Out of almost nowhere, Chelsea have emerged as Arsenal's closest challengers for the Premier League title this season as the London rivals prepare to lock horns at Stamford Bridge this weekend – but is this another false dawn? After all, Enzo Maresca's side found themselves in a similar position midway through 2024-25 only to fall away dramatically in the second half of the campaign. Ahead of Sunday's showdown, though, there is reason to believe the Blues could have staying power this time around.

After grinding out wins against Wolves and Burnley, following the customary defeat of Tottenham on the road, Chelsea have – – risen to second in the Premier League table ahead of hosting Mikel Arteta's early-season champions-elect, albeit they are still six points behind their cross-capital foes.

Serious doubts, though, remain over their ability to stay the course for the long-term – which are justified given the Blues haven't mounted a sustained title challenge since they last lifted the trophy nine seasons ago, and the backdrop of the club's tumultuous recent history since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover three years ago.

It's not long since Chelsea were in a similar position, either; around this time last season they surged into second place behind eventual league winners Liverpool, before failing miserably to deal with the packed festive schedule and sliding back down the standings amid a winter of discontent.

This time, though, things feel slightly different, with Maresca's side showing the kind of mettle and big-game aptitude that suggests they could have staying power for the season. However, the visit of the Arsenal juggernaut will be the ultimate test of their credentials at the top of the table.

Getty Images SportWinning habit

Chelsea's start to the season was inauspicious as they picked up just two wins from six league games, leading many to believe that another top-four finish would be the best that they could hope for. Since the start of October, though, there has been a shift.

The sensational late victory over Arne Slot's toiling champions has proven to be the catalyst for a run of eight victories in 10 matches in all competitions, with the alarming home defeat to high-flying Sunderland late last month proving to be an anomaly in what could prove to be a defining period in the west Londoners' campaign.

Having dropped points in clashes they were expected to win earlier in the season against Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton, the Blues have defeated Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Burnley with relative ease, as well as notching another victory over Spurs in north London in one of the most one-sided 1-0 wins you're likely to see.

Of course, Chelsea's young squad reached the latest significant milestone in its progression in the Champions League in midweek, as they utterly dominated the 10 men of Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in a mightily impressive 3-0 thumping that sets them up very nicely for Sunday's top-of-the-table showdown.

AdvertisementAFP'There is only one way'

For Maresca, this developing winning habit is vital to his side's chances of success: "Last year, we were playing in the Conference League, and I said many times that for me personally, if you want to build a winning mentality, there is only one way: winning games. Because otherwise, if you don't win games, it's difficult to convince the players, 'guys, we are building a winning mentality'," the Italian tactician said after Tuesday night's dismantling for the Catalan giants.

"But when we don't win, it's difficult. So the only way in any competition, Conference League, Champions League this season, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, is to win games. It's the only way to build the winning mentality. And I think the Conference League and the Club World Cup last season helped a lot.

"And now we are trying to do exactly the same. For sure, the players are better players in this moment compared to last season, because we spent more time together."

Getty Images SportRotation, rotation, rotation

In downing the mighty Barca by exploiting their recklessly high line, Maresca served up another timely reminder of his tactical acumen, but what has been even more impressive of late is his ability to utilise his whole squad without results and performances suffering.

No Premier League manager has made more changes to their starting XIs than the Italian so far in 2025-26, with the five he made for the Barcelona game from his team that eased past Burnley taking his tally for the season to a remarkable 102, and it's only November.

While he has a core of guaranteed starters in bigger games, Maresca has been able to lean on the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, fit-again Liam Delap and academy graduates Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George in lower-stakes situations – either from the start or as substitutes.

They have handled remarkably well without the talismanic Cole Palmer, too, who has made just four appearances this season due to a groin issue and subsequent broken toe. He has, though, been passed fit to play on Sunday. Meanwhile, defensive midfielders Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo – whose imminent returns will strengthen the group again – have also been sidelined, as well as long-term absentee Levi Colwill.

That ability to rotate, and doing so successfully, could well prove to be vital for Chelsea as they fight on four fronts over the notoriously hectic winter period. If they require a two-legged play-off to reach the Champions League last 16 and make progress in the domestic cup competitions, then they face a brutal schedule of as many as 32 games in the next four months.

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Getty Images SportAnother false dawn?

There will, of course, still be question marks over whether Chelsea have the staying power to go the distance and truly challenge Arsenal – who look ominously capable of becoming runaway leaders – all the way until the final day of the campaign, especially given the young group's lack of experience in that department.

If we zoom out, the Blues are only one point better off than at the same stage last season, and they have certainly benefitted from unrecognisable champions Liverpool and, to a lesser extent, disjointed Manchester City underperforming considerably to this point.

As we've touched upon, their title challenge completely unravelled over the winter period last term before they managed to steady the ship in time to secure a top-four finish on the final day. Even when they were second, Maresca was consistent in his messaging that his team were 'not ready' for a title challenge, although that led some to question whether he had manifested their downturn in form with his pessimistic outlook.

It will be very interesting to see how Chelsea contend with the relentless nature of the schedule this time around, but there is a sense that things are different one year on in terms of cohesiveness, togetherness and strength in depth – something the manager has recognised, albeit he maintains it is too early to predict what they are capable of.

India enforced the follow-on expecting wear and tear, but Campbell and Hope led West Indies’ strongest showing of the series

Karthik Krishnaswamy12-Oct-20251:51

Chopra: ‘Tiredness’ hampered India bowlers

When India wrapped up West Indies’ first innings and secured a lead of 270 runs, seven-and-a-half sessions of the Delhi Test still remained.The pitch was still making bowlers work hard: West Indies, after lasting less than 50 overs in both their innings in Ahmedabad last week, had survived 81.5 overs in their first innings here. Their last two wickets had added 73 runs, suggesting that wicket-taking on this slow, low pitch was particularly difficult when the ball became older, with edges unlikely to carry to close-in catchers.Teams tend not to enforce the follow-on in such situations, given the time remaining in the match and the two major benefits of batting again – rest for the bowlers, and a chance for them to come back and bowl after the pitch has undergone more wear and tear.Related

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India, however, asked West Indies to bat again, and by stumps on day three the visitors had enjoyed their best day of the series, with John Campbell and Shai Hope scoring half-centuries and putting on an unbroken 138 for the third wicket. West Indies will begin day four trailing by just 97 runs, with India back on the field with 130.5 cumulative overs in their legs.India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said India had enforced the follow-on in the belief that the pitch would deteriorate significantly by the end of the third day’s play.”There was a discussion to bat,” he said. “Those last two wickets took a little bit longer than we would have hoped for, and had probably started going towards the [space] where you do look to bat again.”But we felt [270] was a good lead. We thought the wicket’s going to keep deteriorating, we thought by close of play it would be at its worst, but it just seems to have slowed down even more.”This left India’s spin trio with a tricky time of finding the right pace to bowl at. Having shared eight wickets between them in the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar took 1 for 149 between them in 38 second-innings overs.”It’s quite challenging to get any pace out of the wicket, [and] you have to really fire the ball in,” ten Doeschate said. “And, of course, when you fire the ball in, it’s got less chance of spinning. We have found it tricky this afternoon, and Shai Hope and John Campbell batted beautifully, so back tomorrow, get our plans right, and hopefully get those last four batters out and then get into the tail.”Khary Pierre, who scored 23 from No. 8 in West Indies’ first innings, said he was surprised by India’s decision to enforce the follow-on.3:56

What made Campbell and Hope stand out?

“Actually it was a bit surprising that they went back to bowl [even though] the wicket was still a good one,” Pierre said. “For me, personally, batting on the wicket, batting a lot of time, and watching the wicket, seeing what it was doing, I think it’s still a very good wicket.”I was surprised, but it’s India, and you know they want to get the win, and probably didn’t think they needed to go back and bat, but so be it. We have to bat properly in this innings and try and make a game of it.”With eight wickets in hand and the deficit now down to double-figures, Pierre felt West Indies had a real chance of making a game of it.”I would say the Test match is still on,” he said. “Once we apply ourselves with the bat, we have two set batters at the crease right now that will start over tomorrow, and once we bat properly, the game is still on. Once we get a lead, we all know, on the fourth and fifth day of a Test match, the bowlers will come and probably get some balls to spin and stuff and make a game of it.”

Australia are preparing to face Pakistan in Colombo after their second match was washed out

Andrew McGlashan06-Oct-20252:21

‘Tough to make a case against Australia winning the lot’

Megan Schutt has been termed the “ultimate professional” for the way she responded to being left out of Australia’s opening ODI World Cup match against New Zealand. She does, however, face a further wait to see if she will be included against Pakistan in Colombo.Due to the washed-out match against Sri Lanka, it will be a seven-day gap for Australia when they take on Pakistan. Head coach Shelley Nitschke did not confirm whether Schutt would have featured in that abandoned contest after Darcie Brown’s pace had been preferred against New Zealand.Related

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Schutt has 10 wickets in nine ODIs against Pakistan although she did go wicketless in the two most recent matches, at home, between the two sides in early 2023. Brown, meanwhile, has five wickets in two outings – figures of 2 for 21 and 3 for 32 in Brisbane – but she was taken for 52 off four overs against New Zealand in the World Cup opener.”She [Schutt] is obviously the ultimate professional and she took it very well,” Nitschke said on Monday. “We sort of looked at the match-ups and the performances coming in, but certainly I understand that Megan’s got a big role to play for us moving forward. We’ll have another look again at the match-ups and the conditions at Premadasa before we take on Pakistan and see if she’s in that right sort of team to best match up to them to hopefully win.”Speaking to ESPNcricinfo prior to the World Cup, Schutt said she had hoped to feature throughout. “I’d like to think my previous performances have kept me in good stead for that,” she said. “Obviously if it doesn’t work out, I will completely understand the balance of the squad and run drinks as best as I can if I’m not in the XI. But ideally I’d love to be out on the field doing what I do with people that I love. I like to think I’ve got pretty good awareness to know if that’s not going happen but ideally, I’d love to play all the games and get right through.”Sophie Molineux was outstanding on her return•Getty Images

The other key selection call Australia made for the opening match was preferring Alana King ahead of fellow legspinner Georgia Wareham. The fact there wasn’t room for both was because of Sophie Molineux’s return to the side which saw her take 3 for 25, including the wicket of Suzie Bates in her first over and the final removal of Izzy Gaze who was flying on 28 off 18 balls alongside a dominant Sophie Devine.It was Molineux’s first international since last December and Nitschke confirmed the left-arm spinner will need to be looked after as she continues to regain strength from knee surgery.”She [Molineux] was fantastic in that first round,” Nitschke said. “To open the bowling first game back and return figures like she did was unbelievable and a credit to her and the work she’s done to get her back to being available to play for us.”I think her knee is just ongoing management and seeing how it responds to training and games and looking at her availability from there. We’ll make sure that we’re doing the right thing by her and hopefully having her available when we need her.”When a decision needs to be made between King and Wareham, Nitschke said “sometimes it’s actually not about one or the other, like they bring different things to the table. I think Alana probably spins the ball a bit more and she’s a bit more attacking. Georgia can find a really good defensive length and [has] got a few variations that she goes to.”They both offer different things so it’s also about what we think we need in the game. Alana makes things happen, like I said, she’s an attacking bowler, as does Wolf [Wareham], but she also plays a lot of T20 and knows how to hit a really good defensive length at times as well.”The match in Colombo on Sunday between India and Pakistan saw play suspended for 15 minutes while the ground was fumigated against flying insects. It’s a problem Australia have not experienced during their training sessions in the city.”I’m not sure if that’s relative to the conditions and the bit of moisture that’s around,” Nitschke said. “But hopefully the fumigators are out and ready to go if that’s the case.”

The England opener has remained undroppable despite plenty of patchy form, and he showed why at The Oval

Matt Roller01-Aug-2025

Zak Crawley got to his half-century in just 42 balls•AFP via Getty Images

How do you explain a cricketer like Zak Crawley? He is an outlier, a player who continues to defy conventional wisdom. No man in Test history has opened the batting so often (93 innings) and averaged so little (31.06), yet he is one half of England’s most prolific opening partnership for a decade and his place has rarely been so secure.This Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series has been a trademark Crawley series: he has averaged 34.50, a tick over his career mark, and has thrilled and frustrated in equal measure. He has made three substantial contributions in eight innings, yet none of England’s first-choice top seven have scored fewer runs. He remains England’s enigma, his career a web of contradictions.Crawley was England’s top-scorer in their first innings at The Oval and personified their approach, jumping at the chance to dominate India’s seamers. Before his dismissal, Crawley hit one in every four balls that he faced for four, maintaining a strike rate well above 100. He scored 56 of his 64 runs in boundaries, reasoning that on a seaming pitch, attack was the best form of defence.Related

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It was the perfect attack for him to face. Crawley has the peculiar distinction of getting better when the bowling gets faster, reasoning that he is at his best when he has no time to think and lets his instincts take over. Facing seam, he averages 43.31 against balls at 84mph/135kph or quicker, compared to just 27.31 against those below.But that is precisely why England’s management have retained him for so long. He has missed only three of their 47 Tests since Boxing Day 2021 – and those through injury – despite two long ruts in form. That he was their top-scorer in two consecutive marquee series (Australia 2023 and India 2024) vindicated the sense that he is better equipped against the best than the rest.Crawley is encapsulated by the fact he has only been dismissed once in 119 balls in this series against Jasprit Bumrah, but twice in the seven balls he has faced from Nitish Kumar Reddy. India’s rebalancing at The Oval pitted him against three fast-medium bowlers; Crawley may have been the only England batter to breathe a sigh of relief when India left Shardul Thakur out.If he rode his luck at times – inside-edging Prasidh Krishna past leg stump, flashing him over the slips – he made good use of it. Crawley hit two perfect straight drives – one mid-off, the other mid-on – in three balls from Mohammed Siraj, and made a capacity crowd collectively purr when he spanked Prasidh through cover point.1:58

Bangar on Crawley-Duckett: Haven’t seen batting of that quality

His partnership with Ben Duckett was worth 92 in just 12.5 overs, and the collapse that followed vindicated their ultra-positive approach. Crawley and Duckett refused to let India’s seamers settle, disrupting their lengths by charging down the pitch and – in Duckett’s case – playing conventional and reverse-scoops. On a green seamer, it was defence that proved fatal.It was evident from Shubman Gill’s reactions at third slip – and, soon enough, mid-off – that England’s openers put India under severe pressure. After India folded for 224, Gill was caught between stools: he had no runs to play with, yet knew that he needed to break the partnership as soon as possible. Duckett’s fluffed reverse came as a huge relief.By that stage, Duckett and Crawley had reached a rare milestone, bringing up 500 runs for the series as an opening pair. It was the first time any opening pair had done so since 2015, and they were the first England openers to since Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook in the 2010-11 Ashes. No wonder Crawley, for all his flaws, is considered undroppable.Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have been the perfect contrast as an opening pair•Getty ImagesIt is not hard to work out why they have been such a success together. “One’s right-handed and a giant, the other is left-handed and isn’t,” Ben Stokes wrote in his programme notes for the Edgbaston Test. “When they get going, it can be a nightmare for bowlers trying to find rhythm.” A good ball to one is a freebie to the other, and vice-versa.Crawley is clearly frustrating to play against, and not only for his free-wheeling batting. He thrived on his role as pantomime villain at Lord’s and was on the wind-up again last week in Manchester, telling India’s batters their decision to bat on for centuries was “embarrassing” – seemingly oblivious that he was England’s only specialist batter without one in the series.His spliced pull to square midwicket felt oddly apt: he has always been a player of style over substance, and an anticlimactic dismissal was perfectly in keeping with the Crawley experience. On the flipside, for all that it looked like a missed chance to define the match, Crawley’s 64 was the highest score across both teams’ first innings.The Oval suits Crawley: it is one of two venues (along with the Utilita Bowl) where he has passed 50 three times in Test cricket, and is the English ground where he has scored the fastest. England have averaged fewer runs per wicket at The Oval than any other home venue in the last four summers; it is utterly in keeping with Crawley’s eccentricities that he has thrived there.

For 15 edge-of-your-seat innings, the Mariners and Tigers played a dramatic, thrilling postseason contest in Game 5 of the American League Division Series that ultimately ended in Seattle joy and Detroit heartbreak. And for the impartial fan, this was baseball heaven. There was excellent pitching, clutch hitting, peak drama and even first-class umpiring.

Over the course of 15 innings, 472 total pitches and nearly five hours of game time, home-plate umpire Alan Porter was nearly perfect. Porter correctly called 219 of 228 balls and strikes, a highly-impressive accuracy rate of 96%, according to Umpire Scorecards.

And while Porter wasn't perfect—some may point to his called strike against Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, or in the Tigers' case, the ruled hit-by-pitch of Mariners outfielder Victor Robles, a somewhat controversial call that went against Detroit's favor.

But overall, this was an outstanding performance by an MLB umpire on the game's biggest stage at a time when umpires are under the microscope seemingly more than ever.

A round of applause for Alan Porter please.

South Africa coach says, “the only context I ever intended it to be was that we wanted India to spend a lot of time in the field”

Firdose Moonda06-Dec-2025South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has clarified that he did not intend “to cause any malice,” when he said his team wanted to make India “grovel” during the Guwahati Test.Speaking to the media for the first time since he made that statement, Conrad stopped short of an apology but indicated he regretted his choice of words as South Africa worked their way to a 2-0 Test sweep.”On reflection, it was never my intention to cause any malice or not be humble about anything. I could have chosen a better word because it left it open for people to put their own context to it,” Conrad said after South Africa’s 2-1 ODI series loss in Visakhapatnam. “The only context I ever intended it to be was that we wanted India to spend a lot of time in the field and make it really tough for them. I’ve got to be careful what word I use here now because context could be attached to that as well.”Related

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Conrad had made the comment after the fourth day’s play of the second Test, when South Africa batted deep into their second innings and set India a target of 549. When asked why they didn’t declare earlier, Conrad had said: “We wanted the Indians to spend as much time on their feet out in the field, we wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out the game, and then say to them, ‘come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening.'”South Africa won the match on day five to hand India their heaviest home defeat and complete a first series win in India in 25 years. But Conrad’s use of the word “grovel,” which was heavily loaded because it was used by Tony Greig when referring to the West Indies team in 1976, spoilt some of South Africa’s victory. Conrad was criticised by former Indian and South African players, including Sunil Gavaskar and visiting commentator Dale Steyn.Conrad made no public comment since then but Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma twice fielded questions about the use of the word. On both occasions, Bavuma said it was an issue for Conrad to address. Meanwhile, Conrad was in communication with a “network of people that I trust, family back home, and people on our staff,” and concluded he had done some damage, which he needed to repair.”It’s really a pity. Maybe what it did do was spice up the ODI series, and especially with India winning that now, the T20 series becomes even more so,” Conrad said. “The unfortunate thing is, with all the noise that that word caused, I still think it’s a perfectly good English word, but I just left it open to too many interpretations. What it did was take away the gloss of what was a really special win for our Test team. It’s unfortunate, but there was definitely no malice intended.”In his nearly three years as Test coach and almost six months as all-format coach, Conrad has emerged as a popular, witty figure who does not mince his words. Notably, he asked his team to “show-off more” a few months ago as they put out strong performances on the world stage, but has based his philosophy on the opposite of that and expects humility from everyone including himself.”Being humble is a cornerstone of our Test team and all our teams for that matter,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that the noise and the talk became around the coach. People shouldn’t really even know who the coach is. It should be about the players. That’s the unfortunate bit, and I’d like to think that it’s going to be put to bed now.”ESPNcricinfo understands Cricket South Africa was not amused by Conrad’s use of the word “grovel,” not least because they maintain a strong relationship with Indian cricket, but left it up to him to decide if or when he wanted to address the issue. CSA has made no comment or statement about the coach’s choice of language.

Despite spending over £200m on new additions during the summer transfer window, Manchester United have still found themselves short on quality in the midfield department.

Ruben Amorim has made it clear he wants added quality in such an area in the months, especially considering the current situation he’s presented with in the Premier League.

Casemiro has started 13 out of a possible 15 games in the league this campaign, but the Brazilian looks set to leave the Red Devils next summer when his current contract expires.

Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are two other options in such an area, but they have both started two combined league matches in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

As a result, the hierarchy have been hunting for a player to operate at the heart of the side, which could see an excellent partnership being formed in the near future.

United’s potential midfield partnership after January

In an attempt to bolster United’s midfield, INEOS have been on the hunt for added reinforcements, which has led to Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson becoming their main target.

The 23-year-old has been in phenomenal form during the ongoing campaign, even topping numerous rankings in the Premier League compared to other players in his position.

He’s won possession on 126 occasions in England’s top-flight to date, with no other player managing to do so over 100 times – subsequently showing his ball-winning capabilities.

Anderson certainly would offer the perfect deep-lying option, something which Amorim has desired, but any deal would be a club record with Forest demanding a fee in the region of £100m.

Such a move would be a huge investment from the hierarchy, but it would also allow captain Bruno Fernandes to have the partner he’s craved in the middle of the park.

The Portuguese international has operated in a deep-lying position in 2025/26, but has still managed to star in possession, as seen by his tally of ten combined goals and assists in the Premier League.

He’s also constantly offered a creative source for the Red Devils, as seen by his tally of 3.1 chances created per 90 – the best tally of any player in the division at present.

A partnership of Anderson and Bruno would likely be one of the best in England’s top-flight, which could allow the club to finally challenge for a title once again.

The United star who’s a hybrid of Anderson & Bruno

United’s work in the transfer market over the last couple of years has certainly raised eyebrows across the division, with the hierarchy wasting huge funds on countless players.

Over £800m has been splashed in the last four years alone, which has seen numerous players fail to deliver and resulted in a measly 15th-place finish last campaign.

However, Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system requires a very specific type of midfield pairing, which has led to the rumours of a big-money move to land Anderson in the coming weeks.

It would be yet another huge addition made by the board, but one that could set the first-team up for many years, especially considering his tender age, which could see him explode into life in the years ahead.

A player of Bruno’s calibre is also extremely rare in the modern game and would likely cost a pretty penny, but it appears the Red Devils have already got ahead of the curve.

In recent weeks, they completed the €1m (£750k) addition of 17-year-old midfielder Cristian Orozco from Colombian side Fortaleza, with the teenager set to join the academy squad.

The move for the youngster has certainly taken a few supporters by surprise, but it’s one that could allow them to have a huge talent in the future at Old Trafford.

Despite his tender age, he’s already been a star for his boyhood club, which has led to him featuring at the U17 World Cup for his nation – even catching the eye of many people.

Orozco has been dubbed “a midfield destroyer” by one analyst, with his showing against El Salvador last month highlighting why he would be the perfect hybrid of Anderson and Bruno.

Minutes played

90

Touches

107

Pass accuracy

75%

Passes completed

63

Tackles made

2

Duels won

9

Recoveries made

9

Dribbles completed

2

The teenager produced a superb defensive performance on the international stage, subsequently making two tackles and coming out on top in nine of the duels that he entered.

Such figures showcase his remarkable ball-winning ability, something which has made Anderson such a desirable target for the Red Devils in the last couple of months.

Regaining possession is one thing, but the youngster has also thrived with the ball at his feet – subsequently producing numbers that Bruno would be proud of.

In the same game, he completed 67 passes at a completion rate of 75% – with such numbers reflecting his incredible ability to find his teammates when driving forward with the ball.

There’s no doubt that Orozco has a long way to go in his development before he nails down a starting role at Old Trafford, but there’s little denying that the club have secured a top young talent.

His numbers from his recent showings at international level showcase his incredible talents, with the teenager having all of the tools to be the perfect hybrid of Anderson and Bruno.

Cunha upgrade: Man Utd looking to sign "one of the best wingers in Europe"

Manchester United considering a move for a top-level forward ahead of the January window.

1 ByEthan Lamb 2 days ago

Will it be another Adelaide waking nightmare? Crushed 4-1 beneath the wheel? Or the full Bazball comeback? You decide!

Andrew Miller28-Nov-20251. How do you come back from that?To start you on your journey: which infamous precursor does this contest most remind you of? Choose your path from the three options below, and may your instincts serve you well:A. Lord’s 2005 – A feisty opening gambit, in which England’s seriously quick battery of fast bowlers rattled helmets and elbows to lay down a very telling marker for future engagements, only for Australia’s quality and knowhow to muscle them off the ball. By the end of the contest, it looked like a deeply one-sided rout, but the respect in the voices of the victors told a different story.B. Brisbane 1990 – Graham Gooch’s men arrived with confidence after a strong year, including an incredible Test win over West Indies in Jamaica. By tea on the second day of the Ashes, England had seized a priceless 42-run lead in a low-scoring dogfight. But then the old-stager Terry Alderman stepped up with a career-best six-for, and Australia’s openers romped to victory without breaking sweat.C. Adelaide 2006 – It’s not the series opener, but it’s the nerve-settler that England need after their habitual loss at the Gabba. Paul Collingwood makes a double-century, Kevin Pietersen has Shane Warne mastered, Matthew Hoggard’s seven-for secures a first-innings lead that has clearly made the game safe. But then, up pops Warne to deliver a generational flaying… and the rest is gory history.[If the anchor links in this story (like the three immediately below) do not work at first click on desktop web, please go back to them and click again]
Brisbane 1990: Go to 3
Adelaide 2006: Go to 20

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England expects: but Lord’s 2005 didn’t go the way of the hosts•Hamish Blair/Getty Images2: Spirit of Lord’s 2005England go to ground for ten days post-debacle, just as Michael Vaughan’s men did in similar circumstances two long decades before. Back then, Andrew Flintoff went off to Devon and didn’t pick up a bat; this time Mark Wood chooses to drive straight across the Nullabor Plain and make his own winding way to Brisbane.England arrive at the Gabba refreshed in body and mind, ignorant of all the chaos that has been kicking off in the media and ready to double down on the see-ball-hit-ball ethos that has powered their fortunes.Pat Cummins is passed fit for Brisbane and takes over the captaincy from Steven Smith, but Mitchell Starc treads on a stray cricket ball and rolls his ankle before play. He is out of the Test! Australia nevertheless win the toss, and with memories of Ricky Ponting’s fateful attack of hubris at Edgbaston in 2005, Cummins decides to:

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3: Brisbane 1990 revisitedEngland’s bewilderment is off the charts as they sift through the wreckage of that first Test loss. Ben Stokes, channelling the hair-shirted attitude of his England predecessor, Gooch, decides that the “has-beens” were right all along, and orders an intensive bout of naughty-boy nets over the remaining three days of the Test, followed by a squad stopover in Canberra, where nine of the 11 players – including all the batters – take part in the pink-ball practice match against Australia A. Jofra Archer and Shoaib Bashir use their downtime to buzz Manuka Oval in a monster truck and are suspended from the rest of the tour.Zak Crawley, Joe Root and Harry Brook are blitzed inside a session by Jordan Buckingham and Xavier Bartlett, but Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell save some face with a pair of half-centuries in an innings defeat. The squad limps onto the Gabba, broken, scarred and none the wiser for the sorry experience.

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Let’s go, Tresco: England racked them up on day one at Edgbaston in 2005•Hamish Blair/Getty Images4: Australia win toss and batEngland’s rested and chastised pack of fast bowlers cannot believe their luck as they are handed the chance to reset their agenda, and seize it in no uncertain terms. Archer purrs in for the opening over, dispatching Jake Weatherald and Travis Head in a furious reassertion of his prowess against left-handers, before Wood – smarting from his wicketless stint in Perth but all the more lethal for an extra two weeks’ conditioning – does likewise to Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.Australia are poleaxed for 98 inside three hours, giving England ample time to build a lead before twilight. Crawley belts his first ball on the up through the covers for four, before nicking off for 20 off nine balls. Brendon McCullum singles him out for agenda-setting praise after England level the series on the third morning.

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5: Australia win toss and bowlCummins is in no doubt about this one. Make England face their demons from the get-go, even without the man who claimed 10 for 113 in the first Test. Crawley and Duckett, however, are high on Bazball’s fumes and they emulate Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss’ opening stand of 112 in 25.3 overs at Edgbaston in 2005.True to form, England opt to go harder and harder rather than throttling back at any stage, but there is method to their mayhem as they skid to a standstill on 407 all out in 79.2 overs. That leaves just under an hour for Archer, Gus Atkinson, Wood and Brydon Carse to give it full beans in the Gabba twilight. Australia limp to the close on 30 for 4, with helmets, elbows and pads taking an utter pummelling. This time, there’s no let-up in intensity, as the series is squared in style.

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Mitchell Starc: pink-ball monster•Getty Images6: England opt for pink-ball practiceEngland duly rock up for the second Test with techniques honed but gameplans shot. Pope’s century is the bedrock of their first-innings 352, while Root briefly threatens that elusive hundred before snicking off for 79, but the rest of the batting is neither here nor there. England bowl heroically in reply, in particular the indefatigable Atkinson, who pushes through the pain barrier to snag a precious lead with figures of 39-10-82-6, but looks suspiciously hobbly by the end and will never be quite the same again.Just as they are beginning to contemplate a squared series, however, Starc marches out under the floodlights on the second evening and needs no time to remind the universe of his unmatched prowess with the pink ball. Match figures of 13 for 148 ensue. This disastrous tour is already heading for uncharted depths.

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7: England arrive in Adelaide, back in business at 1-1Australia need to reassert themselves after a muddled display in Brisbane, and sure enough, Smith is the man to do so. He dominates the first day with his 37th Test century, his 19th in Australia and his 13th in the Ashes, but despite a hefty 412 on the board by the second afternoon, England are not fazed by the run rate of just above 3.5. Crawley and Duckett blaze a trail in reply, and at the close, England are handily placed at 150 for 2 off 28 overs, with Joe Root well set on 24 not out.There’s a little devil on his shoulder as Root and Pope walk out to face Cummins’ first ball on the third morning, however. He’s in no doubt that his quarry is planning to hit his length outside off, and there’s a tasty gap at deep third winking at him. To ramp, or not to ramp? That is the question …

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8: England 2-0 down, onwards to AdelaideThe media narrative has turned utterly feral. Australia’s headlines have moved on from (mostly) good-natured mockery and are now savagely angry at having to cover yet another inept challenge. England’s travelling journos are in existential meltdown, bemoaning the death of Bazball, the futility of resistance, the inevitability of mass sackings at the end of an equally inevitable 5-0 thrashing. Somewhere within the bowels of a besieged dressing room Stokes turns to address his troops once more, and urges them to seize the spirit of 2023, when England once again battled back from 0-2 down to grab the Moral Ashes with a historic 2-2 win…Which player is first to rise and respond to his captain’s words?

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Joe Root is faced with a positively Hamlet-ian choice in the course of this game•Getty Images9: Root ramps!There’s no stopping him. As Cummins hits his delivery stride, Root is already leaping into position, feet parallel as he presents his blade down the wicket… and lifts the ball gloriously, up, up and away over deep third for six! It’s a deeply discombobulating statement of intent, and it has the desired effect of thinning out Australia’s close catchers to plug this unlikely gap in the field. Root duly throttles back, nudging and dabbing the resultant singles to cruise effortlessly into his day’s work. The inevitable duly follows in the afternoon session. A maiden century in Australia, the last demon slain as he begins his final approach towards Test cricket’s runs summit. With the rest of the batters riffing off his durability, England rumble through to 582 all out, and on a wearing wicket, it’s over to Bashir to deliver the 2-1 series lead.

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10: Root does not ramp…As he crosses the rope, Root turns to Pope for reassurance. “is this the right option?” he asks, hoping to get the full Bazball backing that Stuart Broad had offered him in identical circumstances at Edgbaston two years earlier: “If it’s in your gut, you’ve got to go for it – that’s what we’re about.” Instead, Pope’s glance of mild terror causes a fateful moment of second-guessing. Cummins duly hits his fourth-stump line and length, with good carry. Root’s limp-wristed poke is neither one thing nor another, Smith guzzles the edge at second slip to scenes of Aussie bedlam. The indecision is contagious and uncontainable. Scott Boland rumbles through the middle order with 4 for 11 in six overs. It’s 2-1 to Australia and Bazball, once again, has blinked at precisely the wrong moment.

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Ben Duckett: what can a poor boy do, except step out and slash?•Getty Images11. Ashes last stand – Duckett’s versionEngland’s nonsense-spouter-in-chief is put up for the media two days out from the Test. In a freewheeling press conference, he takes overdue credit for Travis Head’s century in Perth, and when asked if there’s any doubt about England’s ability to fight back, he repeats the response made in similar circumstances after the Lord’s loss in 2023. “I’m not sure how to answer that,” he says. “I’m surprised about the question.”Having shocked the sport by leaving a handful of deliveries in the series to date, Duckett decides he’s going after anything and everything this time around. He duly snicks Starc’s second ball to gully after Stokes wins a priceless toss, and the end is swift and pitiless. Root, with a solitary fifty in six innings to date, is again blown away by the still-new Kookaburra. The Ashes are surrendered on just the eighth day of the series. A third whitewash in six tours is a mere formality.

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12. Ashes last stand – Root’s versionThe mindset-first mentality of Stokes and McCullum had been conceived out of the misery of England’s experience in the 2021-22 Ashes – as a means for the players to learn to love the game again after the strictures of Covid, and as an attempt to wean the team off its destructive over-reliance on the genuine greats in its midst.Just as the 2019 Ashes series was salvaged by the genius of Ben Stokes, so Root’s miraculous run of form in 2021 (1708 runs at 61) had been the only thing keeping the team solvent throughout their dismal run of one win in 17 Tests. But now, in a reversion to that former type, it is time for England to end the pretence that this is a team of equals.With the squad’s entire apparatus now geared towards giving their greatest player the support he needs to thrive, Root knuckles down to produce the innings of his lifetime: a gargantuan double-century, greater even than the Chennai masterclass that seized a series lead in India during his annus mirablis. For once, Australia can’t summon the requisite response, thanks in no small part to Stokes’ unyielding 13-over, three-wicket spell on the fourth afternoon. It’s 2-1 and the Ashes are alive at Christmas!

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Elton John won’t let the sun go down on England•Allsport/Getty Images13: Festive spirit at the GDeck the halls with vibes and glory. England are in pure party mode as the Boxing Day Test draws nigh, buoyed by their own Bazballing bravado and by the sudden panic in Australia’s ranks, now that the flaws in their ageing outfit are no longer being hidden by their opponents’ self-destructive streak. Gladstone Small, the hero of England’s 1986 Melbourne victory is invited to give a motivational address at the Christmas fancy-dress party, and his entire supporters’ group comes along for the ride. It just so happens that Small still has Elton John on speed dial; the subsequent impromptu gig in Stokes’ hotel room is a you-had-to-be-there moment.All is going swimmingly until Stokes pulls a cracker with Matthew Potts, and feels something go “twang” in his ribs region. Scans reveal an intercostal tear. Uh oh …

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14: England on the brink nowIs there anything left to dredge from England’s chaotic campaign? Salvation, of sorts, lies in the Plan B that has been going through its motions on the periphery of the tour. Ben McKinney has been solidly in the runs through the England Lions tour, and with Crawley now officially a busted flush, Stokes hands his young Durham team-mate a maiden Test cap shortly before the toss. Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts and another Lions call-up, Matt Fisher, shore up a bowling attack that is now creaking at the seams, and after losing the toss on a cloudy Melbourne Boxing Day, England pray that the green-tinged drop-in wicket isn’t the dud that it has sometimes proven to be…

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You know it’s a big win when the sprinkler dance makes an appearance•Getty Images15: Stokes plays through the painHe’s come this far. He’s buggered if he’s backing down now. “Pain is only an emotion,” Stokes grimaces at the toss, as he channels (once again) the spirit of Ian Botham, as well as the ghosts of his own Christmases past… the post-Bristol no-show of 2017-18, the mental and physical shortcomings of 2021-22. In he poddles off three determined paces, swinging the ball lavishly at 62mph and beating Australia for lack of pace, just as Beefy himself had done at the same venue 39 years earlier. It scarcely matters that he follows up with scores of 2 and 10, or that his subsequent absence allows Australia to swipe a consolation win in Sydney. Crawley’s century is more than sufficient to set up a series-sealing five-wicket win. A gleeful sprinkler dance ensues in front of a jubilant Barmy Army, packed into the infamous Bay 13 in a further indication of how Australia’s mighty citadel has fallen.

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16: Stokes plays it safeWith a short turnaround to the Sydney Test, Stokes opts for discretion as the better part of valour, and passes the captaincy over to Brook so that he can embark on an intense bout of rehab. It’s not the master stroke he hoped it would be. Brook and Pope, his former deputy, can’t quite remember who is meant to be in charge, and key chances go begging for want of an extra leg gully or fifth slip. The inevitable beneficiaries are Smith and Labuschagne, whose twin hundreds drain the resolve of a team that is no longer as bulletproof as it likes to make out. It’s all square going into the New Year…

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17: Can reformed England complete the comeback?The mood shift is extraordinary as the Ashes descends on Melbourne, certainly among the media and the scores of England fans who’ve flown in for the festive period. However, after taking their defeat on the chin, it is Australia who emerge the stronger – much as had been the case at Old Trafford in 2019, immediately after Stokes’ Headingley heroics. Without getting drawn into details, both sides acknowledge that the series is still alive through the gut-busting efforts of England’s greatest run-scorer, and when all is said and done, Australia still lead the Ashes head-to-head down under by 15 matches to one across the span of Root’s career.Try as Root (and Stokes) might, there’s no way this fightback can be anything other than a flash in the pan. England’s gameplan has been ransacked just to stay alive, and with injuries among their bowlers stacking up, the return of Josh Hazlewood from a hamstring strain is precisely the scale-tipper that they had hoped not to have to factor in. Despite a brace of Root fifties, Australia ease to a 123-run win late on the fourth day, and cap a 4-1 series scoreline in Sydney a week later. After such a wild campaign, it’s asking too much of a broken team to bow out with a consolation win.

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Haven’t had that spirit here since 2017: can England channel whatever inspired Alastair Cook’s unbeaten 244 eight years ago?•Getty Images18: Flat deck at the ‘GBoxing Days don’t get much more brutal. After a flying fifty from Head, Weatherald and Labuschagne bed in for a second-wicket stand of 281 that spans all three sessions and is only ended by a determined burst from Carse, armed with the new ball late in the day. Smith, Alex Carey and the recalled Mitchell Marsh flog a toiling attack deep into the second afternoon, and with 556 on the board, the Ashes are as good as over…And yet, from somewhere deep within their residual memory a battle-scarred team finds the will to throw caution to the wind one more time. McKinney is the catalyst, ten feet tall after his debut pep talk from Baz, as he and Duckett surge onto the offensive once more. Spurred on by memories of Alastair Cook’s bloodless 244 in 2017, England go harder and harder still, safe in the knowledge that not even Starc is going to find movement on this featherbed. Brook falls short of a triple-century this time, but just as in Multan 14 months earlier, England surge past 800, and at a quick enough lick for a punch-drunk Australia to collapse on the fifth and final day. It’s 2-2 heading to Sydney, and true to form, Bazball is taking the chaotic route.

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19: Spicy surface at the ‘GEngland can’t believe their luck, as their patched-up bowling attack find nibble and bounce throughout a cloudy first day. Potts is the pick, with 4 for 24, and at 117 for 6 shortly before tea, an 86,784 crowd is beginning to reconsider its options for the evening session. But Carey has other ideas. He and Cummins seize on England’s inexperience to hoist Australia to 256 before stumps. If it feels like a decisive momentum shift, that’s because it is. With five awkward overs to see out before the close, McKinney falls third ball for a duck, and after turning down a nighthawk, Pope is yorked by Starc’s final ball of the day. England’s first innings collapses to 114 all out before lunch. The Ashes are over by tea on the third day.

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The blond monster of our nightmares: the Adelaide evisceration of 2006, courtesy Shane Warne, will live forever in English memory•Getty Images20: It’s Adelaide 2006 revisitedThere’s clearly no point in even turning up any more. As the spirit of Warnie circles over the Vulture Street End, Stuart Broad launches a petition for the Ashes to be voided, henceforth and forever more. The most storied rivalry in Test cricket is quietly retired, with one final gathering at a 150th anniversary wake at the MCG in March 2027. Australia win the first, and last, Test20 international by an innings and 45 runs.

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21: Sydney deciderWhere’s your money? Clearly, it was always on a 3-2 scoreline, if the pre-series fence-sitters are anything to go by… but which side of that fence will it all fall? It all comes down to a matter of belief.After so many ups and downs, how Bazball are you still feeling, honestly? Your answer may determine the destiny of the urn.

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Will these scenes be replayed come January (or even sooner)?•Getty Images22: Bazball or bustYour journey to this point has more or less adhered to England’s basic philosophy, of running towards the danger, of blocking out the noise, of committing to the option and backing it 100%. Thus, self-evidently, it is written. With their mindsets locked in, Sydney provides the grand finale that The Oval could not two years earlier, the stage for a come-from-behind series win for the ages.After a nip-and-tuck first two sessions, Brook and Jamie Smith cut loose against the old ball to power England past 300, before Wood – busting a gut, and his knee ligaments – bowls like the wind to bow out of Test cricket with 6 for 37. Stokes shoulders the bowling burden for the second innings, as he emulates Strauss, Brearley, Illingworth, Hutton and Jardine in seizing the Ashes on Australian soil.GAME OVER: Australia 2, England 3

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23: England try to change their waysWe’ve read this script before. Safety first all round. Dig in against the new Kookaburra ball, build a platform, value your wicket, ignore the phalanx of close catchers and the dead weight of a scoreboard that hasn’t budged in an hour. It’s noble, but it’s flawed, as Australia’s now fully fit battery of all-time-great fast bowlers lock down their lines and lengths, and pick off the errors one by one. After a valiant series-long fight, England’s battle-weariness proves their undoing. It’s been their best showing in Australia for 15 years, but the wait for an Ashes series win extends into another decade.GAME OVER: Australia 3, England 2

Big picture: World Test Champions’ toughest test

The variety of conditions Test cricket offers is evident from how the format’s world champions, South Africa, have not been able to even compete in their previous seven Tests in India, the country of their next challenge. They lost six of those Tests comprehensively, and were on their way in the seventh but for the rain.Even within India, South Africa have struggled in a variety of conditions. In 2015-16, they were outdone by a young side for whom the team management considered raging turners a necessity. Then, in 2019-20, against an established home team, South Africa were blanked by huge margins on good batting surfaces that had nothing for the home spinners, who averaged 27.18 compared to their fast bowlers’ 17.50.The world champions make this trip in 2025-26 not with any significant new faces in their attack but with more experience, and thus more equipped to compete during what has to be South Africa’s toughest tour. Keshav Maharaj was their lead spinner on the previous tour too. Simon Harmer toured in 2015-16. Senuran Muthusamy played two Tests in 2019-20. Kagiso Rabada remains the banker fast bowler.Related

• In India, captain Bavuma pursues the final piece of his validation

• Are India mulling Kuldeep vs allrounder?

• Eden Gardens conditions could weaponise India, SA quicks

• South Africa return to India without fear of the Turnado

• Dhruv Jurel: too good to keep out, too good to just keep

South Africa will also hope that India, who suffered a shock loss against New Zealand last year and are still a team in transition, still haven’t nailed the method to win home Tests. They blanked West Indies earlier this season, but they weren’t entirely invulnerable.Still, South Africa will need nearly everything to go their way to win a Test on this tour, just like it did for New Zealand last year. While India are currently third on the WTC points table, having drawn 2-2 in England and beaten West Indies 2-0, South Africa have only just begun their title defence with a 1-1 draw in Pakistan last month.

Form guide

India: WWWDL
South Africa: WLWWWShubman Gill has been hopping formats frequently since September•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Keshav Maharaj and Shubman Gill

Keshav Maharaj comes to India with experience of 60 Tests; he’s second only to Ravindra Jadeja among left-arm spinners in Test cricket. With India unlikely to offer square turners or assistance for traditional seam bowling, Maharaj will have to bear a heavy workload, and provide wickets and control.Starting September, India’s newest all-format star Shubman Gill has had no break. He got three days, including the travel day, between the T20 Asia Cup in the UAE and the first Test against West Indies in India. Then just four days to travel to Australia and switch to ODIs before going back to playing T20Is in three days. After that, a five-day break, which included travel from eastern Australia to eastern India to captain the team in an important series. Gill is young and fit, and must be itching to play as much as he can, but keep an eye on how well he readjusts to the longest format.

Team news: Jurel and Pant both set to play

Against West Indies, India got away with playing practically a ten-man side. Given India’s need for a seam-bowling allrounder, Nitish Kumar Reddy was understandably given games to develop his skills, but he hardly had a role to play in the series. Now, with their No. 1 Test wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant fit again, India have decided to keep Dhruv Jurel in the XI as a specialist batter and release Reddy to the India A side. The rest of the team should remain unchanged.India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 B Sai Sudharsan, 4 Shubman Gill (capt), 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajTemba Bavuma should replace Dewald Brevis in South Africa’s XI•Associated Press

South Africa should look to replicate the combination that won their previous Test, against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The batting ability of their first-choice attack gives them depth without compromising the bowling. Marco Jansen should pip Wiaan Mulder to the XI because there’s unlikely to be assistance for traditional seam bowling. The returning captain Temba Bavuma should take Dewald Brevis’ spot.South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Tony de Zorzi, 5 Temba Bavuma (capt), 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Senuran Muthusamy, 8 Simon Harmer, 9 Marco Jansen, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso Rabada

Pitch and conditions

Early indications suggest a good batting track at Eden Gardens, which could possibly bring reverse swing into the picture. There will be little grass on the pitch but it is not expected to be excessively dry or cracked either. A potentially tough task awaits the side that loses the toss.

Stats and trivia

• Gill has won only one toss in seven Tests as captain. South Africa have not won the toss in their previous seven Tests in India. One of these unlucky runs will end on Friday.
• Kyle Verreynne is five short of becoming only the fifth South Africa wicketkeeper to reach 100 Test dismissals.
• Jadeja is just ten runs short of becoming only the fourth player in the world to achieve the double of 300 wickets and 4000 runs in Tests.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are major doubts for a London derby meeting with Brentford on Wednesday night. Both players missed the Gunners' 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the weekend. Arteta also delivered updates on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes as they remain in the treatment room with more serious knocks.

• Summer signings set to step up again

  Saliba’s omission from the matchday squad at Stamford Bridge on Sunday raised eyebrows, but Arteta explained that the France international had suffered a knock during training on the eve of the draw with Chelsea. With centre-back partner Gabriel also sidelined, Arteta turned to an improvised pairing of summer signings Pierro Hincapie and Christhian Mosquera, who are likely to remain in the starting XI for Brentford's visit to the Emirates.

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  Saliba facing 'days, not weeks' on sidelines

  After running tests on Monday, Arsenal determined that Saliba remains short of fitness and is a doubt to feature at the Emirates on Wednesday. Arteta described the injury as another puzzling episode, comparing it to the ankle problem that forced the defender to miss several matches back in August.

  "He had a little niggle, so I think it’s going to be a matter of days, so let’s see if he’s able to be there tomorrow," he said. "Well, the ankle one, it was a really random and a very unlucky action that kept him out for a few weeks. He tried at Anfield, he wasn't comfortable, and he had to stay away and this one as well, very bizarre. But hopefully it will be a matter of days."

  Trossard will also miss the midweek fixture after limping off in the Champions League win over Bayern Munich last week. Further tests conducted on Friday confirmed a minor calf problem, but Arteta also expects the Belgian winger to be available again in a few days.

  Arteta also shared a heartfelt assessment of Havertz’s ongoing recovery. The German forward, who underwent a minor knee procedure in August, has endured a stop-start calendar year marked by a hamstring injury late last season and fresh complications during pre-season.

  "We are all desperate to have him," he said. "I mean, it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team – his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside. Matter of weeks; let’s see how it evolves in the next few weeks. He’s doing really well, he’s doing stuff on the pitch, but I think he needs some time."

  Gabriel, another long-term absentee, is continuing his rehabilitation from a thigh injury. Arteta has offered encouragement, saying the Brazilian centre-half is "doing very well", though the medical team still estimates a recovery period of several weeks.

  "Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well," he said. 

• Will Rice or Timber be rotated?

  The cluster of defensive injuries has prompted questions about whether players such as Declan Rice or Jurrien Timber should be rested, given their heavy workloads in recent weeks. Arteta, however, defended his selection philosophy, saying he always prioritises fielding the strongest available side.

  "We try to manage every case, every individual in relation to how they feel in the context of the matches, adjust with the only purpose to have the best options on the best pitch and to be better than the opponent, that’s it," he said. 

  "Our motivation comes from preparation and how we prepare for every game to try to be better than the opposition. Where we are in the league and what we are doing, I don’t think we need any more motivation than that."

  Reflecting on the season’s injury turbulence, Arteta said the team has had to navigate several unexpected blows. Losing Trossard when he was hitting his stride, reintegrating [Gabriel] Martinelli gradually, and then coping with Saliba’s late withdrawal at Chelsea have forced players into unfamiliar roles.

  "Especially how we lost them [the injuries] with Leo as well, because Leo was in a great moment, and Gabi Martinelli was just coming back, and we had to manage his minutes," he said. "He wasn't able to play more than he did on Sunday. So, managing that, the fact that obviously Willy trained the day before, and then he was uncomfortable, players are not training in certain positions, having to play there. But again, the attitude towards it and the way the players are performing and giving absolutely everything they can to fulfil those absences, it's been the key part of the season because we have to deal with a lot already."

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  Gyokeres and Odegaard ready to start

  Viktor Gyokeres, who made an appearance from the bench at Chelsea after recovering from a muscle injury suffered in the 2-0 win over Burnley, is expected to be fit enough to start on Wednesday. Meanwhile, captain Martin Odegaard, who has not started a match since damaging his MCL in early October, is also ready to rejoin the starting XI after making substitute appearances against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.