an alternative option.

Tottenham ready to make Rogers move

According to The Daily Mail, Tottenham are now ready to make their move for Morgan Rogers if Aston Villa open the exit door amid their PSR struggles this summer. The England midfielder is seen as a game-changing signing in North London, but whether the Villans intend to sell their star man may well be another question entirely.

Minutes

2,588

3,114

Goals

8

8

Assists

8

10

Key Passes

58

51

In terms of Eze alternatives, Rogers should sit top of Spurs’ shortlist if they are beaten to the Palace star’s signature by Arsenal. The Aston Villa midfielder went stride for stride with his England teammate last season and even outperformed him in total output.

Villa boss Unai Emery is well aware of the talent that he has on his hands too, having previously told reporters: “He is a player. He is intelligent. He understands football. When we analysed and we signed him, it was because we analysed his ability to adapt quickly to our structure.”

With a matter of weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, Rogers could yet emerge as one to keep an eye on.

Readers like you help support FootballFanCast. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

The South Korea captain has brought attacking quality to LAFC, as well as a willingness to be a face for the league

After the final whistle of LAFC's 4-1 win over Real Salt Lake Wednesday night, Son Heung-Min took time for everything. He did a TV interview, and answered each question gracefully. He smiled for fans, and took in the scenes around him. And then, after the furor had died down, he did a post-game media availability, taking on each query with the kind of effort you might expect out of a much younger, much more naive professional athlete. 

It helped, too, that he was excellent on the pitch. Son dazzled with the first of what you might suspect will be many hat-tricks for LAFC, cutting through a helpless Real Salt Lake side with the kind of razor-sharp grace that both Spurs and South Korea fans took in for years.

It was a strange evening in the scope of modern day Major League Soccer. Superstars aren't supposed to do this anymore. They don't give up spare time or smile for the cameras. They might not even impact the game that much.

For some, coming to America, kicking a ball about a bit, grabbing a paycheck, is something of an extended holiday. Even the best to ever play the game – and some of the best to ever grace the league – have treated things more like a kickabout and drive home than a sporting duty.

Yet here we have Son, who breaks that mold. So much of the conversation around his signing was about how important he would be for the Korean community, or how much he would raise the profile of MLS. That is all true. 

But what is perhaps missed, somehow, in all of this, is the fact that Son is a very good footballer who takes this job very, seriously. And for LAFC – the soccer team and brand – his impact could not be more welcome.

• MLS and the relationship with superstardom

  There are numerous facets of being a soccer superstar. It is impossible, in this landscape, to be just a fantastic player, one who pays no attention to the wider obligations of being an elite athlete. At the same time, it's difficult to be a worldwide brand and still be able to perform on the pitch.

  This is not, it must be admitted, a harsh task, in relative terms. Being famous isn't that difficult – nor should it require the empathy of the average fan. 

  But in MLS, there is a specific expectation placed on the guys who make the most money. This may be a far more stable league than it used to be, but it still leans heavily on stars and marquee signings. Yet at the same time, this country is no longer naive enough to be fooled by poor performances.

  In other words, superstardom is now about elite performance and public relations, from media obligations to helping the marketing and social media arms of a club to enhance the brand. You have to be able to do both. 

  Historically, few have been able to do it. Sure, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibhrahmovic and Thierry Henry all played good footy and answered questions after full time. But that was a different league back then. There was still a bit of anonymity. And, in all honesty, fewer people were watching.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Son, who signs autographs

  Last week, Son and the LAFC squad walked out of the team hotel in San Jose, California. Metal barricades were up, and fans in LAFC, Spurs and Korea jerseys stood behind them. Many pleaded for signatures of their shirts. One fan handed him a photo book. Selfie requests ran rampant. And Son took every second to sign every last one. 

  It was a ruthlessly efficient scene, captured on social media. But it was also quite a novel in this era, a superstar taking the time to interact with fans – seven hours from his home stadium. Some would have gotten straight onto the team bus. Others might have taken one or two photos and waved a brisk goodbye. Yet Son took the time.

  And so what? Guy signs autographs. This is what we expect of our heroes, right? They are supposed to do these things.

  The reality, of course, is that many of them don't – especially in American soccer. And Son is certainly, quite comfortably, the second most famous footballer in MLS. No one will ever catch Lionel Messi. The Argentine gets his own stratosphere.

  But Son has nearly 15 million Instagram followers. He has deals with Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Gillette and Samsung, among others. He is almost certainly the most famous Asian footballer on the planet. The symbolism is visceral – so much bigger than everyone else, so unattainable, yet taking any time for anything.

  "He plays the game the right way. He's open and honest with the media. He gives great answers. He's always got a smile on his face," former USMNT midfielder Sacha Kljestan told GOAL. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Very, very good at football

  Then again, we were all told that this would be likely. Son is, well, a good bloke. He is the smiliest man in football, the definition of a nice guy. He has certainly profited from the brand of being a good dude.  And truth be told, it seems rather genuine. Even if it is impressive, Son's good nature is no real surprise.

  What might be, though, is just how good he has been for LAFC – and so quickly. The stats make for fine reading: six matches (five of them starts), five goals, one assist. He is averaging a goal contribution every 77 minutes – a mark bested only by Messi in MLS.

  And then there's the less tangible stuff. Son presses. Son runs the channels. Son makes the off ball movements that he knows won't lead to a pass, just to draw the attention of others. He creates spaces by being there alone.

  He is scoring different kinds of goals, too. His first was a wonderful free kick, curled in from 30 yards – only the second set piece goal of his entire career. His second was a tap in at the far post. 

  But his hat-trick in Wednesday night's win was most emblematic of his career. He bagged the first with a classic dart in behind the defense. He received a pass on the run, burned a defender, and tucked home. The second was a whipped, snarling thing into the bottom corner from 25 yards. And the third was a weak foot finish off a Denis Bouanga feed.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  How LAFC benefit

  This is all rather good for LAFC, who have quietly done a wonderful job of overhauling their side. They endured a poor start to the season. Olivier Giroud was misfiring, and failing to work in Steve Cherundolo's system. It was widely assumed that they might sign Antoine Griezmann to make it all work. He committed his long term future to Atletico Madrid. Son was the unexpected answer.

  And what an answer he has been. LAFC have lost just one of his six games. Either he or Bounaga have combined for of the team's last 10 goals. The are more fluid, better balanced. And, in all honesty, they're more watchable. Soccer is a product, and LAFC, in signing Son, have created a pretty good one. 

  Another key element here is the way that Son seems to have taken to his teammates. These are the little glimpses into life that suggest something resembling harmony. When asked about his own performance Wednesday, Son swiftly went about thanking seemingly every single member of the LAFC team before acknowledging that he, too, had played quite a good game.

  He and Bouanga do each other's celebrations. There are Instagram selifes, and lockerroom celebrations. 

  "He'll play the right pass over taking the shot," former USMNT star Maurice Edu told GOAL. "He'll find ways to bring his team into the game. His body language and all that. His demeanor doesn't come across as whiny and complaining. It's more like, 'OK, how do I get my team motivated?' And those are valuable traits to have from a superstar."