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Newcastle United are nothing if not persistent. And it is this perseverance that will see Eddie Howe’s side reclaim their finest, most fluent form in the Premier League.

In the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, the Magpies are flying high, well worth their money on each account. But, sitting 13th in the league standings and with three away defeats in a row, it’s clear that improvements are needed.

The forwards need to pull it together because, at the moment, it’s all feeling a bit Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron-esque.

Newcastle sold Almiron with the view toward reshaping the frontline and making it sharper, after all.

How Howe reshaped Newcastle's frontline

When Howe arrived at Newcastle, he found a frontline led by Dwight Gayle and Callum Wilson, flanks operated by St. Maximin and Almiron.

All have been moved on now, and Almiron marks an interesting case of the ruthlessness the manager has shown since taking the hot seat in 2021.

The Paraguayan was a tenacious and dynamic attacking option for Newcastle on the right wing, but he was frustratingly inconsistent, and this was hampering the club in their fight to sustain a place at the top of the English ladder.

Of course, it was Almiron’s remarkable purple patch in 2022/23 that helped the Toon in their bid to qualify for the Champions League. This they achieved, and Almiron played his part.

Reporter Jordan Cronin perhaps summed it up best, saying as the winger prepared to return to Atlanta United in January that “you can question his ability, but never his heart.”

Miguel Almiron in the Premier League

Season

Apps

Goals (assists)

24/25

9

0 (0)

23/24

33

3 (1)

22/23

34

11 (2)

21/22

30

1 (0)

20/21

34

4 (1)

19/20

36

4 (2)

18/19

10

0 (0)

Stats via Transfermarkt

It was clear that he needed to leave when he did, but United needed to get it right when landing a successor. But have they potentially landed themselves a repeat of the South American star?

Newcastle's new version of Almiron

Almiron endeared himself to the Newcastle fanbase from the off and played a crucial role in transitioning from the bleak Mike Ashley era to the brighter fortunes of today.

But Howe knew his team needed more quality on the attacking flanks, and so Anthony Elanga was signed from Nottingham Forest this summer for a £55m fee.

The 23-year-old is a fleet-footed and creative winger, but he’s blanked across 16 matches in all competitions for Newcastle this season, and that price tag is starting to look rather steep.

Analyst Raj Chohan thought as much from the outset, commenting that Elanga was a “massive overpay” on the Tyneside outfit’s part.

However, there’s no question that there is a player in there, dangerous on the counter and effective in his playmaking.

As per data-driven platform FBref, the Sweden international actually ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90. Clearly, given that none of his assists have come since the summer, there is a player in there.

But, with Anthony Gordon also yet to score or assist in the Premier League this season, it’s not difficult to highlight the cracks in Newcastle’s attacking arsenal.

Solace will be taken from all parties in that patience is needed when signing up-and-coming talents. And Newcastle are nothing if not patient, of course, having enjoyed the highs and battled through the lows of Howe’s successful and progressive reign.

What needs to happen now is for Elanga to make headway and shake off any concerns relating to his efficiency in front of goal, or indeed supplying the scorer.

As per Sofascore, he hasn’t yet created a big chance in the top flight this term, averaging just 0.4 shots and 0.2 dribbles per game. On top of this, Elanga has lost 63% of his duels, and so it’s clear that he’s not yet even matching Almiron’s unalterable attitude and commitment on the flank.

Elanga in the Premier League for Forest

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

36 (25)

38 (31)

Goals

5

6

Assists

9

11

Shots (on target)*

1.5 (0.6)

1.1 (0.6)

Pass completion

75%

78%

Key passes*

0.9

1.3

Big chances created

14

9

Dribbles*

0.8

0.7

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

0.7

Duels (won)*

2.9 (44%)

3.0 (45%)

Data via Sofascore

As you can see, these are two successful Premier League campaigns from the talent, who has yet to find his feet after joining Newcastle this summer for a big fee and with a £100k-per-week salary.

He’s fast, and at times, ferocious, yet Elanga runs the risk of crumbling away under Howe’s wing, and while he’s a committed and hard-working player, if he cannot find a measure of form in the final third, comparisons concerning Almiron will only rise in volume and intensity.

Scoring goals is not Elanga’s forte, not in bucketloads. But there’s no denying his performances have been below the expected quality so far this season, and his two terms at the City Ground underline a creative quality that, while proven in the English top flight, has not yet surfaced at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle know they have a talented winger in their mix, and with a bit more work, he might just provide the club with the creative support they desire over the coming years.

However, Elanga has yet to show he can maintain clinical levels in black and white, and until that duck is broken, fears that PIF have replaced Almiron with Almiron will persist.

Related Newcastle star was set to be sold, now he's one of their "standout" players

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

Celtic enjoyed a mostly successful night at Parkhead as they beat Sturm Graz 2-1 to secure their first win of the league phase of the Europa League on Thursday night.

Goals from Liam Scales and Benjamin Nygren turned the game around after the Hoops found themselves 1-0 down to a wondergoal in the first half.

There were also some negatives to take away from the game, though, unfortunately, as Kelechi Iheanacho and Alistair Johnston both came off with injuries in the opening 45 minutes.

Speaking after the match, Brendan Rodgers provided an update on both players: “The first two doesn’t look great, it looks like hamstring. But okay, that’s what happens.”

Iheanacho came off with that hamstring injury in the opening four minutes of the game, which is a concern, and it remains to be seen exactly how long the Nigeria international will be out of action for.

Johnny Kenny was brought off the bench to replace the former Manchester City striker for the remainder of the game, but it is now down to Rodgers to decide whether he sticks with him for Sunday’s huge game.

Why Johnny Kenny may not start against Hearts

The Celtic head coach may take a cautious approach with this match because they are away from home against the team that are currently five points ahead of them in the Scottish Premiership table.

This means that Rodgers may not want to put his full trust in the inexperience of Kenny to lead the line for the Hoops in such a crucial match in the league season, despite a promising performance off the bench against Sturm Graz.

Minutes

86

xG

0.98

Shots

6

Goals

0

Dribbles completed

2/4

Pass accuracy

40%

Duels won

9/15

Possession lost

13x

As you can see in the table above, the Irishman got into plenty of positions to have shots at goal, taking six in total, but he gave the ball away a bit too much and failed to take the chances that came his way.

On top of some of those performance-related concerns, there may also be a concern over his lack of experience. Kenny has started one Premiership game for Celtic in 2025, per Sofascore, and scored his first league goal for the club against Aberdeen in May.

The 22-year-old centre-forward has not started a game in the Premiership for the Scottish giants so far this season, coming off the bench four times, but did score a goal in the 3-0 win over Livingston in August.

This means that Kenny may not be viewed as the best option to be given the nod as the starting centre-forward against Hearts, because he is inexperienced and raw as a young striker.

Rodgers may, instead, turn to another player to fill that position to replace the injured Iheanacho, by unleashing one of his players in a new role in his Celtic career.

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Benjamin Nygren has played all of his appearances for the Scottish giants so far this season as either a central midfielder or a right winger, per Transfermarkt, and he played off the right against Sturm Graz.

However, the Sweden international has played 39 times as a centre-forward in his career, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he is capable of operating as a central striker.

Why Celtic should start Benjamin Nygren as a striker

With Iheanacho out injured and Kenny lacking in experience and goals for the Hoops, playing Nygren as a centre-forward could make sense for this clash with Hearts.

The 24-year-old star has already played over 1,000 minutes and contributed with five goals and four assists in 15 appearances for Celtic this season, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he is a dependable squad member for the manager.

Rodgers clearly trusts him to deliver on the pitch, hence his minutes on the pitch, and that is why the head coach may want to unleash him in a new role, in terms of the current campaign, as a striker against Hearts.

Nygren, above all else, is a player who has proven that he can consistently get into goalscoring positions and score goals to win his team matches, which is a valuable trait to have.

The left-footed star missed four ‘big chances’ in the win over Sturm Graz, but his misses did not deter him from going on to score the winning goal with an excellent close-range header from Arne Engels’ corner.

Nygren, who has scored four goals in eight appearances in the Premiership for Celtic, is no stranger to the centre-forward position, or to finding the back of the net. In fact, speaking on TNT’s coverage of the win on Thursday, former Hoops boss Neil Lennon described him as a constant “threat” in front of goal.

Right winger

77

27 + 13

Centre-forward

39

16 + 3

Central midfield

20

5 + 4

Left winger

15

6 + 1

Attacking midfield

8

2 + 0

Right midfield

7

1 + 1

Left midfield

3

0 + 0

As you can see in the table above, centre-forward is his second-most featured position in his club career to date, only bettered by right wing, which shows that he is more than comfortable in that role.

His return of 16 goals in 39 appearances as a striker also suggests that he can carry his goalscoring qualities over to playing in that position, rather than only providing a goal threat from a central midfield or right wing position.

Therefore, it could make a lot of sense to unleash Nygren as a centre-forward against Hearts because the left-footed ace is experienced, has proven he can score goals for Celtic, and has played as a number nine for previous clubs.

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This would allow Rodgers to keep the inexperienced Kenny on the bench as an option to bring on when needed to add some energy, possibly in the second half.

Rizwan, Haris and Fatima Sana are the other three Pakistanis in the BBL and WBBL drafts

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2025

Shaheen Shah Afridi is yet to feature in the BBL•Associated Press

The Pakistan quartet of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan are part of the first overseas draft list of BBL 15, which was released on Tuesday. The draft will be held on June 19 with Brisbane Heat holding the No. 1 pick and having the first chance to pick a player.Sam Curran and Alex Hales from England, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee from New Zealand, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera and West Indies’ Shamar Joseph are the other six players in the first draft list of ten players.In the WBBL, the Indian pair of Shikha Pandey and Jemimah Rodrigues are in the first nomination list, alongside Deandra Dottin of West Indies and Fatima Sana of Pakistan.Related

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England’s Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are part of the list too, as are the South African pair of Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon.The draft for the upcoming BBL and WBBL seasons have been brought forward to June to provide clubs more certainty about player selection. According to a CA statement, over 600 overseas players have registered interest for the BBL and WBBL.The teams have already started building their squads. Jamie Overton and Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers), Colin Munro and Nadine de Klerk (Heat), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Tim Seifert and Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades), Tom Curran and Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars), Finn Allen and Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers), Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers), Sam Billings and Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder) are the overseas players to have been pre-signed. Hurricanes have not named a pre-signed player for the WBBL yet and the same is the case for Sixers in the BBL.This season, Heat and Sixers will have first picks for the BBL and WBBL drafts respectively. Both drafts consist of four rounds, with all teams receiving one pick in each round. Teams can select a player who has made themselves available to be drafted in one of four overseas player salary bands: Platinum (round 1 or 2), Gold (round 2 or 3), Silver (round 3 or 4) or Bronze (round 4 only). Teams must use at least three picks including pre-signed players and can pass once.

Arsenal are now leading the race for a “world-class” Barcelona star, who has the same agent as Viktor Gyokeres, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on a creative midfielder.

Gunners eyeing new midfielder despite Zubimendi masterclass

After suffering a setback against Liverpool before the international break, the Gunners responded in perfect fashion against Nottingham Forest, chalking up a 3-0 victory, with summer signing Martin Zubimendi looking particularly impressive.

The Spaniard bagged the opening and final goal against the Tricky Trees, finding the back of the net with a superb volley from the edge of the box, which saw the 26-year-old pick up the Man of the Match award.

Arteta is well-stocked in the engine room, with the manager clearly a big fan of Mikel Merino, having trusted the 29-year-old to start ahead of Declan Rice against Forest, saying: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.

“I want to play him because he is going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he will play the next game.”

However, according to a report from Spain, Arteta has set his sights on bringing in another creative midfielder in the January transfer window, with Arsenal now keen on a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

The Gunners are said to be the leading candidates for De Jong’s signature, despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, with the Dutchman keen to remain at an elite European club, although ideally that would be Barcelona.

However, the 28-year-old, who cost the La Liga club €75m (£65m), is yet to agree a new contract with Barca, which means his current employers could look to cash-in this winter.

"World-class" De Jong could take Arsenal's midfield to next level

There are perhaps some doubts over whether the Gunners need another central midfielder, having signed Zubimendi in the summer, who has made a flying start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

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However, with Arteta’s side clearly at the stage where they can go deep into the Champions League, having reached the semi-finals last season, it makes sense to have a deeper squad, and De Jong could take their midfield to the next level.

Simone Inzaghi has suggested the Netherlands international could be one of the best players in the world in his position, saying: “Let me say that Frenkie de Jong is just sensational, he’s a world class player. Frenkie surprised me at same level as Lamine Yamal did.”

The Barca star, who is represented by HCM Sports management, the same agency as Gyokeres, has considerable experience at the top level, picking up 19 goals and 23 assists in 261 games for Barcelona, so it is exciting news that he could be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this winter.

Since he took the manager’s job over five years ago, there have been several players who have helped shape Mikel Arteta’s tenure at Arsenal.

There was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who went from FA Cup hero to outcast; Bukayo Saka, who’s gone from Hale End prospect to talismanic winger, and even David Raya, who many viewed as unnecessary to start but is now unquestionably one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

However, one of the most important players during the Spaniards’ time at the club was Granit Xhaka, who went from public enemy number one to a firm fan favourite under his watch.

While there isn’t anyone in the squad quite as far gone as the Swiss star was at his lowest, there is an international who could experience a similar revival of fortunes this season.

Xhaka's fall and rise at Arsenal

Arsenal signed Xhaka for around £34m in the summer of 2016, and while he wasn’t terrible, it would be fair to say that his first few seasons at the club were unremarkable from a performance perspective.

However, due in part to his experience, combativeness and the respect he had from his teammates, he was made club captain in September 2019, under Unai Emery.

Unfortunately, he was given the armband during a particularly poor run of form for the team, and when he was substituted off in a game a month later, he responded to the baying Emirates crowd by swearing at them and then throwing his shirt to the floor.

For all intents and purposes, it looked like his Arsenal career was over, and were it not for Arteta, who would be appointed a couple of months later, it would have been.

The former Borussia Mönchengladbach star later admitted that it was the former player who convinced him to stay, and it was a good thing he did, as over the next few years, he would regain the trust of the fans.

16/17

46

4

3

17/18

48

3

8

18/19

40

4

5

19/20

41

1

2

20/21

45

1

2

21/22

30

1

2

22/23

47

9

7

For example, in September 2022, in a game away at Brentford, the away supporters finally began to sing the midfielder’s name, something he clearly appreciated.

It was that season that the Basel-born titan reached his zenith in red and white, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists in 47 games as the club launched a surprising title charge.

He would grab himself a brace on the final day of the campaign in front of a packed Emirates that serenaded him for much of the game, highlighting just how far he’d come since that incident against Crystal Palace.

In all, Xhaka’s story at Arsenal is one of revival, and based on what we’ve just seen, there could be another Gunners’ star who experiences something similar this season.

The Arsenal star due a revival this season

With the way Arsenal have started this season, it would be difficult to name too many players who could need reviving, although one that comes to mind is Gabriel Martinelli.

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

The Brazilian “monster,” as journalist Mark Mann-Bryans once dubbed him, joined the club all the way back in 2019, and while he battled with a number of injuries, there was plenty of excitement over the sort of player he could become.

After all, in the 21/22 season, when he was still just 20 years old, he managed to rack up an impressive tally of 12 goal involvements in 36 games for the club.

However, it was in the following campaign that he really announced himself as a tremendously promising attacking talent, when he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 46 games, playing a significant role in the club’s title charge.

Unfortunately, as things stand, that season remains his best as an Arsenal player, as the following year he mustered up eight goals and five assists in 44 games, and then last season he scored ten goals and provided six assists in 51 games.

With mediocre numbers like that, it’s hardly a surprise that the club went out and signed Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, who, considering the Brazilian has started one game this season, now appear to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, it is not all doom and gloom, as there is clearly still a talented player there, and we saw it on Tuesday night when he scored a brilliant goal against Athletic Bilbao and then provided an assist for Leandro Trossard.

Now, we aren’t saying that he should now start the next game, or that he should even start the ones after; instead, his cameo on Tuesday showed how he can still have an important place in the squad: as an impact squad.

In fact, Arteta doesn’t even call them that anymore; he told the press that he prefers the term “finishers” and that “the finishers are going to be more important this season than the starters.”

Whether that’s actually true or not, it does suggest that the former Martinelli still has a massive role to play for Arsenal, and that while some wanted him sold in the summer, the manager could help make him a crucial part of the team again, like he did with Xhaka.

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Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has been one of the most compelling stories of the summer. After sealing promotion via the play-offs with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Wembley, the Black Cats have wasted little time trying to prove they belong at the top level.

Backed by ambitious ownership and a clear recruitment strategy, the club have already invested more than £135m in new players, signalling their intent to establish themselves in the division.

The Stadium of Light has welcomed a string of high-profile arrivals, each carefully selected to elevate both quality and depth across the squad.

Granit Xhaka was lured from Bayer Leverkusen to anchor the midfield, while Brighton’s Simon Adingra and Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra have injected dynamism into the attack.

Club Brugge talent Chemsdine Talbi provides further promise for the future, and Nordi Mukiele, a £12m purchase from Paris Saint-Germain, adds defensive versatility following his loan spell at Leverkusen.

The excitement was palpable when Sunderland began their campaign with a commanding 3-0 win in front of a packed-out home crowd.

However, reality struck in their second fixture – a 2-0 defeat away to Burnley at Turf Moor.

Sunderland make new transfer bid

With Brentford next up at the Stadium of Light, head coach Régis Le Bris and his recruitment team are determined to finalise what they see as the “final piece of their defensive jigsaw” before the transfer window closes.

That final piece is expected to strengthen Sunderland’s backline, particularly in central defence where the club want a reliable partner for Mukiele.

Reports this week suggest Sunderland have identified their man, and negotiations are already well underway.

According to Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie, Sunderland have submitted an increased offer to Bologna for Colombian international Jhon Lucumí. The player is said to be “open to the move”.

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The bid, believed to be worth £24m, reflects the Black Cats’ determination to land the 27-year-old, who has just one year remaining on his contract in Italy.

A recently expired release clause means Bologna are now free to negotiate openly, though Sunderland remain confident given the player’s openness to a Premier League move.

Lucumí has built a strong reputation in Serie A since joining Bologna from Belgian side Genk in 2022. Last season, he featured 44 times across all competitions for Bologna, including seven appearances in the Champions League – experience that would add further resilience to Sunderland’s back line.

For Sunderland, the move would underline the club’s ambition and their belief that strengthening defensively is key to building on their successful play-off campaign.

Why Lucumí could be the perfect partner for Mukiele

The potential partnership between Mukiele and Lucumí represents an intriguing blend of attributes.

Sunderland’s recruitment has shown a clear preference for complementary skillsets, and the statistical comparison between the two defenders highlights exactly why the club view Lucumí as the missing piece.

According to FBref, Lucumí’s passing stands out. His 91.1% pass completion rate last season far exceeds Mukiele’s 80.4%, reflecting his calmness under pressure and suitability for building from the back.

He also averages more progressive passes per 90 minutes (3.72 compared with Mukiele’s 3.60), suggesting he can drive play forward rather than simply passing sideways.

Perhaps most significantly, the Sunderland target’s long passing numbers are a major asset: he completed 7.14 long passes per 90, more than three times Mukiele’s 2.20, allowing Sunderland to stretch opponents and transition quickly.

In terms of defensive distribution, Lucumí also boasts a greater progressive passing distance (376.4 per 90) compared to Mukiele’s 254.4.

Defensively, the contrast is more balanced. Mukiele edges Lucumí in tackles per 90 (2.00 vs. 1.83) and in dribblers tackled (1.20 vs. 1.00), reflecting his aggression and ability to operate one-versus-one, particularly when stationed at right-back.

However, Lucumí marginally leads in blocks (1.10 vs. 1.00) and matches Mukiele almost identically in defensive-third tackles (0.79 vs. 0.80) and aerial duels won (1.55 vs. 1.60).

Together, these profiles suggest a partnership: Mukiele the front-foot enforcer, Lucumí the composed sweeper with elite distribution.

This balance could be transformative for Sunderland’s backline. In their promotion campaign, defensive lapses often placed undue pressure on the midfield and goalkeeper.

The step-up to the Premier League only magnifies those weaknesses, meaning recruitment at centre-back was always going to be decisive.

With Mukiele able to shuffle wide if needed, and Lucumí offering authority in the centre, Sunderland would gain tactical flexibility – an asset that could prove invaluable against both possession-heavy and counter-attacking opponents.

The move also makes sense financially. The defender’s current market value of £20m, as per Transfermarkt, is close to Sunderland’s £24m offer, meaning the club are not grossly overpaying despite Bologna’s leverage.

At 27, he is entering his peak years, offering immediate impact alongside resale potential should he excel in England.

His international pedigree further strengthens his profile, particularly for a squad already enriched with leaders like Xhaka and ambitious young talents such as Diarra and Talbi.

With just days remaining in the window, Sunderland’s pursuit of the centre-back reflects a club not content with short-term survival.

They want to consolidate their status as a competitive Premier League side.

By securing the Colombian, they would be adding a defender whose style could unlock the best of Mukiele and provide the foundations for a more balanced, resilient season.

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MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo venceu o Tigre (ARG), por 2 a 0, na noite desta terça-feira (27), pela última rodada do Grupo D da Copa Sul-Americana. Com o resultado, o Tricolor encerra a fase de grupos invicto, com cinco vitórias e um empate.

Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

No entanto, a escolha de Dorival Júnior por escalar uma equipe com alguns titulares gerou queixas de torcedores, muito por conta da lesão de Pablo Maia, sofrida ainda no primeiro tempo, além da situação de Calleri, que reclamou de dores nas costas após uma pancada. Dorival explicou a sua decisão por uma equipe mista.

ATUAÇÕES: Crias de Cotia resolvem para o São Paulo contra o Tigre

– Era um jogo importante, a gente briga pela classificação geral. A gente respeita todas as competições e para o momento achei ideal. Seria um jogo pesado, difícil, eles tinham a expectativa de poder passar em primeiro e a gente não podia perder essa chance. Não daria para poupar porque o jogo era de risco, ainda queremos a primeira posição na classificação geral. O Newell’s ainda joga – afirmou.

O treinador elogiou a atuação da equipe e ressaltou que mesmo com uma equipe mista, o São Paulo conseguiu colocar em prática aquilo que vem sendo treinado no CT da Barra Funda.

– Não abro mão em competição nenhuma. Vai ter mescla porque confio nos jogadores. Sempre que possível seguro um ou outro jogador. Fico feliz porque tudo o que treinamos está sendo feito, como inversão, jogadas passando de pé em pé, outras saindo do goleiro – finalizou Dorival.

It’s been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far this year.

Andrea Berta and Co have been very active in the transfer market, bringing in six new faces for Mikel Arteta so far.

Undoubtedly, the most exciting addition has to be Viktor Gyokeres, who was a lean, mean goalscoring machine for Sporting CP last season, and looked good in the club’s final pre-season game.

However, while he was part of the team that picked up three points away to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, he didn’t look anything like the goal threat we saw last season.

While he’ll likely only get better as he gets used to the Premier League, Arsenal could help speed things along by signing another international ace they’ve been linked with this summer, an international who could potentially help Gyokeres hit Erling Haaland-esque numbers.

Gyokeres' underwhelming debut

While Gyokeres looked impressive against Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup, scoring a header and coming incredibly close to getting another, he didn’t make a great impression on his Premier League debut on Sunday.

Granted, it was a bad day at the office for most of the side, apart from David Raya and some of the defence, but with the eyes of the league watching him to see if he could translate his sensational goalscoring form from Portugal to England, the Swedish marksman failed.

For example, in his 60 minutes of action, the Stockholm-born international failed to take a single shot – the first time that has happened in a competitive game since his days at Coventry City – was unable to complete a single dribble, played no key passes, lost ten duels and took just 22 touches, which was 25 fewer than Raya between the sticks.

Now, in his defence, there were a couple of occasions when he drove out wide before firing a ball back towards the centre in reasonably dangerous positions only for nobody to get on the end of it, but by and large, it was a debut to forget.

However, given his form over the last few years, Gyokeres will surely find his shooting boots sooner or later, and for their part, Arsenal could bring in a particular player who might be able to help him reach Haaland-esque numbers: Rodrygo.

Why Rodrygo could help Gyokeres explode

Among all the attacking players Arsenal have been linked with this summer, Rodrygo has arguably been the most exciting, and while he is now being touted for a move to Manchester City, there is supposedly still a chance the Gunners can secure his services for around £78m.

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Now, on top of being an exceptional signing in his own right, why would the Real Madrid star be able to help Gyokeres’ goalscoring numbers explode this season?

Well, the first reason is that he’s already proven himself to be a reliable source of goals and assists with the Spanish giants over the last couple of years.

​​​​

For example, across the 23/24 to 24/25 seasons, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.

In other words, the often “unstoppable” dynamo, as dubbed by Madrid columist Kiyan Sobhani, was averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes in that period, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he was playing everywhere but his preferred position of left-wing.

Appearances

51

54

Minutes

3707′

3452′

Goals

17

14

Assists

9

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

142.57′

138.08′

Just imagine the numbers the Swedish goal-machine would be able to put up with the 24-year-old to his left, instead of Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka to his right – they could be Haaland-esque if things click.

Moreover, when we take a look at the former Santos gem’s underlying numbers, it quickly becomes clear that he is elite at getting the ball into dangerous areas through carrying, which for a traditional number nine like Gyokeres could be perfect.

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in La Liga last season for carries into the final third, the top 3% for touches in the attacking third, the top 6% for total carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, with his record from the last two years being what it is, we know Gyokeres can score goals at a rate few can match, and to help him get close to those numbers again, Arsenal need to bring in a world-class left-winger like Rodrygo.

Arteta must axe 4/10 Arsenal star who was worse than Gyokeres vs Man Utd

Arsenal may have secured victory at Old Trafford but there were some negatives.

ByMatt Dawson Aug 18, 2025

The batter, whose career was most notable for his opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal, played the last of his 39 Tests in 2019

Mohammad Isam13-Nov-2024Imrul Kayes has announced his retirement from Test and first-class cricket. He said in a video message on his Facebook page that his last red-ball match will be Khulna Division’s National Cricket League (NCL) match against Dhaka Division at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka next week. He will, however, continue to play white-ball cricket.”On November 16, I will retire from Test and first-class cricket. It is the most difficult and emotional decision of my life,” he said.Imrul played the last of his 39 Tests at Eden Gardens in 2019, in the first day-night Test match in India. Batting mostly at the top of the order and occasionally at No. 3, he made 1797 runs at an average of 24.28, with three centuries and four fifties.Imrul’s Test career was however more about his opening partnership with Tamim Iqbal. They remain Bangladesh’s most prolific opening pair by far, having added 2336 runs in 53 innings. The next-highest aggregate for a Bangladesh opening pair currently is 665 runs between Javed Omar and Nafees Iqbal. Imrul and Tamim’s average first-wicket partnership of 45.80 is also the best of any Bangladesh opening pair.They put on four century stands, the first of them a 185-run partnership at Lord’s in 2010, and the last a world-record 312 against Pakistan in Khulna in 2015. It helped Bangladesh save the Test match after conceding a 296-run first-innings lead, and remains the only 300-plus opening stand in the third or fourth innings of a Test match. The last time they opened together was in the 2018 home Test series against Sri Lanka.Imrul is now 70 runs short of the 8000-run mark in first-class cricket. He will have a chance to complete the feat in Mirpur, where his farewell game begins on November 16.

Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a “real leader”, who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season

Despite admitting it was always going to be “tough” to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.

However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.

The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.

With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.

"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need

Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: “You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players.”

As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a “real leader” by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.

Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.

Statistic	Average per 90
Non-penalty goals	0.28 (96th percentile)
Assists	0.17 (84th percentile)
Blocks	1.98 (97th percentile)
Aerials won	2.10 (93rd percentile)

Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.