Arsenal have made huge strides under the guidance of Mikel Arteta in recent years, constantly battling for the Premier League title in each of the last three seasons.
However, on the two previous occasions, it’s been the imperious form of Manchester City that has denied them from ending their two-decade wait for a triumph.
Whilst Pep Guardiola’s side have failed to match the high expectations they’ve set for themselves, Liverpool have taken over as the side to beat at the top, with the Gunners potentially having to settle for second for a third season in a row.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetalooksdejected
The Spaniard has built a superb side, built of defensive solidity with an attack, which when fully fit, can provide the goods, as demonstrated by their goal tally this season.
One player has been a crucial component of the club over the past few years, now looking to be a bargain after his move to the Emirates a couple of years ago.
Martin Odegaard’s stats for Arsenal
After his successful loan spell in North London during the 2020/21 campaign, Arsenal paid £30m for the services of midfielder Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid.
The Norwegian has cemented his place at the heart of the side, even taking the armband on occasions, highlighting his importance to Arteta over the past few seasons.
Since his permanent move, he’s registered over 150 appearances, often holding the key in terms of creativity within the final third, allowing the likes of Bukayo Saka to thrive alongside him.
However, it’s been a stop-start season for the 26-year-old this time around, with an ankle issue halting his progress for numerous months, undoubtedly contributing to the gap between Arne Slot’s men and the Gunners.
There’s no denying that Arteta’s side are much more of a threat with Odegaard present, but that doesn’t take away the fact that one former player has outperformed the star man in numerous key areas this season.
The former Arsenal player who’s outperformed Odegaard in 24/25
Arsenal’s academy has produced countless talents over the years, with Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly just three examples currently featuring in the first team in North London.
The trio will be hoping to cement themselves in the club’s history, with all the aforementioned trio now cementing themselves as key members of Arteta’s side.
However, they could’ve been joined in the current side by Alex Iwobi had the club not sold him to Everton back in the summer of 2019, ending his long-standing affiliation with his boyhood club.
Whilst they received up to £34m for his services, he’s since moved to Fulham, starring under Marco Silva and demonstrating what the Gunners have missed out on after approving his departure.
The Nigerian has been crucial for the Cottagers in recent years, taking his game to the next level during the current campaign, outperforming Odegaard in various key areas for an attacking-minded player.
Iwobi, who’s previously been dubbed “phenomenal” by boxer Tony Bellew, has registered more goal contributions than the Norwegian, whilst also registering more shots on target – showcasing his clinical edge.
Games played
24
16
Goals & assists
10
5
Progressive carries
4.5
2.8
Carries into final third
3.5
2.7
Shot-on-target accuracy
47%
30%
Take-ons completed
1.6
1.1
Take-on success
53%
47%
He’s also completed more dribbles whilst averaging more progressive carries per 90, highlighting the threat he carries with the ball at his feet.
Given the current injury crisis within the final third at the Emirates, some supporters must wish that they were able to call upon someone like Iwobi to provide the goods in the absence of some key players.
His stats from the ongoing season are evidence of how well he’s progressed in recent years, but unfortunately for them, their loss is now Fulham’s gain, with their London rivals now possessing a player who has arguably been better than Odegaard this campaign.
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The Pakistan ODI method was on show. Stymie the opposition to a par total. Make them, and everybody else, believe that they are struggling in the chase despite a good show from the top order and then overhaul the target rather comfortably.After Pakistan opted to bowl first, Naseem Shah picked up his second ODI five-for – in back-to-back games, having last played in August 2022 – to restrict New Zealand to 255 for 9. And then, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan stroked fine half-centuries to help Pakistan go 1-0 up in the three-match series in Karachi. Rizwan stuttered his way at the start and then suffered from cramps towards the end, before unleashing an assault of innovative measures on New Zealand to take the side home to a six-wicket win.Chasing 256, Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq got Pakistan off the blocks quickly. Imam hit his first ball through midwicket – aided by a misfield – for four as both batters feasted on debutant Henry Shipley’s erring lines and lengths. All this before Imam looked to take on Michael Bracewell by skipping down the track and only managed to miscue one to mid-on.Fakhar Zaman hit a well-paced half-century•Associated Press
Fakhar and Babar then added 78 off 103 balls for the second wicket to give Pakistan a strong base. While Fakhar looked at ease for most parts of his innings, Babar did have a tough time when Bracewell and Mitchell Santner were brought on after the first powerplay. Even though he slog-swept a six and pulled a four off successive deliveries off Santner, Babar was a tad unsure of the turn with Bracewell and Santner varying the flight, pace as well as the angle.Babar was ruled out lbw when he missed an arm ball from Santner on 24, but he was reprieved on review, with the tracker showing the ball would have missed leg stump. He also tried a few uncharacteristic reverse sweeps early against Bracewell. At the other end, though, Fakhar was milking the singles as well as using the sweep to good effect and got to his half-century. However, the partnership was broken when Bracewell sneaked one through Fakhar’s attempted slog to bowl him.Babar and Rizwan then added 60 off 82 balls. It was slow going, with the sluggish track not really aiding strokeplay. Kane Williamson then brought the part-time offspinner Glenn Phillips on to keep a leash on scoring. Babar soon got to another half-century – his tenth fifty-plus score in the last 11 ODI innings – even as Pakistan managed to keep abreast of the asking rate. But soon, Phillips managed to hoodwink Babar and have him stumped down leg to mount the pressure.Haris Sohail, who last played an ODI in 2020, then shifted the pressure back on to New Zealand with a 23-ball 32. Twice he thumped Tim Southee over deep midwicket to decisively shift the equation in Pakistan’s favour. After he fell, Rizwan saw them home and stayed unbeaten on 77.Naseem Shah picked up a five-for to stifle New Zealand•Associated Press
Naseem rattles New Zealand
Earlier, Naseem struck on the last ball of the first over as Devon Conway’s back foot conspired to help the ball ricochet on to the stumps after he missed a flick. Williamson and Finn Allen were taking time to get the measure of the surface.But Allen finally started to get the ball to ping off the meat of his blade as New Zealand looked to put the slowish start behind them. He first hit Naseem for two fours in an over before smashing Haris Rauf for a troika of fours. But with aid from an athletic diving catch from Agha Salman off Mohammad Wasim, Pakistan managed to see the back of Allen for 29 off 27 balls.Meanwhile, Williamson had managed to get a fair measure of the surface and managed to hit some well-timed fours. However, a ripper from debutant legspinner Usama Mir ended his stay. Mir got one to drift and land on middle and leg before turning away to beat Williamson’s bat and knock the top of middle stump.Seeing the purchase – and turn – Mir managed to get, Babar pressed Mohammad Nawaz, and then the offspin of Salman, into service through the middle overs. New Zealand managed to score only 57 runs between overs 21 and 35, even though they lost just two wickets in the phase. Overall, the Pakistan spinners went for a combined 98 off 24 overs, picking up three wickets.While Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham managed to hang around and hit the occasional boundary, they couldn’t really break free. They added 56 for the fourth wicket before Mitchell was done in by a Nawaz delivery that landed on middle and straightened enough to beat his outside edge and clatter into the stumps.Latham was among the most fluent of the New Zealand batters and it seemed as if he would up the ante, given his strength against spin. But he only managed to pull a half-tracker from Mir straight to deep midwicket.New Zealand were in a spot of bother after which Phillips and Bracewell added 66 off 75 balls. Despite not getting the big shots away regularly, the pair rotated the strike and helped the tourists get a base for a final-overs assault. So much so that in the face of mounting pressure, Phillips played out four dots before hitting Naseem for a massive six – the first of the game – in the 40th over.But Naseem had the final laugh as he managed to dismiss both Phillips (37 off 53 balls) and Bracewell (43 off 42 balls) to hamper New Zealand at the death. He cleaned up Bracewell and Shipley off successive balls only for Southee to deny him a hat-trick. But a quick hand from Santner and Southee managed to see New Zealand cross the 250-run mark. It wasn’t enough, eventually.
Chelsea have now made a £50m offer for an “exceptional” Premier League player who is set to be in high demand this summer, according to a report.
Blues eyeing summer signings in several areas
At one stage this season, the Blues were looking like potential Premier League title contenders, but their form has been on a downward spiral since the end of 2024, falling down to sixth place as a result of Friday’s 3-0 defeat against Brighton.
Although the west Londoners have spent big on several big-name signings over the past few years, Enzo Maresca may be starting to feel like some more additions are necessary this summer, and the manager is set to strengthen in multiple areas.
A new winger is of interest to Maresca, with the Italian looking to replace Mykhaylo Mudryk, and a £75m move for Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma is being considered, while the likes of Yeremay Hernandez and Alejandro Garnacho also remain options.
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A new centre-back could also arrive at Stamford Bridge, with Levi Colwill looking poor in recent weeks, and Chelsea have been looking at options from within the Premier League, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite emerging as one of the names on the shortlist.
According to a report from Spain, however, the Blues have already made a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, submitting a €60m (£50m) bid for the defender, who is attracting attention from a number of top Premier League clubs.
Everton's Tim Iroegbunam in action with Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have allegedly also made £50m offers ahead of the summer transfer window, at which point Guehi is widely expected to exit Selhurst Park.
Chelsea are showing a strong interest in signing their former player, but it remains to be seen whether they are able to tempt him back to Stamford Bridge, given the level of interest.
"Exceptional" Guehi has earned big move
The 24-year-old is likely to have a number of clubs to choose from this summer, having earned a move to a top club with some impressive performances for Palace and England.
Although the Three Lions were ultimately unsuccessful in their bid to win the Euros last summer, the Palace star received praise from members of the media for his performances throughout the tournament.
The England international has also been indispensable for Palace this season, making 24 appearances in the Premier League, showcasing his leadership qualities by captaining his side.
As things stand, a move to Arsenal could appeal to Guehi the most, given that they are near-certain to have Champions League football on offer, but Chelsea could put themselves in a strong position to win the race if they also secure a top-four finish.
رد خوان جارسيا حارس مرمى إسبانيول، على ما يتردد من أنباء بشأن اقترابه من الانتقال إلى برشلونة.
وتفيد تقارير الصحف الإسبانية، أن برشلونة يرغب في تعزيز مركز حراسة المرمى، ويسعى للتعاقد مع خوان جارسيا.
ويملك خوان جارسيا شرطًا جزائيًا في عقده مع إسبانيول، تبلغ قيمته 25 مليون يورو، ويمتد عقده حتى 30 يونيو 2028.
وفي مقابلة أجراها مع برنامج “Tot Gira” على إذاعة “راديو كتالونيا”، والتي نُشر مقتطف منها مؤخرًا، عند سؤاله عن إمكانية انضمامه إلى برشلونة، قال جارسيا: “في عالم كرة القدم، تُنشر الأخبار والشائعات باستمرار، لكنها لا تكون دائمًا صحيحة”.
وأضاف: “على أي حال، أنا مرتاح نفسيًا، وعندما يحين وقت اتخاذ القرار، سأفكر مليًا مع المقربين مني، وسأختار ما هو الأفضل لي… وأنا واثق بأن الأمور ستسير على ما يرام”.
وساهم جارسيا في ضمان بقاء إسبانيول في الليجا، وبحسب التقارير الواردة يتطلع إلى خطوة جديدة في مسيرته المهنية.
وكان فران جاراجارزا، المدير الرياضي لنادي إسبانيول أدلى بتصريحات حول مستقبل حارس مرمى الفريق.
وقال عن مفاوضات برشلونة: “لا علم لنا بذلك، بالطبع لا، ما هو صحيح هو أنه حارس المرمى الأكثر تصديًا في الدوري الإسباني، وبالنسبة لي، هو حارس المرمى الذي ساهم بنسبة عالية في نجاحنا في تجنب الهبوط”.
كما علّق مانولو جونزاليس مدرب إسبانيول على الأمر، ويمكنك مطالعة تصريحاته كاملة من خلال الرابط.
Micky van de Ven would be keen on a move to Real Madrid should the club follow up their interest by making a move, a Tottenham insider has revealed.
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Real Madrid want centre-backVan de Ven on their radarInsider reveals Dutchman would be keenFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
After Van de Ven's agent Jose Fortes told Marca that the defender "has the level to play for a big club like Real Madrid" last week, former club scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the La Liga giants have been sending scouts to watch him and that he would be keen on the switch.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT BROWN SAID
Brown said: "His agent is really pushing for a move to Real Madrid. They want a centre-back and have been looking at options. They've had scouts at Tottenham games so I don't doubt Van de Ven is on their radar. If they come calling, he will want to go. It's always difficult for players to turn down a move to Real Madrid."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van de Ven could well be looking for a way out of Tottenham this summer, with the club's only possible route back into Europe via winning the Europa League. He has suffered with injuries this season but has not lost his pace, which stands him out as one of the most exciting young defenders around.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR VAN DE VEN?
Van de Ven is set to feature on Thursday when Tottenham take on Eintracht Frankfurt for a place in the Europa League semi-finals. They then host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday.
Mickey Arthur has condemned the failure to ring fence the Vitality Blast knockout stages and give them their own place in the cricket calendar as a decision that shows “disrespect” to the county game.Arthur, one of the most respected international coaches of the past 20 years, has guided Derbyshire to the Blast quarter-finals in his first season coaching at county level.He is mystified by the fact that the knockout stages of England’s long-running professional T20 tournament are drained by England call-ups at a time when its appeal should be at its highest and feels it shows scant regard for the overwhelming majority of professional cricketers.Related
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Arthur said: “Surrey played Yorkshire this week with only a few international cricketers because there is an England series on at the same time. For me, that is unacceptable.”The absence of England players – they are engaged in a T20I series against India this week – might be viewed as a potential opportunity for Derbyshire who are one of the more unsung counties without any players currently in the England senior squads.If they beat Somerset on Saturday night, their future opponents could conceivably have to face further withdrawals because of England’s primary claims in a series against India that by then has moved on to a 50-over series, with the third ODI due to be played the day after Finals Day.But Arthur has no interest in main chancing. His concern is the message that not giving the Blast a dominant week in England’s cricket calendar gives to the county professionals.”100%, the Blast knockout stages should be ring-fenced,” he said. “For our players, it is the showpiece of the summer. Take the Hundred out of the argument for a moment. For the Blast to be given so much disrespect is not great for the counties. I am quite strong on that view.”Chris Jordan, Surrey’s captain, missed their quarter-final defeat on Wednesday•Associated Press
England’s willingness to release players has been described as “fluid” with “fairness” to both counties involved in a tie regarded as the main criteria.That meant when Ollie Pope played for Surrey in Wednesday’s quarter-final, only 24 hours after the rescheduled fifth Test against India, but Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow opted for rest ahead of the ODI series, that England’s white-ball set-up agreed to release Yorkshire’s captain, David Willey.Willey’s call-up was so late that he realised he was short of county kit and travelled from the Ageas Bowl to the Kia Oval in a shirt bearing the name of his Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook.Eight players missed Yorkshire’s dramatic victory over Surrey at the Kia Oval: Dawid Malan, Root, Brook and Bairstow for Yorkshire; Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jason Roy and Reece Topley for Surrey.Unless there is a late release of players, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Matt Parkinson and Richard Gleeson are expected to be missing for Lancashire’s quarter-final against Essex Eagles on Friday, though Phil Salt is expected to be made available.Late decisions could also be a feature of Finals Day on July 16 because it must compete with international demands. England face India at Lord’s on Thursday and again at Old Trafford on Sunday and a new white-ball team of Buttler, the captain, and coach Matthew Mott are likely to be resistant to all but the most token flexibility in releasing players.It would be understandable if a former international coach of such repute – Arthur has variously taken charge of South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – responded with horror towards the lack of preparation time on the county circuit. Arthur’s natural response is to make light of the rigours of a non-stop schedule although he is not blind to the difficulties it creates.”I’ve really enjoyed it because I could be on a cricket ground every day of my life, but it challenges everyone without a doubt,” he said. “I’ve often sat with the coaching staff and when we’ve been talking and planning, particularly with the strength and conditioning guys a lot, is ‘how are you feeling?’ And he says ‘I’m slightly tired’. Imagine then how the players are feeling? It’s been a very, very taxing programme.”I don’t know what’s going to happen if we get some rain in Taunton on Saturday because we start a four-day game in Durham on Monday morning. So that kind of highlights the fixture schedule. But, you know, we’ve just had to get on with it. And the one thing we’ve been very strong on within our dressing room is that we can never use that as excuse.”
Arsenal’s record in the transfer market under Mikel Arteta could be described as a mixed bag.
While some fine signings have helped the Gunners become challengers for the Premier League and Champions League, others have arguably held the Gunners back.
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Indeed, since taking over in December 2019, the manager has had his fair share of transfer flops over the years.
With this in mind, we have examined the 10 worst signings made by Arteta during his spell in charge of the club…
10 Raheem Sterling Loan from Chelsea (2024)
When Raheem Sterling joined the Gunners from Chelsea last summer on a season-long loan deal, it appeared to be a smart move by Arteta. Not only was he adding a player who had enjoyed plenty of success in the Premier League, but he wasn’t even paying a penny for his signature.
The winger had scored 10 goals while providing eight assists for the Blues during the 2023/24 season, becoming one of Mauricio Pochettino’s key attacking threats.
Thus, Sterling would be able to chip in consistently for the Gunners this term, perhaps even earning a recall to the England squad in the process.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone to plan for the 30-year-old so far, managing to score just once for the club in a Carabao Cup rout of Bolton Wanderers. And with both Bukayo Saka and Jesus out injured, the jury is still out over whether he will be able to step up or go down as one of Arteta’s worst signings.
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ByHenry Jackson Dec 20, 2024 9 Oleksandr Zinchenko £32m from Manchester City (2022)
Not only did Jesus join from City in 2022, but Oleksandr Zinchenko also made the move, costing the Gunners around £32m.
His positional flexibility – being able to play in midfield and at left-back – was seen as a positive, allowing the Ukrainian to fill in across a range of positions for the Gunners on and off the ball.
Over his first two seasons, Zinchenko made 68 appearances in all competitions, but he has struggled this term, playing just 11 matches, suffering from a succession of injury problems and falling down the pecking order.
During his limited time on the pitch in the league, the defender has failed to create a big chance, averaging just 0.1 key passes per game while winning 37% of his total duels per match.
Zinchenko is one of Arsenal’s most expensive players of all time, but he has yet to fully demonstrate his true talents at the Emirates, and may even already be past his best.
8 Fabio Vieira £34m from Porto (2022)
Alongside Jesus and Zinchenko, Arsenal’s other major signing in 2022 was midfielder Fabio Vieira. The midfielder joined for £34m, but it didn’t take long for him to fail to live up to this lavish fee.
Eight goal contributions in 35 games during his maiden season was decent, if unspectacular, but last term, he failed to kick on. A groin injury meant he played only 17 games as he struggled to make an impact, before being sent back to Porto on loan.
It is clear his signing, at least so far, has been a massive waste of money by Arteta.
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ByDominic Lund Jan 17, 2025 7 Albert Sambi Lokonga £18m from Anderlecht (2021)
Crystal Palace midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Albert Sambi Lokonga joined four years ago for £18m as Arteta was looking to build for the future, with the highly rated midfielder only 21 at the time of his arrival.
24 appearances were made in his first season, yet he failed to score or grab an assist in those games. He dropped further down the pecking order during 2022/23, playing 15 times before joining Crystal Palace on loan in January.
Since then, he has been sent out on loan to Luton Town and Sevilla, failing to live up to his early billing as a potential future star in the Arsenal midfield.
With 18 months left on his deal, it seems as though the Gunners will struggle to recoup the £18m spent on him in 2021.
6 Gabriel Jesus £45m from Manchester City (2022)
Eyebrows were raised when Arteta spent £45m on Gabriel Jesus in 2022. Of course, he had played a part in City’s dominance of the Premier League between 2017 and 2022, scoring 95 goals in the process.
It was certainly seen as a major coup for the Gunners, but Jesus hasn’t really become the talisman that many of the supporters had expected at the time of his arrival.
In 96 games, the Brazilian has netted just 26 goals. However, his lack of firepower in the final third is not the main concern, with his injury record rather alarming.
He had missed 35 games until suffering his recent ACL injury, which will see him miss the rest of the campaign. In terms of value for money, Arteta has endured a howler over Jesus.
5 Marquinhos £3m from São Paulo (2022)
The success of Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal convinced Arteta to dip back into the Brazilian market in 2022, signing Marquinhos for just £3m.
It was very much a signing for the future, but he did make six appearances in his maiden season – even scoring on debut – before being loaned to Norwich City.
He is now on his fourth loan spell since joining Arsenal, signing for Cruzeiro in his homeland. It seems as if the move to the Gunners perhaps happened too quickly, as he looks even further away from making it in the senior Arsenal side under Arteta.
£3m wasn’t a massive amount of money, but the Marquinhos gamble failed to pay off.
4 Nuno Tavares £8m from Benfica (2021)
“He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well,” said Arteta after signing Nuno Tavares in 2021 for £8m.
Capped for Portugal U21 and playing 25 times for Benfica, the deal looked like a real bargain, but Tavares has ended up playing just 28 times for Arsenal, all coming during his first season.
Loan spells at Marseille and Nottingham Forest over the previous two seasons have seen him develop into a solid defender, but it is at current loan club Lazio where he is finally showcasing his skills.
Is there a chance he could make it at Arsenal? Only time will tell, but with Arteta famously berating him on multiple occasions, the defender certainly has a lot of work to do.
3 Matt Turner £7m from New England Revolution (2022)
Arteta spent £7m on goalkeeper Matt Turner from MLS side New England Revolution in 2022.
Despite his status as the United States’ No 1 ‘keeper, Turner struggled to make much of an impression at the Emirates, featuring just seven times for the club throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
The move obviously didn’t work out, and he was swiftly sold to Nottingham Forest in 2023 for around £10m, ensuring the club made a decent profit. The move was certainly one of Arteta’s worst decisions in the transfer market.
2 Alex Runarsson £1.8m from Dijon (2020)
Alex Runarsson
The £1.8m fee paid to sign Alex Rúnarsson in 2020 is up there as one of the worst transfers made by Arteta during his time in charge of the club.
As backup to Bernd Leno, the Icelandic goalkeeper wasn’t expected to get many chances in the side, making just one Premier League appearance during the 2020/21 campaign.
His contract was terminated in 2024 after spending the majority of his time in London out on various loan spells, as his underwhelming performances saw his time at Arsenal fall flat.
1 Willian Free transfer (2020)
On the surface, signing Willian on a free ahead of the 2020/21 season was looked upon as a very clever transfer by Arteta. This was a player who had played nearly 350 matches for Chelsea, scoring 63 goals while registering 57 assists during his spell at Stamford Bridge.
Bringing in this sort of experience was vital, especially as Arsenal was trying to build a side that could return to the Champions League before challenging the likes of Man City and Liverpool for the league title, but the Brazilian failed to shine for the Gunners.
He lasted just a solitary season in north London, making a total of 37 appearances, registering just eight goal contributions in the process, with only one of those being a goal.
He dazzled on debut against Fulham (ironically where he enjoyed a brief career renaissance), but thereafter flattered to deceive, disappointing on several occasions. According to Sofascore, he created just 5 big chances in 25 Premier League outings, while he won barely half of his duels in the top flight.
Despite the Gunners not paying a penny to bring him to the Emirates, Willian earned £100k per week during his spell with the club.
With just one goal scored, the move didn’t work out as expected, and he left England to join Corinthians, sacrificing a massive chunk of money to make the move happen.
His lack of impact and massive wages means he is the worst signing made by Arteta since taking charge of the club, and supporters will be hoping that mistakes like this are not repeated in the future.
Chris Wood closes out nine-run win to dent Gloucestershire’s chances of progression
David Hopps24-Jun-2022That Gloucestershire might have actually stolen this match crept up on Hampshire when least expected. They dominated the bulk of the night but assumptions that a critical match was in the bag were thrown into doubt when they still found themselves defending 12 from three balls. At that point Chris Wood summoned an excellent yorker to Benny Howell, from which only a single accrued. Jack Taylor was bowled around his legs from the next ball and Hampshire finally quelled an unlikely rebellion.With 19 needed from the last six balls, Wood had begun his final over with a gift on leg stump, but Taylor flicked it straight to Toby Albert at short fine. Wood then had another aberration and this time his leg-stump half-volley was deposited over square leg for six. Three hours of professional cricket nearly fell apart in a couple of balls.Other than a nervewracking finish, pity the person charged with trying to put together a highlights reel from this match because it was a pretty uninspiring affair, but the outcome of the sweat and the labour of another hard-fought night in the Vitality Blast, was that Hampshire’s late charge to the quarter-finals continues, and most probably at Gloucestershire’s expense. They are playing intelligent, well-drilled cricket.Hampshire now leapfrog Gloucestershire and knock them out of the top four. They must meet again at the Ageas Bowl in their penultimate match on July 1.At 64 for 5 from 7.5 overs, Gloucestershire appeared to be dead in the water, except that James Bracey, a finisher at No. 6, and Taylor, an utterly unpredictable flayer, a place lower, both have the ability to oxygenate an innings. Bracey would do so by approved methods, the sort of guy who would not only have a First Aid certificate but remember the lessons. Taylor? Not so convinced. But when he did save a life it would probably be packed with so much action it would make a Hollywood movie.Bracey fell for 40 in 26 balls, an ugly bottom-of-the-bat swing to mid-off, but the attack was then taken up by Howell, who finished with 34 not out from 18 balls in an inspired but unrewarded finale.Sometimes the scoreboard does not quite convey the mood. Hampshire’s innings had felt like a perpetual struggle, an innings short of memorable hits with the boundary cleared on the full only three times. But if the mood was 160 at best, the outcome was 178 for 7 and two more points towards another last-eight place.Ben McDermott’s third half-century of the season came on a much-needed night and two doughty professionals down the order, James Fuller and Liam Dawson, added some late vitality with 51 coming in the last 28 balls. No forgetting 17 extras: only a cricket tragic heads for home talking about extras, but it was a night when such things mattered. Hampshire conceded none – their discipline exemplified.James Vince’s silky, run-strewn season has been at the heart of Hampshire’s recovery from a dreadful start. He had made two hundreds in the past three matches, against Somerset and Kent, but this was a grey and grouchy, pint of mild. Bristol night, rather than a bottle of quality midsummer Chablis, and it was no surprise when Vince offered a static cut at a wide one and edged Mohammad Amir to the wicketkeeper.McDermott, stocky and potentially destructive, was comparatively guarded, and he had a life, on 37, when he thrust his head back in disappointment as he failed to make clean contact with a pull against Taylor only to find that he had mistimed it so badly that Glenn Phillips could not quite make ground from deep square leg.David Payne, who can now proudly call himself “England’s David Payne”, even if nobody else quite remembers a debut in an ODI against Netherlands in Amstelveen, conceded 10 from two muscular pulls. McDermott then quickened his pace against Taylor’s spin but when he moved across his stumps and defied Payne to lock on to his leg stump, Payne did just that with pinpoint accuracy. England bowler, fella. Don’t come that one with me.Gloucestershire’s top-order misfired. Fuller, a former Gloucestershire player, is having an influential season and he had Ian Cockbain caught off a leading edge for 19 and then bowled Chris Dent through the gate for 24 in an impressive 2 for 23.As spin bowlers have had so few mentions this season, it should also be remarked that two slow left-armers – Tom Smith, to bowl Joe Weatherley, and Dawson, to strike Higgins’ off stump in similar fashion – both produced classically turning deliveries. The only difference was that Dawson followed up his by rushing towards the crowd with his finger to his lips to tell them to shut up – all to do with an earlier boundary save. In football, such gestures are almost de rigueur, but in cricket it is not remotely etiquette at all and the umpires will be nervously fingering their report sheets and wondering whether to ignore it.
Visitors put down key chances before wrapping up Notts for 302
ECB Reporters Network14-Apr-2022Glamorgan 33 for 0 trail Nottinghamshire 302 (Duckett 122) by 269 runsOpener Ben Duckett, a potential candidate for an England recall this summer, posted his first century since May last year as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 302 on the opening day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Glamorgan at Trent Bridge.Duckett was dropped on 29, needed treatment after being struck on the hand and took a blow on the helmet batting on what proved at times to be a testing pitch.He made Glamorgan pay heavily for giving him a life, hitting 12 boundaries before he was out for 122, his wicket falling to Australia’s world number one Test batsman, Marnus Labuschagne, making his first appearance of the season for the Welsh county and taking 2 for 11 bowling seam rather than his more usual legbreaks.Skipper Steven Mullaney provided the most significant support for Duckett, scoring 44 as the pair added 116 for the fifth wicket, but Glamorgan fought back against the Division Two favourites to claim the last six Nottinghamshire wickets for 44 runs in the final session, Michael Neser taking 3 for 56.Presented with a pitch with more than a tinge of green, Glamorgan skipper David Lloyd chose to bowl on winning the toss. Nottinghamshire reached lunch two down for 108.Haseeb Hameed suffered an unlucky dismissal, run out on 34 as Glamorgan seamer James Weighell stuck out a leg in an attempt to stop a drive back down the pitch by Duckett and diverted the ball on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end.Yet Hameed had given an early chance off Australian quick Neser, which evaded Sam Northeast at second slip. It was Northeast – who spent the latter part of the 2021 season on loan at Trent Bridge – who dropped Duckett on 29 just before lunch off Lloyd’s medium pace.Northeast held one morning chance, giving Neser the wicket of opener Ben Slater for 17 via a straightforward slip catch.Joe Clarke, who pulled Lloyd for six, maintained an aggressive Nottinghamshire mindset. On 35, however, surprised by a ball from Timm van der Gugten that found some extra bounce, he gloved it on to his stumps.It was a breakthrough that brought a second for van der Gugten in his next over, when he saw Joey Evison dropped at second slip – Northeast again – but then had him leg before pushing forward for a duck, having last week made his maiden first-class century against Sussex.Almost all of the Glamorgan bowlers at times gave away easy boundaries. Mullaney, who made a career-best 192 at Hove, picked up where he left off but was out 10 overs into the final session for 44, caught by Northeast – this time at cover – as he drove Michael Hogan.His departure sparking something of a collapse as Labuschagne had Tom Moores nicking behind before Liam Patterson-White played across the line against Hogan and Labuschagne struck again with a ball that Duckett miscued to give him a simple return catch, Nottinghamshire losing four wickets for 12 runs to be 270 for 8.Neser bowled Brett Hutton to claim the third bowling point for Glamorgan with the second new ball before last-wicket pair James Pattinson and Dane Paterson somehow secured Nottinghamshire secured a third batting point, the Australian former Test fast bowler starting his third stint with a valuable 20 runs before Neser dismissed him via a steepling caught-and-bowled.Glamorgan openers Lloyd and Andrew Salter began the reply brightly, despite Lloyd being caught at second slip off a no-ball in Pattinson’s opening over, adding 33 in five overs before the close.
Pakistan end campaign at the bottom with one win while New Zealand’s campaign, too, is all but over
Firdose Moonda25-Mar-2022New Zealand’s World Cup campaign all but ended with a display of the value of experience and the exuberance of youth, which combined to secure a big win over Pakistan. Suzie Bates scored her 12th ODI century and became the first New Zealand batter, and fourth overall, to reach 5,000 runs in the format before Katey Martin’s 30 off 26 balls pushed New Zealand’s total over 250 and into challenging territory. Then, Hannah Rowe’s career-best 5 for 55 derailed a decent Pakistan effort and forced a collapse of 6 for 19 which took Pakistan from 155 for 3 to 174 for 9.Although New Zealand still have a mathematical chance of qualification for the semi-finals, they would need South Africa to beat India and Bangladesh to beat England by significant margins to improve their net run-rate considerably. New Zealand bid a packed Hagley Oval farewell with an emotional performance which started with Martin’s tears during the national anthem and ended with her waving to the crowd, away from the rest of the group, whose celebrations were subdued.Related
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Pakistan’s tournament is also over and they finish at the bottom of the points table, with a solitary win. Although the results do not reflect well on them, they ended an 18-match losing streak at World Cups, dating back to March 2009 when they beat West Indies in a rain-affected encounter, and competed well in patches throughout the competition. They also won hearts, thanks to the consistent presence of Bismah Maroof’s baby daughter Fatima, who delighted supporters and opposition alike.Baby Maroof had plenty to marvel at in this match, albeit mainly from New Zealand’s performance. Bates put on a dominant display of leg-side hitting with an array of sweeps, pulls and flicks, and scored 90 of her 126 runs on the on-side. She scored quickly, at a strike rate of 93.33, and formed half-century partnerships with Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday to lay a foundation for New Zealand to push for a big score, but her innings was not without its nervy moments.In the fifth over, Bates was given out lbw as she missed the flick off Diana Baig. With a second to spare on the DRS timer, she reviewed the decision and ball-tracking showed the delivery was going on to miss leg stump. Bates was on 17 at the time.She was the more attacking partner in her stand with Amelia Kerr and brought up her half-century off 54 balls with a sweep off Nashra Sandhu, but then needed to do a rebuilding job after a Nida Dar double-strike. In the space of three balls, Dar dismissed Kerr and Amy Sattherthwaite to put the brakes on. Pakistan conceded just 40 runs in the next 10 overs and gave away only two boundaries in that period and kept Maddy Green particularly quiet. She scored 18 runs off 40 balls when her fourth-wicket stand with Bates reached fifty and was on 23 when she Green was beaten by a Dar delivery that spun back in and bowled her.Bates’ century came up three balls later with a pull behind square off the 110th ball she faced. New Zealand entered the final 10 overs on 197 for 4, and in a good position to push for a total over 260. But, in the 43rd over, Bates was bowled, in the 46th Halliday followed and in the 47th there were twin run-outs. New Zealand lost 4 for 20 before Martin took it on herself to up the ante. New Zealand scored 32 in their last two overs to undo some of Pakistan’s strangling work at the end.Pakistan started their chase with authority and put on 39 in the first nine overs. Sidra Ameen and Muneeba Ali were confident against the short ball but were dismissed in successive overs to dent Pakistan’s start. Maroof and Onaima Sohail put on 26 for the third-wicket and scored slowly to drag Pakistan to the 19th over on 83 for 2 before Sohail was caught low at slip by Satterthwaite. That brought Dar to the crease and she capped off a good all-round performance with her 10th ODI half-century and put Pakistan back on track.Maroof and Dar put on 82 for the fourth-wicket, at a scoring rate of 5.23 and though the required run-rate had risen to over seven, they showed good signs of intent. All that changed when the Rowe show began.In the 35th over, Rowe’s fifth, she had Maroof caught down the leg side to start Pakistan’s slide. Two overs later, Aliya Riaz edged an attempted cut and Dar was bowled by an offcutter that dipped on her and took out off stump to all but end Pakistan’s chances of reaching the target. Rowe put the finishing touches on in the 41st over, when she bowled Sidra Nawaz with an inswinger and had Diana Baig caught at cover-point. She could have had a sixth wicket when Sandhu was given out lbw but reviewed and ball-tracking showed it was missing. Sandhu was not dismissed and Pakistan batted out their overs but ended well short.