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Shreyas said he was hit on the finger in training on the eve of the match

ESPNcricinfo staff18-May-20252:20

‘PBKS have depth in both batting and bowling’

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer suffered an injury to the index finger of his right hand in training on the eve of their match against Rajasthan Royals (RR), which was why he didn’t take the field during RR’s chase. Shashank Singh stood in as captain as PBKS registered a 10-run win.Shreyas made 30 off 25 after winning the toss and choosing to bat, but was subbed out for their Impact Player, Harpreet Brar, at the start of the second innings.”Reason is the finger over here. I don’t know what has happened. Yesterday while practicing, I got hit,” Shreyas said at the post-match presentation ceremony, with his injured finger taped up. “I’ll have to go and check what exactly is the issue here.”Related

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Nehal Wadhera and Harpreet Brar take Punjab Kings closer to playoffs

PBKS made 219 for 5 on the back of half-centuries from Nehal Wadhera and Shashank. But Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi got off to a flyer in the chase as RR raced to 67 for no loss in five overs.That’s when left-arm spinner Brar broke up the opening stand by dismissing Suryavanshi in the fifth over. He conceded just five runs off his next over before having Jaiswal hole out at long-off in the ninth over. He capped off his performance by castling Riyan Parag in the 14th over to finish with figures of 3 for 22.Harpreet Brar picked off both Rajasthan Royals openers and finished with 3 for 22•BCCI

“[Brar] has been consistent in the nets, coming day in and out for practice sessions. And he wants to do the best for himself and he was hungry for this opportunity,” Shreyas said. “And I feel that today he stepped in and delivered at his best. So, congratulations to him and also his mindset has been tremendous throughout.”While a left-arm spinner bowling to a left-handed batter is generally considered a positive matchup for the batter, Brar was the one to break the game open with the wickets of the two left-handed RR openers.”We practice in nets, how to bowl to the left-hander, and even [PBKS head coach] Ricky Ponting sir has motivated me a lot for this, that even a left-arm spinner can get a left-handed batter out,” Brar said, after being named Player of the Match.”So, I worked on a lot of things. And their plan was clear, that they will charge me a little, they will look to hit me. So, my plan was to put the ball in my area and not make it easy for them to hit it”The way the wicket was behaving, and they are very good players, the way they the powerplay was going. So in my mind, I didn’t want to give them easy boundaries. If they charge me and hit boundaries, then it’s fine. I just didn’t want to give them an easy ball.”

Glasgow Rangers are “among the admirers” to sign a highly-rated player this summer, according to an update from reliable journalist Alex Miller.

Rangers pushing for late-summer business

The Gers’ opening weekend 1-1 draw away to Motherwell was far from an ideal start to their Scottish Premiership season, with Russell Martin’s side immediately losing ground on rivals Celtic.

It is essential that more transfer business is done between now and the end of the window, in order for Martin to have a squad that is capable of both winning the title and holding its own in Europe, and players continue to be linked with moves to Ibrox.

One report has claimed that Rangers have joined the race to sign young Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein this summer, with a season-long loan move potentially on the cards. The 23-year-old is going to struggle for minutes at the Emirates in 2025/26, so a year in Scotland could be ideal for his development.

Elsewhere, the Gers are said to have held talks with Real Betis centre-back Nobel Mendy about a move to the club, and are happy to pay more than £1.7m for his signature. Now, a new update has dropped regarding another summer transfer target.

Rangers admire "excellent" Championship player; Chansiri to decide

According to Miller on X, Rangers are “among the admirers” in the battle to sign Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles, with the decision left up to controversial Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri.

“Any decision on whether Sheffield Wednesday cash-in on Pierce Charles will ultimately be made by Dejphon Chansiri, Henrik Pedersen has admitted. West Ham and Rangers among the admirers.”

Charles has been linked with Rangers already this summer, with the 20-year-old’s future at Wednesday in doubt, amid their dire financial situation and doubts over whether Chansiri is genuinely working towards a sale.

Sheffield Wednesday

15

19

1

Northern Ireland

8

5

4

It is easy to see why the Gers are eyeing him up as a top-quality young option between the sticks, with the stopper already an eight-cap Northern Ireland international, also racking up 15 appearances for the Owls. He has admirers everywhere, including his international manager, Michael O’Neill, who has lauded him in the recent past.

The lure of the Premier League is clear for any player, so West Ham will be a threat to Rangers’ chance of signing Charles this summer, but the Scottish giants can offer him European football, which the Hammers cannot.

Wednesday’s aforementioned financial situation also means they may be forced to sell one of the best young players, and he has the ability to mature into a key man for the Gers for years to come, should they strike a deal for him.

Lancashire’s 42-year-old former England seamer “excited” for new season despite suffering calf strain

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Apr-20251:30

Will James Anderson be able to play for three more years?

The grand opening of James Anderson’s 24th season of English cricket has been delayed. On Tuesday, it was confirmed England’s all-time leading wicket taker will miss the first month of Lancashire’s County Championship season with a right calf issue.At a time of year when pre-season optimism reaches fever pitch – Lancashire, in this instance, bolshy about their chances of returning to Division One following last year’s relegation – news of Anderson’s injury was a rare dampener. The neatness of a return to Lord’s – site of his 188th and final Test last July, which also happens to be his last competitive match – to play Middlesex in the season opener will not be realised.Damage to the calf – the same one that ruled him out of all but the first session of the 2019 Ashes – was sustained last week, on a pre-season trip to Desert Springs in Spain. It scuppered what had been an otherwise steady stint of training from the start of the year ahead of fulfilling his season-long deal.Related

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“I reckon it’s been about since Christmas, really,” Anderson said at Lancashire’s media day of his prep to date. “It’s been a good block. I’ve been away a couple of times with England, but in between – it’s only been 10 days or so that I’ve been away – it’s mainly been here with the lads training. I feel great. My fitness is as good as it’s been. My bowling’s been good. I’m really excited.”That excitement is genuine. It was around this time last year that Anderson was called to a Manchester Hotel for the meeting where Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes enforced retirement upon him. The time since involved a lot of introspection, especially after his Lord’s swansong. What did he want from his immediate future? Inevitably, the answer was to keep playing.His bowling consultant role with England might have also pushed him towards that decision. There is currently no agreement in place for Anderson to assist England this summer, having done so last year and at the Champions Trophy, partly through his choosing.”I want to give playing a good go, so that’s what I’ve told them,” Anderson said. “I want to prioritise playing cricket for Lancs. If there’s opportunities throughout the summer where they want me to come in and do stuff, we’ll have to cross that bridge.”It would be great to be part of an Ashes trip [later this year]. But if I’m not involved much this summer they might want to go in a different direction.”James Anderson is all smiles for the Lancashire team photo•Getty Images

For all the talk of Anderson’s value to the set-up and the wisdom of 704 Test wickets across 21 years at the very top, it was an awkward union. Just four days separated his emotional walk off into the sunset and reemerging in the shadows, taking the mitt at Trent Bridge for newly ex-team-mates. Less than a week between still believing he could do a job for England and fine-tuning his replacements.The ad hoc nature of Anderson’s role was characterised by his absence in the build-up to the first Test in Pakistan for a pre-arranged golf trip. Indeed, his main takeaway from that tour seems to have been stints bowling in the nets at Joe Root, which helped him preserve his skills.Though the likes of Gus Atkinson, Josh Hull, and even long-time team-mate Chris Woakes, spoke glowingly of his advice from the sidelines, it was always an odd fit. One that would surely only grow odder with Anderson back playing again.Would it dull his mentoring qualities? Perhaps not. But replicating the form he showed for his one-off appearance for Lancashire last season – taking 7 for 35 in the first innings against Nottinghamshire at Southport – would elicit tricky comparisons with those under his care. All being well, he should rout Division Two.Focusing on a return to action, even if delayed by a month, has evidently narrowed Anderson’s perspective. When asked if there had been reflections on his international retirement, his response was curt: “Not really, but I don’t want to dwell on it.” He insists he is not motivated on trying to prove England wrong. His desire to play as much cricket as he has left evident in the two unsuccessful draft attempts in the IPL and the Hundred.”I’m not going to think about that,” he reiterated on what England ambitions he may still harbour. “I think that ship’s well on its way. All I can do is focus on the future and what my job is, which is to play cricket for Lancashire. I’m fully focused on that.”Anderson will not struggle for influence at Lancashire, looking to add to 376 wickets and just five first-class appearances away from a century for his boyhood county. The last time he was as available for this much of a Championship campaign was the summer of 2005, when he played 16 times while also featuring in England squads during that famous Ashes series.Even his longevity brings novelty to the Emirates Old Trafford dressing room. The 42-year old has not only played international cricket with Rocky Flintoff’s father, Andrew, but was also a Burnley CC team-mate of RP Singh, who played two ODIs for India and whose son, Harry, is in the Lancashire squad.And yet, despite the lift he will bring his Lancashire team-mates, it is hard to escape the personal nature of this season, particularly when squaring the conflicts of Anderson’s own ambitions. Proclaiming to be as fit as ever is contradicted by his calf, and the eyebrow-raising claim to the BBC that he would not rule out “playing for another one, two or three years” came not long before he conceded to the written media that this whole thing may be over much sooner.”I could get a month in and think ‘absolutely not’. But I could have a great year, we could win everything, and they might want to keep me next year so we’ll just have to wait and see.”Who knows how long this intriguing final stanza of Anderson’s career will last. Over the coming months, the rest of us will get a clear idea just how brightly a love of the game and its grind burns within him.For the man himself, it feels more about control. Closure, even. Having had his Test retirement taken out of his hands, Anderson can still bow out on his own terms.

da bet sport： Manchester United have had plenty of struggles over the past decade, with their lack of a dominant midfield being one of the biggest.

da pixbet： During the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, the midfield laid the foundations for success, with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes very much at the heart of it.

The duo are regarded as two of the best midfielders to have graced the Premier League, and together, they were formidable, winning 191 matches over 322 that they played alongside each other.

Therefore, the prospect of Sir Jim Ratcliffe signing a player who’s like Keane and Scholes rolled into one must be extremely exciting.

Man Utd’s search for a new midfielder

As per a report from Portuguese outlet Record, via The Faithful MUFC, Man United are looking to secure their first signing of the summer, Joao Neves.

It’s reported that the Red Devils have already made a £51m bid for the talented midfielder; however, it’s unfortunately been rejected already.

Benfica are holding out for around the £85m mark for their star prospect, as he has a release clause of £102m.

However, United will have to beat the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea in order to sign Neves.

How Neves compares to Scholes and Keane

Since breaking into the first team at Benfica during the 2022/23 season, Neves truly cemented himself as an incredible prospect last campaign.

The talented Portuguese featured in 55 matches across all competitions, including six times in the Champions League and the Europa League.

Over these appearances, he’s scored three goals and provided two assists, but serving as a creative outlet and a goalscoring threat isn’t his main instruction.

Neves’ role in Benfica’s side is to play in a double pivot of a 4-2-3-1 formation, where he’s expected to control the game while also providing support defensively.

Neves' 23/24 UEL Stats vs Keane & Scholes

Stats (per game)

Neves

Keane

Scholes

Touches

93.2

62.8

62.6

Passes completed

63.8

39

41

Pass accuracy

88%

84%

90%

Tackles

3.7

2.2

3

Interceptions

1.8

0.8

2.8

Duels won

10

7.5

5.6

Via Sofascore

As you can see from the table above – which takes statistics from Keane's 1994 World Cup campaign and Scholes' exploits at the 2002 World Cup – Neves has plenty of similarities to both United legends, especially when comparing the numbers.

Firstly, Neves is an extremely technical player who knows exactly how to control a game, often dropping deeper to progress play while rarely losing possession, as shown by his passes completed, touches, and pass accuracy.

This is certainly similar to Scholes, who was also a master with the ball at his feet. Football analyst Ben Mattinson also stated that there are similarities between the two in terms of adding “technical ability to their midfield, help improve their build-up & become a key player to lead them.”

However, what makes Neves so "special,” as further dubbed by Mattinson, is the fact that he’s also extremely dominant from an out-of-possession perspective, and his defensive stats back that up.

This is where his Keane-like attributes come into the picture, due to his tenacious and relentless approach that has made him be labelled as a “warrior" by scout Jacek Kulig, which we all know the Irishman was, as shown by the clip below.

Just like the Irish icon, Neves can cover ground with ease, and he also has the hunger to win with a slight aggression, as highlighted by the duo’s duels won per game.

When combining all of his qualities, it’s clear to see that Neves plays in a similar way to both Scholes and Keane, and despite his insane fee, a player with such class must be signed.

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Posts ByTom Lever Jun 4, 2024

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a bid to sign a £51 million player targeted by Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich, and it is believed the Gunners want to act fast to win the race.

Edu could sign new world-class striker for Arsenal this summer

Mikel Arteta's side were praised for their excellent attacking form last season, despite just losing out on the Premier League title to eventual champions Man City, who won a national record fourth league crown in a row.

European club set for talks to sign "prolific" ace from Arsenal this week

It could be a summer of change at the Emirates Stadium.

ByEmilio Galantini May 29, 2024

The north Londoners scored over 90 goals in the league alone, with the majority of their strikes coming courtesy of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz. Their attacking contributions came from across the forward line in the absence of a world-class natural number nine, which is testament to the fluidity of Arsenal's side going forward.

However, it has been widely reported that sporting director Edu could soon put that to an end, as Arsenal are actively seeking a new striker this summer. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are Arteta's only senior options in that position right now, but both are facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium.

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Martinelli

8

A guaranteed 25-plus-goals-per-season front man has long been thought of as the missing piece of the jigsaw, with Arsenal chiefs eager to source it before the start of next season.

"Arsenal are seeking to sign a prime striker before their pre-season tour," wrote reliable journalist Miguel Delaney for The Independent recently.

"Mikel Arteta has already long started work on plans for next season, and wants to bring in three first-team level players while moving out three or four.

They did already considered purchasing a striker in January, with that long seen as the final main piece missing. A move for Ivan Toney was considered then, but Brentford’s £100m price put Arsenal off, and he has since fallen way down the list of targets.

"Arteta wants to get all business done early, so the squad is immediately ready to work on a campaign where they are aiming to hit over 90 points. The plans have already seen in the market as reminiscent of Liverpool around 2018."

A forward who Arsenal have been regularly linked with is Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee, coming after the Dutchman's excellent Serie A campaign.

Arsenal preparing bid for Joshua Zirkzee

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, as relayed by Spanish media, Arsenal are preparing an official bid for Zirkzee, but Bundesliga giants Bayern also have the striker on their list of potential targets and are "involved" in the race.

The Bavarians, who will now be lead by new manager Kompany (Fabrizio Romano), possess a buy-back clause regarding Zirkzee – which hands them an advantage. However, if they decide not to formalise their interest, Arsenal would be handed a fairly clear run.

Arsenal chiefs apparently want to move quickly for Zirkzee as they seek to end their long search for a natural striker of real quality. Stefano Pioli, commenting on the £51 million Zirkzee last season, claimed he is a striker who "has everything".

Ireland batsman dents own pride in matchwinning 82 from 37 balls

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2020Kevin O’Brien left himself a hefty bill for repairs in a hard-hitting onslaught for Leinster Lightning against North West Warriors in Dublin, after smashing his own car windscreen while hitting a six.In a match reduced to 12 overs a side due to rain interruptions, O’Brien’s bruising innings of 82 from 37 balls was more than enough to secure a 24-run DLS win.However, it later transpired that one of his eight sixes had sailed into the car park at Pembroke Cricket Club, and wrecked the rear window of his Toyota.Kevin O’Brien smashed his own windscreen while hitting a six•Cricket Ireland

It had been a typically belligerent onslaught from the 36-year-old O’Brien, whose greatest claim to fame was the 50-ball hundred against England at the 2011 World Cup in Bengaluru, but who was also at the crease at the Ageas Bowl last month while Ireland once again chased down 329 to beat England.For Leinster, O’Brien struck his second ball for six and didn’t let up, despite the risk of his momentum being interrupted by a mid-innings rain break.Leinster finished with 124 for 4 from 12 overs, leaving the visiting Warriors a near-impossible task of chasing down the massive target in dull, damp conditions.They lost wickets early in the response, and apart from William Porterfield’s 50 from 30 balls, never looked like coming close.

da fazobetai： Sporting director Edu and Arsenal have now been offered the chance to sign a £17 million midfielder who's drawn comparison with Gunners legend Santi Cazorla.

Arsenal seeking to sign new midfielder for Arteta this summer

da 888： A new midfielder is one of four key signings which Arsenal are looking to make when the transfer window reopens on June 14 (Simon Collings).

Related Arsenal table formal bid to sign £52 million man who's "perfect" for Arteta

The Gunners are moving quickly pre-summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 15, 2024

As well as in the middle of the park, it is believed that a new goalkeeper, defender and forward are also on the agenda – but a potential opening in Mikel Arteta's midfield has seen a host of big names linked with a move to the Emirates lately.

Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for Thomas Partey(GiveMeSport), and with the Ghanaian entering the final 12 months of his contract, Premier League stars like Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are being targeted by Edu.

Arsenal have apparently held discussions with Guimaraes and his entourage already, with the Brazilian's contract set to include a £100 million release clause from the end of May to the last week of June (Fabrizio Romano), though they will have to fend off rival interest from Manchester City.

He is by no means the only midfielder linked with a move to north London, though, as reports have also surrounded Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi. Tuttosport boldly claimed this week that Arsenal have already made a formal bid to sign Zubimendi, with the Spaniard's contract including a far more affordable exit clause of around £52 million.

£50-£60 million Everton ace Amadou Onana is believed to be on Arsenal's transfer shortlist as well, but former defender Mikael Silvestre believes he isn't quite ready to step up to that level.

"He’s (Onana) improved a lot," said Silvestre. "I’m not sure he’s at the level to improve the current squad. If you’re chasing the Premier League title with City and with Liverpool, I don’t think he’s fully ready to improve the midfield. He still has some work to do. Number one would be concentration.

Amadou Onana's best league games for Everton this season

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Burnley 0-2 Everton

8.52

Everton 1-0 Sheffield United

7.71

Everton 3-0 Bournemouth

7.69

Brentford 1-3 Everton

7.42

Everton 1-2 Luton Town

7.33

"Sometimes he loses the ball too easily and his decision-making is not 100% there yet. It’s a bit too early for him to be a contender in midfield for Arsenal."

All of the aforementioned players have one thing in common – they're all valued at around £50 million-plus. As Edu looks to strengthen multiple areas of the squad, he'll be looking to save money where possible, and it appears he's been presented with a potential bargain opportunity.

Arsenal offered chance to sign PSG midfielder Carlos Soler

According to HITC, Arsenal have been offered £17 million Paris-Saint Germain midfielder Carlos Soler.

The Spaniard, who's struggled for consistent chances in Luis Enrique's starting elevens this season, is available to sign for Arsenal and other interested sides. He's been likened to former fan favourite Cazorla, which may endear him to the Gunners faithful immediately.

Arsenal also have a historic link to Soler, as it is believed Arteta was keen on signing the 27-year-old all the way back in 2020 (Lyall Thomas, Sky Sports).

Glamorgan batsman digs in to rescue team from prospect of follow-on

ECB Reporters Network10-Aug-2020Centurion Billy Root was the inspiration behind a stirring Glamorgan fightback after Worcestershire captain Joe Leach had plunged them into deep trouble with an early burst with the ball in the Bob Willis Trophy encounter at Blackfinch New Road.Root, unbeaten on 53 overnight, had seen his side nosedive from 185 for 2 to 203 for 6 after Leach’s spell brought the remarkable figures of 7-5-3-4.At that juncture, the visitors were still 53 runs away from avoiding the possibility of being asked to follow on. But Root showed great application and determination in enabling his side to recover to the extent that their first-innings deficit was only 81 as they totalled 374 all out from 116.3 overs.He went onto make 118 and it needed a stunning catch from Worcestershire keeper Ben Cox to bring his fine knock, containing 12 fours and spanning 258 balls, to an end.Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell (48 not out) and Jake Libby (44) then extended their side’s advantage in solid fashion during an opening stand of 97 before the latter and Leach (0) departed shortly before the close.Root had received excellent support from Graham Wagg (54) in a seventh wicket partnership of 118 in 34 overs. The former Nottinghamshire batsman gave only one sharp chance when on 74 – to slip off spinner Brett D’Oliveira.Then a last wicket stand of 41 between Timm van der Gugten (23 not out) and Michael Hogan (17) further helped Glamorgan’s cause before they were dismissed on the stroke of tea.Leach’s initial spell wreaked havoc to the Glamorgan batting line-up. Kiran Carlson added only three runs to his overnight 76 when he pushed forward to a delivery which left him and Daryl Mitchell held a sharp low catch at second slip.It ended a partnership of 141 in 47 overs with Root, and Leach struck again in his next over when Glamorgan captain Chris Cooke (0) went for a square drive and picked out Ed Barnard who excelled in clinging onto a low chance at pointTom Cullen (1) was next to perish to a ball which moved away just enough to find the edge as he pushed forward – and Mitchell made no mistake with a chest high catch.It became 203 for 6 with the last ball of the same over as Dan Douthwaite hooked at Leach and succumbed to a tumbling catch by Brett D’Oliveira running in from the mid-wicket boundary.Only when Wagg joined Root did some much needed solidity return to the batting. A square cut for four off Leach – his 12th boundary – took Root to three figures from 258 balls.Wagg’s half century came up soon afterwards from 79 deliveries with seven fours before Root’s spectacular dismissal. He nicked a delivery from Charlie Morris and saw Cox take a stunning one-handed catch in mid air away to his left.The same combination accounted for Kieran Butt (7) in more straightforward fashion and then Wagg (54) top edged Ed Barnard to provide a simple catch to the keeper.Dillon Pennington finally received some tangible reward to end the innings when Hogan was pouched by Barnard in another fine catch at point, as Leach finished with 4 for 67 from 26 overs, Barnard 3 for 54 and Morris 2 for 86.Mitchell and first-innings century-maker Libby were initially watchful against some accurate Glamorgan new ball bowling from Hogan and van der Gugten.But they gradually flourished with the 50 partnership coming up in 23 overs after successive boundaries by Libby off van der Gugten on his return to the attack.Libby also hit Douthwaite for a trio of boundaries in one over but fell to the same bowler – caught behind – shortly before the close. Leach promoted himself but the move backfired when he was caught at slip by Charlie Hemphrey off spinner Kieran Bull.

da roleta： Well, that was all a bit more stressful than it needed to be, wasn't it? Arsenal were coasting, flying towards a precious three points on the road against their fiercest of rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

da fezbet： Mikel Arteta's men have been so good at eradicating jeopardy from their games this season but on this occasion, that certainly wasn't the case.

An own goal from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opened the scoring before Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz sent the Gunners in at half-time 3-0 ahead.

This was dreamland for Arsenal who were about to hold on to top spot in the Premier League. They duly did, but not without an almighty scare from the hosts.

David Raya's abysmal error gave Ange Postecoglou's men a lifeline. The Spaniard was under no pressure but playing out from the back, gave it straight to Cristian Romero who was left with a simple finish. Declan Rice's clumsy challenge on Ben Davies then allowed for Heung-min Son to score a penalty.

Raya redeemed himself with some superb claims in the dying embers, as Arsenal held on to prevail 3-2. The Spaniard will no doubt take some flack, even if there were a number of notable performers in red and white. One of which was Havertz, yet again.

Kai Havertz's performance in numbers

£65m down the drain? We think not. Arteta hasn't got a lot wrong in the transfer market yet just months into the campaign the German was being branded with the tag of a flop. Understandably so, really.

It took until November for the former Chelsea man to score from open play but he's been nothing short of exceptional since the turn of the year, swiftly becoming one of Arsenal's most important players.

Havertz now has eight goals in his last 11 games, a run where he's also supplied five assists. The key change? More freedom as a false 9 in Arteta's system.

He was sublime against his former employers during the 5-0 win in midweek, scoring twice, and he was equally as good in the north London derby.

The summer arrival played a "Xhaka-esque" ball in behind – as the Telegraph's Sam Dean called it – for Saka to score the visitors' second goal before leaping like a salmon from Rice's corner to head home late in the first half.

It was a sensational display from the 24-year-old who left the field at the close of play having won a whopping 11 duels, drawn two fouls and supplied two key passes. There was even room for a haul of four clearances, a stat that showcases his desire to track back and help the team.

That said, he wasn't the only star of the show.

Thomas Partey's performances in numbers

This has been a long and arduous campaign for the £45m signing. Thomas Partey has missed 26 matches through injury in 2023/24 but has returned to the starting lineup over the last few days with some aplomb.

He was part of the midfield that dominated former Arsenal target Moises Caicedo last week on what was his first start of 2024 and as such was rewarded with another starting berth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

The result? A "Rolls-Royce" performance as Arsenal reporter Connor Humm put it on social media.

Yes, there were moments where the Ghanaian was caught in possession in dangerous areas but the overall sum of his game was excellent. Capable of breaking the lines with sumptuous passing, breaking up the play with consummate ease and being an all-round nuisance, he has more than proven his worth at a time when it potentially looked as though he could be sold.

Instead, Partey has revived his career. The performance at Spurs made it easy to see why he's in the side. Completing 93% of his passes, the best tally of any Arsenal starter, he also completed 100% of his dribble attempts and won five ground duels.

It wasn't a perfect performance but it led to a total domination of Tottenham's midfield. Rodrigo Bentancur was hauled off at half-time and then Hojbjerg was substituted just after the hour mark. Why? Because of how good Partey and Rice were in the centre of the field.

Thomas Partey vs Spurs

Minutes played

90

Touches

53

Accurate passes

37/40 (93%)

Long balls

3/4

Dribble attempts

2/2

Duels won

5/10

Tackles

2

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Stats via Sofascore.

The former Atletico Madrid man has returned at just the right time, although whether his impact can bring the title to the Emirates Stadium remains to be seen. Manchester City just keep on winning and there is nothing Arsenal can do to stop that now.

Related Spurs 2-3 Arsenal: Player ratings & match recap

Arsenal took on Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Apr 28, 2024

da cassino： As Jurgen Klopp battles to secure the perfect farewell against the odds at Anfield, Liverpool's injuries have quickly controlled the narrative in a season that may end in what could have been, with their latest blow hardly helping.

Liverpool injury news

da blaze casino： Liverpool's EFL Cup final victory over Chelsea, which relied on inexperience and academy graduates for the most part, both sums up the powers of Klopp and the Reds' season. It's been rare that they've had a full squad to choose from, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker all missing significant parts of the campaign.

Related Report: Liverpool now preparing to bid for £50m+ Real Madrid target

Michael Edwards isn’t messing around.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Apr 16, 2024

Klopp at least has all three options back among his squad to choose from, but it comes at a time when his side looks mentally and physically exhausted after suffering back-to-back defeats against Atalanta and then Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Handing themselves an impossible task of reaching the Europa League's last four following a shock 3-0 defeat against Atalanta at Anfield, and then losing any advantage in the title race courtesy of Palace, the Reds were also handed a blow on the injury front with Conor Bradley limping off against Oliver Glasner's side last Sunday.

Now, according to James Pearce, Bradley will miss the next two to three weeks of action in a major blow for Liverpool, given how much of a revelation the youngster has been since coming into the side.

Klopp can at least feel relieved that Alexander-Arnold is now back fit at the perfect time to step back into his right-back role, but it once again delays the chances of the England international appearing in midfield for the Reds in what could play a part in turning their current form around.

Liverpool games that "fantastic" Bradley could miss

Potentially missing three weeks, Bradley will likely return around the first week of May to hand Liverpool a boost in their final two games against Aston Villa and then Wolverhampton Wanderers. Before then, however, the Northern Ireland international could miss five games in total for the Reds.

Games Conor Bradley could miss

Date

Atalanta vs Liverpool

18/04/2024

Fulham vs Liverpool

21/04/2024

Everton vs Liverpool

24/04/2024

West Ham vs Liverpool

27/04/2024

Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur

05/05/2024

Klopp will be well aware of the talent that his side will be missing too, having praised Bradley back in January. The Liverpool boss said: "I'm not sure if Conor Bradley makes it home. He might fall asleep in the dressing room, exceptional. What a boy, a fantastic character, with intelligence, top potential.

"And he's in the right team because everybody loves him, everybody respects him, everybody wants him to succeed so it was a great game with all the difficulties of every football game.

"I was waiting for the moment we could give him an opportunity. Today was intense for him. Someone has to drive him home hopefully. He gave absolutely everything. It's really nice to see. He could show how good he already is. So much more to come."