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As the transfer window approaches its fifth week of officially opening, Arsenal have yet to make a new addition to the first team.

In their defence, Edu Gaspar and Co have made David Raya's move permanent, and from reports, it appears that Ricardo Calafiori's imminent transfer is being held up by discussions between FC Basel and Bologna.

However, with less than a month until the Premier League graces our screens once more, the Gunners are risking missing out on their top targets.

That said, recent reports have revealed that Mikel Arteta is currently pushing the club to sign an increible player who has been compared to Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), Arsenal are still intent on signing Spain star Nico Williams.

In fact, while the Gunners are well aware of the Athletic Bilbao star's preference to join Barcelona this summer, they have identified him as the 'chosen one' to improve their attacking threat next season and see him as the ideal option for the left wing.

The report claims the 22-year-old has a €58m – £49m – release clause in his contract which is proving to be a significant issue for the Catalan side, and while it would still be a hefty fee for the Gunners, it would be well within their financial ability to pay it.

Overall, it may prove challenging to convince Williams to move to North London over Barcelona this summer, but if Arsenal want to make their attack even more potent next season, they'll have to put in the work to do it, and the comparison to Martinelli is just an extra incentive.

Why Williams would be a great signing and his comparison to Martinelli

So, before looking at why Williams would be such a good signing for Arsenal and his unreal form last season, let's take a look at this comparison to Martinelli and where it came from.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues before creating a top ten list of the most comparable players for each one. In this case, they concluded that the Brazilian is the seventh most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Spaniard.

It's not just the fact that they play on the left and love to take players on that makes the two stars so comparable, but also the fact that they produce very similar underlying numbers in a swathe of metrics, including non-penalty expected goals, actual non-penalty goals, progressive carries, passes into the final third, switches and tackles, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.24

0.31

Non-Penalty Goals

0.20

0.27

Progressive Carries

5.70

5.67

Passes into the Final Third

1.04

0.98

Switches

0.12

0.13

Tackles

1.24

1.34

It might seem odd that the player Arsenal want to sign to play off the left ranks so closely to their current left-winger in so many metrics, but it's not just about his underlying numbers.

He showed the world just how effective he can be last season, and along with his impact at the Euros, that's the main reason to believe he'd be incredible in North London.

For example, in just 37 appearances for Bilbao in 2023/24, the Spanish "pace demon", as dubbed by presenter Adam Keys, won the Copa del Rey, scored eight goals and provided 19 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.37 games in what was a historic campaign for the Basque giants.

He followed that up by helping La Roja win their fourth European Championship, scoring twice – including in the final – and providing one assist.

Ultimately, while it may be a challenge to convince Williams to join Arsenal this summer, Edu and Arteta must give it their best shot.

At just 22 years old, the young Spaniard looks like he's already one of the best attackers in Europe, and in a team with Bukayo Saka on the other side, he could achieve incredible things in North London.

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And which visiting bowler has taken the most Test wickets at one single ground?

Steven Lynch23-Sep-2025I was sorry to hear of the death of John Jameson. In the 1971 Oval Test he was run-out in both innings, how often has this happened? asked James Hamilton from England
John Jameson, who died last week, was a hard-hitting top-order batter for Warwickshire, who also played four Tests for England. In the second of those, against India at The Oval in August 1971, he was run-out in both innings. He’d made 82 in the first, which remained his highest Test score, before failing to beat Ajit Wadekar’s return to wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer, and added 16 in the second before bowler Bhagwath Chandrasekhar deflected a Brian Luckhurst straight-drive into the stumps with non-striker Jameson stranded.Jameson was – and still is – the only England player to be run-out in both innings of a Test. There have been 26 such instances in all: it happened to Australian team-mates Ian Healy and Mark Taylor twice. It has also happened 11 times in women’s Tests.Jameson had also been run-out in the second innings of his debut, at Old Trafford a fortnight earlier. He remains the only man to be run-out in three successive Test innings: Zimbabwe’s Guy Whittall had three consecutive run-out dismissals in 1997 and 1998, but that sequence was interrupted by an innings of 203 not out. Three women have been run out three times in a row in Tests: Betty Wilson of Australia in 1948-49, New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley in 1984, and Jill Kennare of Australia in 1984-85.In Test matches, which team has the highest team total if you add up each player’s career average, and then their highest score? asked William Lee from South Africa
To answer the second part first, the highest theoretical total if everyone in a particular team equalled their highest Test score would be 2367, by the World XI in the one and only “Super Series” Test against Australia in Sydney in October 2005. That side included Brian Lara (highest score 400 not out), Inzamam-ul-Haq (329), Virender Sehwag (319), Graeme Smith (277) and Rahul Dravid (270). It didn’t do them much good, as Australia won by 210 runs!The highest by a national XI would be 2231 by Sri Lanka against Australia in Galle in March 2004. That side included Mahela Jayawardene (374), Sanath Jayasuriya (340), Kumar Sangakkara (319) and Marvan Atapattu (249).The Australian team that beat England in Don Bradman’s final Test, at The Oval in August 1948, had a combined average of 450.46 if you add up their end-of-career figures. This is obviously helped by Bradman’s own 99.94! The largely similar Australian team that defeated India in Adelaide earlier in 1948 had an aggregate average of 448.15. Next comes the West Indian team against England in Port-of-Spain in February 1948, with a combined average of 445.55. That side included the unfortunate opener Andy Ganteaume, who scored a century in his only Test innings so finished with an average of 112.New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel has taken 25 Test wickets at the Wankhede Stadium – is this the most by a visiting bowler on any ground? asked Karan Singh Rathod from India
The New Zealand slow left-armer Ajaz Patel has taken 25 wickets in just two Tests at Bombay’s Wankhede Stadium, including his 10 for 119 in an innings against India there in December 2021.He’s a little way down the list of most wickets on a ground by visiting bowlers, although those above him played more Tests. Three men have taken 35 wickets on a single Test ground away from home: the 19th-century England seamer George Lohmann in four Tests in Sydney, another English bowling genius in Sydney Barnes took 35 in five matches in Melbourne, while the Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon has so far taken 35 in six Tests in Galle.This excludes wickets taken in Tests on neutral grounds: Yasir Shah took 55 wickets in Dubai and 46 in Abu Dhabi in what were designated as home Tests for Pakistan, while Saeed Ajmal picked up 37 in Dubai.Nathan Lyon has 35 wickets in six Tests in Galle, the most for any visiting bowler this century at one venue (not including neutral grounds)•AFPWarwickshire made 190 in the T20 Blast quarter-final without a single six. Was this the highest T20 innings not to feature a single six? asked Dave Henbery from England
You’re right that the total of 190 for 6 by Warwickshire (or Birmingham Bears as I think we’re supposed to call them) against Somerset in the Vitality Blast quarter-final in Taunton earlier this month did not contain a single six. We managed to unearth one higher total from the very first season of T20 cricket, also against Somerset: Glamorgan’s 193 for 7 in Cardiff in June 2003 had no sixes either. We don’t have ball-by-ball details for all T20 matches, but I’d be surprised if there is a higher total without a six.The Bears no doubt wished they’d managed to hit a couple over the ropes, as Somerset ended up winning that quarter-final in the last over, and went on to win the competition, beating Hampshire in an exciting final at Edgbaston a few days ago.Chris Martin is aptly described in his ESPNcricinfo bio as “hard-working with the ball and outrageously feeble with the bat”. He finished with 110 more Test wickets than runs: is this the highest such difference? asked Siddiqui Saleem from the United States
The short answer is yes: the New Zealand seamer Chris Martin finished his 71-Test career with 233 wickets and just 123 runs, a difference of 110. In all he was out 52 times (he also had 52 not-outs), which included 36 ducks – only Courtney Walsh (43) and Stuart Broad (39), who played many more Tests, bagged more ducks in Tests. Martin was also dismissed for a pair on seven occasions, easily the Test record.Martin took the run-difference record from India’s Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, who in 58 Tests amassed 242 wickets and 167 runs, or minus 75. Two other bowlers who took 100 Test wickets ended up with fewer runs than wickets: Bruce Reid of Australia had 113 wickets and 93 runs, while India’s Pragyan Ojha ended up with 113 and 89.Brett Schultz of South Africa took 37 wickets but made only nine runs, while Australia’s mystery spinner Jack Iverson took 21 Test wickets but made only three runs. Pride of place perhaps has to go to the Pakistan seamer Aizaz Cheema, who played seven Tests for Pakistan in 2011 and 2012, and took 20 wickets – but managed just a solitary run with the bat. (Actually he had five innings, and was never dismissed.)Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Manchester United are still keen on signing a "phenomenal" new forward in the summer transfer window, with a player plus cash move involving a current Red Devils star possibly on the cards.

Man Utd transfer news

Erik ten Hag will be hoping to see his squad improve significantly ahead of next season, following a disappointing campaign overall that saw his side finish eighth in the Premier League table.

It will be fascinating to see which new signings come in at Old Trafford, and it looks as though Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is still a leading option to come in and boost the defensive options on show. Raphael Varane has left, while Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans aren't the answers, and the England international could be an exciting addition.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag has reportedly personally held talks with Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee over a switch to United in the near future, with the Dutchman seen as someone who could add more goals in the final third. He has 23 goal contributions (14 goals and nine assists) in 58 appearances for Bologna, and at 23 years of age, his best years are likely to lie ahead.

The Red Devils are believed to be willing to double Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo's wages, too, with the Uruguayan currently earning £114,000 per week at the Catalan giants. He could represent a more experienced option to Branthwaite, should the Everton man end up not joining.

Man Utd want "phenomenal" striker

According to La Repubblica [via Sport Witness], Manchester United haven't given up hope of signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen yet, with the Nigerian expected to leave his current club in the current transfer window for a fee in the region of £85m.

The report says that "in recent months, United have tried to convince Napoli for Osimhen", offering money plus the services of Rasmus Hojlund, which may come as something of a surprise, but the report claims this is an idea which could now be revisited after the arrival of Dan Ashworth.

Osimhen is one of the world's leading strikers at the moment, considering he has scored 76 goals in just 133 matches for Napoli, as well as being hailed by Walter Mazzarri, who heaped praise on him: "Osimhen is phenomenal because he runs alone at five players and gets through. If you look at genuine scoring opportunities, compared to the number Napoli created lately, I didn’t see that many."

While the 25-year-old is clearly an elite-level striker who could be a devastating addition for United, selling Hojlund would seem like a strange decision, considering his long-term potential. Granted, he hasn't yet set the world alight at Old Trafford, but he has done enough to suggest that he is a star of the future, scoring 16 times in 43 appearances for the Red Devils.

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That being said, if push truly comes to shove this summer, Osimhen would still represent an immediate upgrade on Hojlund and become a potential icon at Old Trafford, kicking off the Ashworth era in style and acquiring the services of a wonderful footballer.

Flat track at New Road means final-day shock seems out of the question for visitors

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2021

Ed Barnard made 98 not out as Worcestershire kept Warwickshire in the field•Getty Images

Worcestershire 415 for 8 (Mitchell 113, Barnard 98*, Haynes 65) lead Warwickshire 395 (Malan 141, Sibley 80, Rhodes 60, Sodhi 6-89) by 20 runsWarwickshire are on the brink of sealing a top two spot in Group 1 of the LV= Insurance County Championship despite encountering prolonged Worcestershire resistance in the New Road derby.Daryl Mitchell’s century and an unbeaten 98 from Ed Barnard eked out a 20 run lead for the home side in reply to Warwickshire’s 395 and they still have two wickets in hand.But the Bears will seal a spot amongst the six teams who will fight it out for the Championship crown in September if they avoid defeat on what is still a flat pitch in a game where only 18 wickets have so far fallen.Mitchell’s ton was the 39th of his career while Barnard fully justified his promotion into the top six.Worcestershire resumed on 152 for 2 and Haynes soon brought up a half-century from 110 balls with six fours in his first senior innings since a five week lay-off with an ankle problem.The 100 stand with Mitchell occupied 264 balls and the veteran opener completed his hundred with a single off Will Rhodes.It came from 228 balls with 10 boundaries and Mitchell has moved into the top six of Worcestershire’s all-time century-makers.Matt Lamb made the first breakthrough of the day when Jack Haynes (65) was caught off a leading edge at extra cover to end a stand of 130 with Mitchell.Mitchell’s fine knock ended 11 runs later on 113 when he played forward to Liam Norwell and was lbw.Warwickshire continued to chip away and captain Will Rhodes struck in successive overs as Brett D’Oliveira (18) was caught behind and Ben Cox (1) checked his shot and offered a return catch.Worcestershire Club Captain, Joe Leach, produced some aggressive batting and collected three boundaries in an over from Rhodes.He made a quickfire 34 before he was caught down the legside off Rob Yates.Barnard, promoted after impressive early season form, batted responsibly and swept Yates for four to bring up the 300.Ish Sodhi (13) picked out deep mid wicket off Lamb but Barnard completed a 122-ball fifty with his fifth four.Adam Finch helped him add a further unbroken 91 for the ninth wicket. Barnard needed three from the final over to reach his hundred but was content to take a single off the second ball. He hit eight fours in his 195-ball knock.

Another week, another dollar for Liverpool. Up next is an Anfield clash against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and Arne Slot knows he has to win this one.

That should go without saying, of course, but the fact of the matter is that Liverpool have lost eight of their past 11 matches across all competitions, and two of their past three at Anfield.

A big response is needed, and curiously, it feels like there’s a good chance that will be delivered against the Dutch side. Whether it will be sustained is another matter, though, and Slot needs to find and instil a formula that can be carried back over to the Premier League, with West Ham United waiting in London on Sunday.

The Reds have to overcome their current malaise, and maybe they need to start Alexander Isak once again.

Why Isak should start vs PSV

Hugo Ekitike is waiting in the wings, and having been Liverpool’s most efficient forward this season, may well be disheartened by being benched once again here, especially after his side and Isak produced a staggeringly bad performance at the weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Minutes played

68′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

14

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

5/7 (71%)

Possession lost

7x

Chances created

1

Dribbles

0/1

Tackles won

0/0

Duels won

0/7

The Sweden striker, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on transfer deadline day this summer, has not yet scored in the Premier League, his only goal coming against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

The 26-year-old is one of the best strikers in the world and a proven behemoth in England. But it’s not worked out thus far, and Slot has to find some answers – quickly.

Liverpool cannot allow this rut to devolve into something more permanent. Already, chatter concerning the boss’s future is rising, and he needs to prove he can rewire his team to overcome their many problems.

The free-scoring success of Isak will be essential in righting the wrongs of recent months.

If Isak is to be handed another chance to develop his fitness levels under the European lights on Wednesday, Slot should also consider handing another rarely-seen star a role from the opening.

Slot must unleash Liverpool's Semenyo-esque talent

While Cody Gakpo has played many minutes off the left wing this season, there is a sense that Liverpool need a contrasting profile. Someone like Luis Diaz.

But, with Diaz sold to Bayern Munich, rumours are rising regarding Liverpool’s interest in Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine fettle for Bournemouth this season.

Semenyo, 25, has notched six goals and three assists from 11 Premier League matches this season, and he has been hailed as a “world-class” forward by his teammate Justin Kluivert.

He’s available in January, his £65m release clause then becoming active, but whether Liverpool should strike a deal for the Ghanaian when they have a talent like Rio Ngumoha in their ranks remains to be seen.

Ngumoha, 17, announced himself and then some earlier this season when scoring a last-gasp winner away at Newcastle in August, but Slot has since proved reluctant to hand him minutes on the biggest stage.

Given that Liverpool opted against paying out for a direct Diaz heir to keep a pathway open for the England U19 star, whose five Premier League cameos this term combine for a total of 42 minutes of action, this is questionable.

Now, while Liverpool need to win against PSV, Ngumoha could be handed a significant show of faith by starting in the Champions League, with his pace and potency and willingness to be direct potentially perfect for Isak. Just look at the connection the Swede forged with Anthony Gordon over the past few years on Tyneside.

Described as a “generational talent” by journalist Kevin Fernandes, Ngumoha was given 12 minutes off the bench at the weekend, and while he was unable to turn the tide against the Tricky Trees, he certainly offered more than Gakpo, with Sofascore recording that he completed all three attempted dribbles and won three duels.

This could be a move that not only bears dividends for Isak and Ngumoha, but also rekindle the belief in Slot’s vision. Liverpool fans are passionate, and the rise of a homegrown hero could project the kind of shining light Slot needs to prove he has what it takes to lead this club forward in the long run.

After all, Ngumoha has already demonstrated this season his capacity to succeed in the Premier League, and that winner at St. James’ Park established him as one of the competition’s youngest goalscorers of all time.

#

Player

Age

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

He might be a raw and unpolished prospect, but Ngumoha is the real deal, and while we are not advocating for him to start every single match, it might be worthwhile to enforce a degree of rotation here ahead of Sunday’s must-win Premier League match at West Ham.

It would also help stabilise Isak, providing a presence to dart forward and stretch lines, playing into the record striker’s fast-running and line-breaking style of play.

The rumours concerning Liverpool’s interest in Semenyo are only going to intensify as the winter transfer window draws nearer.

But Liverpool already have a prodigious talent whose talent left FSG and Hughes opting against sourcing a direct Diaz replacement. Now it is time to unleash him.

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Few surprises as Pochettino names his first U.S. men's national team squad ahead of upcoming friendlies against Panama and Mexico

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Pochettino names USMNT squadMcKennie, Weah and Robinson returnSurging Pulisic leads attackWHAT HAPPENED?

Mauricio Pochettino announced his first set of call-ups for U.S. men's national team squad Wednesday, with the coach selecting 25 players to the October training camp roster. The squad is headlined by the surging Christian Pulisic, who has been on fire in Milan since the USMNT last convened in September for a loss to Canada and draw with New Zealand.

Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson all returned to the squad after missing out in September. Former U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper Zack Steffen returns to squad for the first time since 2022 while Gianluca Busio has a chance to make his first appearance since 2023.

Gio Reyna and Chris Richards, meanwhile, have been left out of the team due to injury.

AdvertisementGettyTHE SQUAD IN FULL

GOALKEEPERS (4): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids; 29/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 45/0)

DEFENDERS: Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)

FORWARDS: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Timothy Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite just being friendlies, there is heightened attention to the upcoming Panama and Mexico matches due to the arrival of Pochettino, who will be on the touchline for the first time. The Argentine's arrival was confirmed shortly before the USMNT's draw with New Zealand last month, ending a weeks of rumors about the team's search for a new head coach.

Pochettino gives the USMNT a legitimate world-class manager, one who has coached at the highest levels of European soccer. He'll no doubt need to adjust his style to the international game, though, and with just over a year-and-a-half remaining before the start of the World Cup, time is of the essence for this USMNT program.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The U.S. will first take on Panama on Oct. 12 in Austin, Texas before traveling south to face Mexico in Guadalajara three days later. After that, the focus will turn towards November, when the U.S. will play two matches against a to-be-determined opponent in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals.

All the gory numbers from the eight T20 World Cup 2024 games hosted by the Nassau County International Stadium

Sampath Bandarupalli13-Jun-2024137 for 7 Canada’s total against Ireland was the highest across the eight matches in New York. Ireland’s 125 for 7 in the chase during the same game is the only other instance of a team scoring 120-plus at this venue.Nassau County Stadium became the first venue without a 140-plus total after hosting eight or more games in a men’s T20 tournament. The previous lowest ‘highest total’ at a venue was 141 at the Desert Springs Cricket Ground, which hosted twelve matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier in 2021.7.86 India’s run rate during their successful chase of 97 against Ireland. It was the only time a team had scored at above seven an over across the 16 innings in New York.113 The total South Africa defended successfully against Bangladesh, the lowest successfully defended total by any team at the Men’s T20 World Cup in a full 20-over game. India successfully defended 119 a day before South Africa’s effort. This was the joint-second lowest total defended, alongside Sri Lanka’s 119 against New Zealand in 2014.82-15 Wickets taken by fast bowlers and spinners at the Nassau County stadium. The fast bowlers bagged 82 wickets in 236.1 overs, averaging 15.71 and taking a wicket every 17.2 balls, while the spinners bowled only 61.2 overs across the eight matches, taking 15 wickets at 25.46 while striking once every 24.5 balls.