Offspinner will join Imam-ul-Haq at the club for the final month of this season
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Sep-2022Somerset have signed Sajid Khan, the Pakistan offspinner, as their second overseas player for the final month of the County Championship season as they look to avoid relegation to Division Two.Matt Renshaw and Peter Siddle, their overseas players for most of the 2022 season, have both returned to Australia and Sajid joins his compatriot Imam-ul-Haq in signing for the final four Championship games.”I know that in recent years Babar Azam and Azhar Ali have enjoyed their time at Somerset, and I am looking forward to playing alongside Imam-ul-Haq again,” Sajid said. “I hope that I can contribute to Somerset winning the last four County Championship games of the season.”Related
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Jack Leach, Somerset’s frontline spinner, will be unavailable for the next two games while on Test duty, and Andy Hurry, their director of cricket, said the club felt it was “important to recruit an international quality spinner for the County Championship run in”.”After detailed consideration of all the options available to us, we felt that Sajid Khan was the standout individual,” Hurry said. “He has proved his quality at the very highest level, and he is hungry to test himself in English conditions over the next few weeks.”He is a player with an outstanding attitude, and he is well aware of exactly what County Championship cricket means to this club and its members and supporters.”Somerset are ninth in Division One heading into the final month of the season, though have a game in hand on Kent and Warwickshire who sit seventh and eighth respectively.
Newcastle United’s fine form continues in the Premier League as they began 2025 with a wonderful 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
It was the home side who enjoyed the better start, however, as Dominic Solanke headed Spurs into an early lead. It didn’t last long, as the Magpies equalized through Anthony Gordon, before the man of the moment, Alexander Isak, scored for the seventh league game in a row to steer his side into the lead.
Spurs pushed for more goals, but the Toon were resilient at the back and the win ensured they remain fifth in the table.
Where would the club be without Gordon and Isak?
Gordon & Isak's game in numbers vs Spurs
The Swede could have had two goals as he missed a big chance, but his confidence was flowing before the game and the Spurs defence struggled to keep tabs on him throughout.
Isak won three of his four ground duels, registered two shots and was fouled twice, proving just how much of a menace he was, having enjoyed a deserved slice of luck after getting the final touch following Radu Dragusin’s initial intervention.
Key statistics – Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United
Stat
Highest Ranked
Shots on target
Dominic Solanke, Anthony Gordon and Pape Matar Sarr (2)
Key passes
Dejan Kulusevski (4)
Ground duels won
Sergio Reguilon (7)
Tackles
Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro (5)
Accurate passes
Archie Gray (47)
Via Sofascore
Gordon was also relentless in the final third. The former Everton winger recorded five total shots, made two key passes, attempted two dribbles and delivered six crosses into the opposition box.
That work rate was rewarded as the Englishman drew his side level in what was a frantic opening, the 24-year-old pouncing on a somewhat contentious deflection off the arm of Joelinton before cooly slotting past debutant Brandon Austin.
The duo are doing everything they can to ensure the club makes a return to the Champions League next season, but the real unsung hero for so long has been Bruno Guimaraes, who shone once again vs Spurs.
Bruno Guimaraes’ game in numbers vs Spurs
The Brazilian has started every single Premier League game for the Magpies this term, captaining the side to victory ten times in the process.
Bruno Guimaraes
Against Spurs, the former Lyon midfielder delivered another dominant showing in the heart of the pitch. He managed to grab his fifth assist in the league this term with his through ball which saw Gordon net the equaliser.
Additionally, Guimaraes also recorded three key passes, created a big chance and won an impressive eight duels during the game, offering no respite to the Spurs players looking to push forward.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
His performance saw the skipper given a match rating of 8/10 by the Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr, who said Guimaraes ‘grabbed control of the game in the closing stages of the first half with a dominant midfield showing’ and there was also praise elsewhere.
Football writer Srinivas Sadhanand also heaped praise on the Brazilian, describing him as simply “too good” following his all-round midfield display.
If Newcastle goes on to secure a seat in Europe’s premier club competition for next term, it won’t just be down to the goals Isak scores, or the creative talents of Gordon.
No. It will come down to how well Guimaraes performs in the heart of the midfield over the next 18 league matches.
Newcastle hold talks to sign "forceful and effective" £25m star in January
Blackburn are now holding talks to sign a new defender for manager John Eustace as they look to continue their push for a spot in the Championship play-offs come the end of the campaign.
Blackburn hit bump in season
Though currently seventh in the Championship, Blackburn’s return of two points from their last five games (two draws and three defeats) is the worst form in the division across that time, and a remedy is needed fast.
Blackburn
2
Plymouth Argyle
3
Luton Town
3
Watford
3
Derby County
3
As it stands, they remain within touching distance of the top six in the division, but their gap to those below them has been cut to just two points, with three sides sitting on 37 points while Norwich City sit just a point further back, all with eyes on leapfrogging Rovers in their own pushes for a play-off place.
Despite Blackburn reportedly being keen to strike several deals this January transfer window, John Eustace admitted that nothing was close yet.
“Nothing at the moment,” he explained ahead of their clash with Middlesbrough when quizzed on transfers. “I know the club are working very hard to try and bring some players in, so hopefully we can continue doing that and see where it takes us. I am sure there won’t be anyone in before the weekend.”
Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season
Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.
ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025
However, he is keen for that to change, admitting that his side need “help” to sustain their play-off hopes: “We are doing the right things but we have to keep positive and we think we can be a top side in this league. But we need help. Hopefully, we can get that to stay in the push of where we want to be.”
Now, one of the men he is hoping to land has been revealed.
Blackburn in talks over loan move
That is according to The Lancashire Telegraph, who report that Blackburn are in talks with Coventry City over a move for defender Liam Kitching.
Any deal would likely be a loan move for the defender, they report, with Blackburn unlikely to offer anything close to the £4m Coventry shelled out to land him 18 months ago. It is added that “talks have been ongoing for the last week and at one stage, the deal looked likely”, but that his involvement in Coventry’s most recent game has left the move “in the balance”.
The defender hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons last season, scoring two own goals in the same game, and he has been out of favour so far this campaign.
He has started just seven times in the Championship to date, with just one of those coming under new boss Frank Lampard. A left-footed centre-back who can also fill in at left-back, the 6 foot 1 defender is seen as an excellent option to provide cover for the injured Harry Pickering at Ewood Park.
One player who won’t be making the move, however, is Grant Hanley, with the report adding that a move for the defender is “not a deal that Rovers are pursuing at this time”. Could Kitching be the one to help sustain Blackburn’s play-off charge?
Carlo Ancelotti is confident Kylian Mbappe & Vinicius Jr will avoid being banned for Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Arsenal.
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Mbappe & Vinicius under UEFA probe Could be banned for alleged "indecent conduct"If found guilty could be banned against ArsenalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
On Thursday, UEFA confirmed that an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector is looking into the conduct of Mbappe, Vinicius, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Ceballos after Real Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16. One of the incidents involves Rudiger, who was caught on camera allegedly making a throat-slitting gesture towards Atletico Madrid supporters. Additionally, a viral footage on social media appears to show Mbappe making a crotch-grabbing gesture towards the fans.
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If UEFA finds the players guilty of inappropriate conduct, they could face punishments ranging from fines to suspensions, which would be a significant blow for Los Blancos ahead of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Arsenal. Nonetheless, Ancelotti downplayed the controversy, insisting that his players did not engage in any wrongdoing.
WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID
"We believe everything was correct, and we hope UEFA makes a decision, but we trust that everything will end well," Ancelotti told reporters.
While UEFA has not explicitly detailed the specific incidents under investigation, Spanish media reports suggest that Atletico Madrid lodged an official complaint over Real Madrid players allegedly taunting their fans, which led to objects being thrown onto the pitch from the stands.
"We are confident in UEFA's verdict as the players had just celebrated. That's it, we wait for verdict, but our players didn't do anything wrong."
DID YOU KNOW?
While Madrid awaits UEFA's verdict, Ancelotti remains focused on the domestic title race, where his side is locked in a tight battle with Barcelona. Despite trailing their Catalan rivals by three points, the Italian tactician has vowed that his team will fight until the very end to retain their La Liga crown.
"Barcelona has an advantage, but we are going to fight until the end. I hope we have 17 matches [in all competitions] left until the end," Ancelotti said.
Football's brightest prospects don't always live up to the hype, with it sometimes difficult to deal with the pressures that come with such talent
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What were you doing at 16? What were you doing at 18? Do you think you could have coped with being in an international spotlight while you were doing that?
That's the way of the sporting world. There's nowhere for the modern prodigy to hide. God forbid you make a mistake, be that on or off the pitch. It must be exhausting and, more importantly, devastating on a mental level.
For whatever reason, young athletes don't always live up to the expectations we set upon them. Maybe they were stunted in some way, maybe they were put on a pedestal, maybe injuries harmed their development beyond repair. The tales are always fascinating and proof that growth isn't always linear.
NXGN has been running for ten years now, and while there have been plenty of success stories from players on those lists, some have fallen by the wayside. Career resurgences aren't out of the question, but they haven't lived up to the hype just yet.
Here, GOAL ranks the 10 biggest underachievers to mark a decade of NXGN.
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
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10Ante Coric
Croatian football truly peaked in the late 2010s, and there was a buzz for the country to unearth their next gem to complement their senior pros. Ante Coric, with his twinkling toes and shaggy hair, seemed the perfect heir to Luka Modric, whom he rubbed shoulders with at Euro 2016.
And, well, that didn't quite go according to plan. Despite taking his young talent to Red Bull Salzburg as a schoolboy before returning home to Dinamo Zagreb once he turned professional, Coric failed to kick on at the highest level. A €6m move to Roma in 2018 ought to have been his big break, yet all it did was expose how his game didn't translate to the adult game.
Coric made only three appearances in the Italian capital in his debut 2018-19 season and spent the following years scarcely playing on loans at Almeria, VVV-Venlo, Olimpija Ljubljana and FC Zurich. He was released by Roma in 2022 and was a free agent for a year before signing a contract at Croatian side Rudes. However, he was sold to domestic rivals Varazdin a year later, before his contract was terminated at the start of 2025. Coric remains without a club.
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9Sergio Diaz
Real Madrid's sweep of South American football has seen them unearth some top talent over the years. That's why there was so much expectation placed on Sergio Diaz's shoulders when he swapped Paraguay's Cerro Porteno for the capital of Spain in 2016. He had torn up his domestic division as a teenager and was tipped to do the same in Europe.
Yet he didn't even get a sniff in Los Blancos' senior team, instead spending five years contracted to their Castilla reserve side, and only actually plied his trade in Madrid for one of those. That sole 2016-17 season saw him put up a measly five goals in 36 games, and he barely got a look in when he spent the next term at Segunda outfit Lugo. A fairly glamorous two-year loan at Brazilian giants Corinthians yielded four appearances before Diaz returned to Cerro Porteno for another two-year stint, scoring five times in 25 matches.
A move to Mexico with Club America followed in 2020, again doing little to restore his reputation. Madrid released Diaz the summer afterwards, and though he was able to sign for Cerro Porteno for a third time on a free transfer, he lasted only a 12 more months there before moving to Greek Super League team Panetolikos, where he has seemingly found a home at last.
AFP
8Ansu Fati
A harsh selection given his young age? Perhaps, but there's no denying that the world, rightly or wrongly, expected Ansu Fati to have made more of his career by now. He broke onto the Barcelona scene in such record-breaking fashion – youngest Barca scorer in La Liga, youngest player to score and assist in the same La Liga match, youngest player with a La Liga brace, youngest Champions League scorer, you get the idea – it seemed impossible for him to fail. This was a real talent with a real future.
There's still time for Fati to deliver on his promise, especially since he doesn't turn 23 until the autumn, but he's had some major wobbles in his formative footballing years, particularly for someone who actually topped a NXGN list. For the most part, injuries have derailed his progression, already nerfing his electric pace and ability to move both ways with the flick of a mental switch. He also spent time on loan at wonderkid factory Brighton, only to become a forgotten figure on England's south coast too. The emergence of Lamine Yamal, in the meantime, hasn't done Fati any favours considering the 17-year-old has already lapped him.
Fati remains at Barcelona but is a bit-part figure in Hansi Flick's setup, often left out of matchday squads altogether. Maybe he's one permanent transfer away from finding his feet again, maybe he's one ill-advised move from winding up out of the spotlight and into infamy forever.
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7Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Louis van Gaal's time at Manchester United saw the Red Devils win their first major trophy in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but his greater impact came elsewhere, continuing both his and the club's long-standing philosophies of promoting youth. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were the main beneficiaries of the Dutchman's trust, and for a while, it seemed his compatriot Timothy Fosu-Mensah would stand as a cornerstone for United as well.
A versatile and intelligent player capable of playing in both defence and midfield, Fosu-Mensah at the very least looked someone who could be important as a squad member or off the bench. His diverse defensive skillset should have meant his floor as a player was a utility figure for a top-level side.
Fast-forward to 2025, and at the age of 27, Fosu-Mensah is without a club. He was last on the books at Bayer Leverkusen, where he didn't play a single minute in 2023-24, and was only a member of the matchday squad a handful of times. His last senior competitive appearance came on April 23, 2023, featuring for 11 minutes in a 2-0 win against RB Leipzig.
It seems Fosu-Mensah has been unable to totally recover from two ACL injuries – one in 2019 and the other in 2021 – and there are doubts over his future as a professional, which is a real shame considering how much potential he showed as a teenager.
The Rossoneri star evaluates fictional characters' hypothetical soccer skills, with Batman shockingly finishing at the top of his list
Lebron James finishes second in unexpected soccer talent list
Yoda, Peter Griffin, Shrek and others feature on Pulisic’s list
The AC Milan star called up for the USMNT for March international break.
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WHAT HAPPENED
Batman as a soccer player?
Christian Pulisic, known for his creativity on the field, took his talents to… pop culture soccer scouting? The AC Milan and USMNT star put his soccer expertise to the test by ranking how well fictional icons like LeBron James, Shrek, Yoda, SpongeBob, Peter Griffin, and yes, Batman, would fare on the pitch. The hilarious rankings were shared in a video posted on Instagram by The Bread Basket — because who wouldn’t want to see Batman take the pitch?
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Pulisic has been in fine form for AC Milan this season, contributing to 24 goals across all competitions, a tally that includes three goals in his last two league games for . It has been a key reason why the Milan giants are back in the running for a potential place in Europe next season although they do face a tough fight ahead as they currently sit ninth in Serie A.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
Following the start of the international break, Christian Pulisic and the USMNT will face Panama next in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals and then the finals, depending on their results against Panama on March 21. Following that, Pulisic returns to AC Milan as the Rossoneri face title challengers Napoli on March 31 in Naples before returning home to host Internazionale for the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal on April 3.
Two managers who are both known as 4-2-3-1 specialists are interested in replacing Steve Cooper at Leicester City should he be sacked, according to a new report. The Foxes have made a frustrating start to life back in the Premier League, and defeat to Manchester United on Sunday put them within three points of the relegation zone once again.
Leicester interested in versatile attacking "machine" likened to Luis Diaz
Leicester are among the clubs keeping an eye on an exciting player who could be made available for a loan.
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Brett Worthington
Nov 7, 2024
Pressure mounting on Steve Cooper at Leicester
Leicester’s 3-0 defeat to United on Sunday means it is just two wins from their 11 league games this season, and it is now just one point from their last three games. After the game, Cooper stated that his team has got to do more to stop leaking goals: “There’s nothing good about a 3-0 defeat, and we’ve not done enough to stop their goals. We got into more than enough positions to threaten United’s box, but as a team we didn’t show enough.
“In large parts the game seemed even, but in certain moments we’ve not done enough at both ends of the pitch. We’re not going to hide away from the chances and goals we’re conceding, and we’ll keep showing intent to improve that.
“We know we have creativity and threat in the team, but we didn’t maximise that. Whether it was a mixture of United being really ruthless stopping us, whether we could’ve made better decisions or shown more quality – it could be all of those things.”
It was reported last month that Cooper’s future as Leicester manager was far from secure, as its been a frustrating start to the campaign for the Foxes. The club’s hierarchy is said to be aware of supporters being frustrated with the manager, and at the time he had to beat Southampton to keep his job.
It has since been revealed that a defeat to Ipswich last week could have cost him his job too, so it seems the board are not going to hang around for a second if their form dips too far.
4-2-3-1 specialists are both interested in replacing Cooper at Leicester
According to Football Insider, both Graham Potter and David Moyes are interested in taking over from Steve Cooper at Leicester City.
Graham Potter as Chelsea manager
Cooper took charge of Leicester in the summer after Enzo Maresca left to take over at Chelsea, and so far, the 44-year-old has won two league games, and they came in back-to-back matches against Bournemouth and Southampton last month. Three defeats in their last four games has put Cooper under pressure, so much so that managers are now waiting in the wings.
West Ham United manager David Moyes
Potter, who loves to play with a possession based 4-2-3-1 formation, and Moyes, who deployed a more defensive version of the same system to win the UEFA Conference League with West Ham, are interested in taking over at Leicester, as the ambition and structure of the club make it an “attractive prospect”.
Graham Potter and David Moyes’ Premier League records
Potter
Moyes
Games
141
697
Won
41
269
Drawn
50
182
Lost
50
246
Both managers are currently out of work; Potter has been since leaving Chelsea in 2023, and Moyes has been since leaving the Hammers at the end of last season. This report adds that the owners are said to be willing to back a new manager and help the club as much as they can to survive in the Premier League.
Quite clearly, Everton need to improve in attack. Looking at their recent form from one side of the road, it could be surmised that Sean Dyche’s side aren’t doing all that badly, with just one defeat from eight Premier League matches.
But an alternative viewpoint reveals that the Toffees’ colourless performances have left plenty to be desired. On Saturday, Everton drew 0-0 against Brentford at Goodison Park, having stumbled to a goalless draw at West Ham United before the November international break.
01/12/24
Man United
Old Trafford
04/12/243
Wolves
Molineux
07/12/24
Liverpool
Goodison Park
14/12/24
Arsenal
Emirates Stadium
22/12/24
Chelsea
Goodison Park
26/12/24
Man City
Etihad Stadium
29/12/24
Nott’m Forest
Goodison Park
With such a daunting run of fixtures coming up over the next month, something needs to change. Attacking success starts from the front, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is still letting his side down.
Why Everton need to ditch Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Everton need to get rid of Calvert-Lewin, and luckily, it’s not going to be too strenuous an ordeal, with the striker out of contract in the summer.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
There’s even a chance that TFG could be walking into the ownership and claiming some cash for the 27-year-old, with Fiorentina keen on strengthening their frontline, fronted by Moise Kean, this winter.
The drab draw against ten-man Brentford has done little to reduce the concerns around Dyche’s system and its long-term suitability. Calvert-Lewin perhaps had a more lively outing than usual this year, but it was still not enough to see him break duck.
As you can see above, tensions are beginning to boil over.
Writing in their post-match player ratings, The Liverpool Echo handed him a 6/10 score: ‘Was denied from close range on a couple of occasions before the break, firstly when he redirected an Idrissa Gueye drive and then when his near post effort was turned around the post by Mark Flekken, but for all his labours, he couldn’t find a breakthrough.’
What Everton need is a new striker.
Everton keen on new striker
As per a report from GIVEMESPORT earlier this month, Everton are among the clubs interested in signing LOSC Lille’s Jonathan David, though it’s understood that the Canadian striker might have reservations about moving to the Merseyside outfit.
His French employers are also reluctant to let him leave for a transfer fee this winter despite his contract expiring at the end of the season – like Calvert-Lewin.
He would relish the chance to move to the Premier League and given that Newcastle United might turn elsewhere, there could be a real opportunity to snap him up and finally restore some integrity to the attacking point of the Blues squad.
Why Jonathan David would be a significant signing
Only 24 years old, David has been hailed as “one of the best strikers in the world” by reporter Tony Marinaro, with his goalscoring performances over the past several years corroborating such a point.
2024/25
20
13
2
0.75
2023/24
47
26
9
0.74
2022/23
40
26
4
0.75
2021/22
48
19
0
0.40
2020/21
48
13
5
0.37
As you can see above, he’s invariably produced noteworthy goalscoring numbers across his five campaigns in France, though his maturity is discernible through increased playmaking numbers that denote impressive technicality.
Indeed, as per FBref, David ranks among the top 1% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored (0.90) per 90 and the top 2% for pass completion (82.2%), further emphasising that very point.
It’s quite the stark difference to the striking fortunes of Calvert-Lewin, who ranks among the bottom 14% of centre-forwards for goals scored (0.22) per 90.
Whether Everton would succeed in bringing David to the club is another question entirely, but as long as efforts are exhausted in attempting what would be a marquee deal, at least supporters would see a statement of intent from the prospective new owners.
Who knows, it might reinvigorate Everton’s entire frontline. Of course, not all of the Blues membership require an injection of impetus, with Iliman Ndiaye dazzling since joining from Marseille in a £15m transfer this summer.
Hailed by the earlier-mentioned Boyland as “Everton’s new hope,” the Senegalese winger proved once again to be his outfit’s shining light in the recent draw against Brentford, handed an 8/10 match rating by The Liverpool Echo as he starred as the club’s ‘most potent force.’
Completing all four of his attempted dribbles, as per Sofascore, it’s clear to see why he’s held in such a positive light by the Toffees supporters, and it could be the partnership-to-be that sees David take to the Premier League without seam – maybe even lifting Everton away from the bottom layer of the division for good.
Everton's Iliman Ndiaye
With David providing such crisp and accurate passing and boasting an elite-level scoring record besides, it could be the combination that Everton chiefs have craved for so long.
One thing’s for certain: Calvert-Lewin is not cutting it as he plods into the final months of his Everton career. The English forward has now gone eight top-flight fixtures without a paltry goal or assist, and TFG must surely move to secure a massive upgrade as soon as possible.
Signed by Dyche: Everton's "new hope" could be a £100m star in the making
Everton’s £15m man could be their own £100m star in the making.
Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Premier League season came crashing to a halt against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
The Gunners suffered a calamitous 2-0 defeat to the Cherries on the South Coast, to leave them reeling on 17 points, with Manchester City and top-of-the-table Liverpool having the chance to extend their leads on Sunday.
It was a game that many thought should have been a routine win for Mikel Arteta’s side, against a side managed by his childhood friend Andoni Iraola. However, a first-half red card for William Saliba meant the Gunners had an uphill battle to get anything from their trip to the Vitality Stadium.
Ryan Christie opened the scoring for the Cherries in the second period, getting on the end of a well-worked set-piece routine. Their lead was doubled after Justin Kluivert converted from the penalty spot, a kick won by Evanilson after he was fouled by David Raya.
It was a very disappointing day’s work for Arteta and his side, who missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table and apply pressure to their title rivals. There were certainly some poor performances throughout from the Gunners.
Arsenal’s poor performers vs. Bournemouth
Two of the players who had a particularly poor outing in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday night were Saliba and Jakub Kiwior. French centre-back Saliba cost his side dearly, hauling down Evanilson inside the Gunners half.
The Brazilian was chasing a loose backpass from Leandro Trossard and was dragged down by the Arsenal number two, who was the last man and therefore deemed to be denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
His short half-hour performance against the Cherries earned him a 4/10 rating by Football London journalist Kaya Kaynak. He claimed Saliba ‘seemed to panic’ when the former Porto striker ran in behind him.
Kiwior came on to replace Raheem Sterling, who was sacrificed following the Frenchman’s red card. He never really looked settled in the game, as his Sofascore stats suggest. The Poland international completed just 76% of his passes, winning two from five duels and failing to win his only tackle.
He also put Raya in a difficult position with the backpass, leading to the Spaniard committing the foul which led to Bournemouth’s penalty, and was replaced in the 81st minute even though he came on as a substitute himself. He received a 5/10 rating from Kaynak at full-time.
One Arsenal player whose job was made tough by Saliba’s red card was Ben White, and he also struggled to make a positive impact on the game.
White’s stats vs. Bournemouth
As is often the case when a red card goes against your team, the Gunners defenders struggled from the 30-minute mark onwards. England international White was one of those who were outnumbered but had an even harder job given he did not have the highly rated Saliba next to him, nor even a right-footed player.
That also had implications on the Gunners’ number four getting forward. Normally one to venture down the right wing and get crosses into the box, the 27-year-old had to be far more conservative and hold his position.
The post-match stats for the former Brighton and Hove Albion man did not make for pretty reading. Whilst White looked after the ball well, completing 91% of his passes, he won just two from five tackles and four from nine duels in total.
Stat
Number
Touches
47
Pass accuracy
91%
Passes completed
29/32
Ground duels won
3/8
Aerial duels won
1/1
Tackles won
2/5
Number of times possession lost
9
Kaynak gave the Arsenal number four a 5/10 rating for his performance on the South Coast. He noted that there was not much White could have done going forward, although did point out he was ‘beaten on a couple of occasions’ by winger Dango Ouattara.
Arteta will be desperate for White and his teammates to bounce back in mid week, as they face Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium.
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O dia da estreia de Paulo Sousa chegou. Nesta quarta-feira, o treinador estará à frente do Flamengo, que enfrenta o Boavista no estádio Raulino de Oliveira, às 19h15, em partida válida pela terceira rodada do Campeonato Carioca. Para o confronto, o Rubro-Negro terá mudanças importantes, as quais o LANCE! apresenta abaixo:
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RETORNO ANTECIPADO
A principal novidade para o jogo contra o Verdão de Saquarema é a voltado elenco principal. Nas duas primeiras rodadas, o Flamengo mandou a campo um time formado por jogadores oriundos das categorias de base – alguns deles, inclusive, disputaram a Copinha. Tal equipe foi comandada por Fábio Matias, técnico do time sub-20.
Por outro lado, Paulo Sousa ainda não contará com dois titulares. Isso porque Arrascaeta (Uruguai) e Isla (Chile) estavam com as respectivas Seleções, nas Eliminatórias. Além deles, Ramon, que se destacou na última temporada, está em transição e também fica de fora. Já Everton Ribeiro e Gabigol, que estavam com a Seleção Brasileira, foram relacionados e estão à disposição (clique aqui e veja a lista completa).
GAROTADA COM MORAL
Mesmo antes da estreia do Campeonato Carioca, a base já era observada por Paulo Sousa. Nesse sentido, o zagueiro Cleiton, o meia Matheus França e o meia-atacante Lázaro foram nomes que complementaramas atividades do grupo principal com frequência.
Durante os dois jogos, principalmente diante da Portuguesa, outros atletas aproveitaram a oportunidade e saíram em alta. É o caso, por exemplo, do goleiro Matheus Cunha e do zagueiro Gabriel Noga, que, assim como os três citados acima, já tem um número fixo na camisa para 2022.
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CHANCE DE NOVA FORMAÇÃO
Para enfrentar o Boavista, existe a chance de Paulo Sousa mandar a campo Flamengo com três zagueiros. Na última semana, durante algumas atividades táticas, o Mister treinou o Rubro-Negro no esquema 3-4-3. A resposta para a formação tática escolhida vira às 19h15 desta quarta-feira, mas a expectativa é de que o Fla seja protagonista e ambicioso dentro de campo, como o novo treinador já deixou claro em entrevista àRTP, de Portugal, no início do ano.
– Esta é minha exigência, é aquilo que gosto de ver e sentir sempre nas minhas equipes, com muito protagonismo, conseguindo encontrar os “timings” certos porque há uma cultura diferente, as intensidades, as velocidades de execução, as velocidades de deslocamento, o espaço são completamente diferentes, a própria temperatura…
– Existe sempre um processo de adaptação e as exigências vão ser máximas, vamos ver uma equipe com muita ambição e para ter muita ambição tem que ser protagonista em todos os momentos do jogo.Ou seja, uma equipe que, sem bola, tem que ser pressionante constantemente, mas que também tem que ser inteligente em termos táticos.
*Nota atualizada às 11h16 com a lista de relacionados.