Australia offspinner signs for Championship campaign at the Ageas Bowl
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Nov-2019Hampshire have pulled off a coup for the 2020 County Championship season after signing Nathan Lyon on a red-ball contract that, international commitments pending, ought to keep him at the club for the entirety of the campaign.Lyon, who toured with Australia this summer as part of their World Cup and Ashes squads, is arguably the finest offspinner to have represented his country, and certainly the most prolific, having claimed 363 Test wickets in 91 appearances – second among all Australian spinners only to the great Shane Warne.His 20 wickets in this summer’s Ashes included nine wickets in a matchwinning display in the first Test at Edgbaston (his 6 for 49 sealed victory in the second innings), and in the course of a 2-2 series that ensured that Australia retained the Ashes, he went past Dennis Lillee’s tally of 355 Test wickets to sit behind only Warne and Glenn McGrath in Australia’s all-time list.”I very much look forward to playing with Hampshire in next year’s County Championship,” said Lyon. “It is a fabulous opportunity to be involved with a leading county who have had a long and successful relationship with Australian cricketers.”One of those Australians, of course, is none other than Warne, who was Hampshire’s captain in the early 2000s and who still has a stand named after him at the ground.”I love playing cricket in England and no doubt will enjoy the 2020 summer with the Hampshire players, coaches, members and supporters,” Lyon added. “We will all be focused on winning the County Championship in 2020 – I can’t wait.”Lyon will play at Hampshire under the captaincy of James Vince – whom he faced on the England tour of Australia in 2017-18 – and will form part of an incisive attack led by Fidel Edwards and Kyle Abbott, the former South African quick whose 17 wickets at the Ageas Bowl in September did so much to derail Somerset’s bid for their maiden Championship title.He will slot into a Hampshire squad that already features four home-grown spinners, among them Liam Dawson, who was an unused member of England’s victorious World Cup squad, and Mason Crane, the legspinner who made his Test debut against Australia at Sydney in January 2018. Lyon has had one previous stint in county cricket, when he turned out for Worcestershire for four matches in 2017.Hampshire Director of Cricket, Giles White said: “Nathan is a really high-class spinner and we identified him in the summer as someone who would be a great addition to our Championship side. He has a real appetite for county cricket and is keen to be a part of what we’re trying to do here, so we’re delighted to secure his signature and we can’t wait to have him on board next summer.”
Tottenham Hotspur have always been judiciously run under the all-registering eye of Daniel Levy, but – whisper is quietly – things might just be falling into place to lift the club to the next level.
The appointment of Ange Postecoglou from Celtic last summer was a shrewd option in a managerial market that had the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique available, and it has paid off, the Australian's footballing philosophy marrying into Levy's way of life.
First-team improvements have been successful, after a fashion, and have offered a glimpse into a future that that might see the club competing against Premier League heavyweights for the title. Perhaps.
One thing that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all share? Gleamy, machine-like youth academies. Spurs too boast one of the finest cultivations of teenage talent on English shores and this is the framework that will allow Postecoglou's side to flourish.
Sure, Harry Kane made his way through the academy to bloom into one of the Premier League's deadliest strikers in history, but such success stories have been few and far between.
Now, Tottenham's development side perch in first place in the Premier League 2, two points clear with two fixtures in hand, with a wonderful array of talent that may yet charge exploits at the height of the game down the line.
Tottenham's finest academy talents
Lucas Bergvall, aged 18, chose Tottenham over Barcelona in January, penning a deal for €10m (£8m) plus add-ons, and will link up with the lads in London this summer.
He's not a homegrown star, though does highlight the prudent strategy Tottenham are taking as they seek lasting success, and he will join a rich crop of prospects that will fancy their chances of making waves within Postecoglou's first-team.
A progressive, physical midfielder, Bergvall could forge a promising partnership with Jamie Donley, with the 19-year-old playmaker producing some remarkable performances across the maiden phase of his Tottenham career.
Tottenham midfielder Jamie Donley
Donley is one of the most highly-regarded Premier League prospects around right now and has posted six goals and 14 assists from just 16 matches for Wayne Burnett's youth side.
Praised for his "perfect" ball-playing skills by correspondent Alasdair Gold, Donley has been rewarded with four senior appearances this season, including three cameos in the Premier League.
The slick-skilled, technically proficient talent is proving himself to be one of the hottest youngsters in the country and is bound to enjoy a fine career in the Premier League or somewhere similar.
Matches played
3
Goals
2
Assists
3
Pass completion
80%
Key passes per game
3.3
Ball recoveries per game
10.0
Dribbles per game
1.3
Tackles per game
2.7
Duels won per game
6.3
It's a testament to Tottenham's fast-improving production line that many other stars are waiting in line, with Tyrese Hall blessed with attributes that could see him eclipse Donley and prove to be the finest breakthrough star of his new era.
Tyrese Hall's season in numbers
Hall is only 18 but he has attracted significant praise throughout the fledgling stage of his career, with Gold highlighting the elements of his game that could serve him well under Postecoglou's wing.
Back at the start of the campaign, the football.london reporter said: "A versatile mainstay of the U18s, 17-year-old Tyrese Hall can fill in wherever called upon due to his high technical ability. The teenager, who made his debut for the U18s last season while still a schoolboy, can play in central midfield, in an attacking or defensive role, he can play up front and he can also do a job on the wing."
Dynamic, Hall is confident across a range of central midfield roles and has chalked up six goals and six assists apiece across 23 matches in all competitions this term.
Despite his age, the London-born gem has been promoted from the U18 Premier League to the U21 squad, starting the past five matches in the Premier League 2 and bagging two assists against Aston Villa in a thrilling 5-3 victory.
Why Tyrese Hall could be Spurs' Jude Bellingham
Club insider Superhotspur has watched Hall's rise with eagle-eyed focus and revealed the key components that have propelled him into prominence on the youth scene: 'Capable of creating chances out of very little, and he with his consistently impressive weight and vision for a pass, he is also capable of making those all-important forward passes.'
His ability to foray forward and wreak havoc could even allow Postecoglou to nurture his own version of Jude Bellingham to the fore at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the eminent England international considered the most valuable player in world football, according to Football Transfers.
Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid
Like Hall, Bellingham, aged 20, is a natural centre-midfielder but has progressive and combative qualities that have allowed him to prosper at Real Madrid, scoring 20 goals and adding nine assists from just 31 outings so far.
As per FBref, Bellingham ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 1% for pass completion, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 7% for interceptions and the top 5% for blocks per 90.
Hall has already demonstrated his quality in the final third and while he might not yet have the elite movement and striking ability that his compatriot has sharpened to a deadly point, he certainly has the technical skill to emulate him.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Given that Manchester City have also been hot on Hall's trail over the past few months, it might just be that Tottenham have a real prodigy on their hands, one who could leapfrog his team rivals to burst onto the scene and cement a starring spot in the Spurs first-team.
Lionesses star Lauren Hemp is relishing playing alongside Vivianne Miedema at Manchester City following her departure from Arsenal.
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Miedema made shock Arsenal exit this summerMoved on a free transfer to Manchester CityHemp talks up new team-mateWHAT HAPPENED?
Miedema left Arsenal after seven years in the summer and moved on a free transfer to Manchester City. The Dutch star has since revealed she opted to move on as she no longer felt the right fit for the Gunners. Arsenal have been criticised for allowing Miedema to leave. WSL legend Ellen White branded her exit a "shocking decision" by the club, while fans have also vented their fury and called for the club to offer a new contract.
AdvertisementManchester CityTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Miedema has now signed for Manchester City and will hope to fire the team to glory after they finished as runners-up behind Chelsea in the Women's Super League last season. The Dutch star will link up with players including Khadija Shaw, Jill Roord and Leila Ouahabi as well as Lionesses Alex Greenwood, Khiara Keating, and Chloe Kelly. Hemp is also a new team-mate and thinks City have made an excellent signing.
WassermanWHAT HEMP SAID
Hemp said: "I've met a her lot and come up against her on the pitch a lot of times. We've actually exchanged shirts as well, after I've played against Holland, so I see us as friends already! But hopefully that relationship will get even stronger going into the season. I think she'll be a great addition to the team. She’s a player who can do it all and who I’ve looked up to for a long time. Obviously, we've got a fellow Dutchie in [Manchester City midfielder] Jill Roord, who unfortunately tore her ACL, but she's been a very pivotal player in our squad, so hopefully Viv will be able to do the same."
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Miedema is set for a swift return to Arsenal as Manchester City will take on the Gunners in their opening fixture of the new WSL season.
The allrounder was also named ODI player of the year, while Alyssa Healy took home the T20I award for 2019
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2019Ellyse Perry, the premier allrounder in women’s cricket, has won two of the three top annual ICC awards for 2019: the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for women’s cricketer of the year and the ODI Cricketer of the Year award. Alyssa Healy, meanwhile, has taken home the Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award for the second year in a row. In a sweep by Australian cricketers, Meg Lanning was named captain of the ODI and T20I teams of the year, which included five and four players from the country respectively.It has been an outstanding year for 29-year-old Perry across formats. She has hit three centuries – one in the Ashes Test and two in ODIs – and averaged 73.50 in 12 50-over games and 150.00 in nine T20Is. With the ball, there have been 21 wickets in ODIs, including a national record 7 for 22 (the fourth-best overall), and six in T20Is. During the course of the year, she also became the first player – man or woman – to complete the milestone of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in T20I cricket.ALSO READ: Perry the ‘greatest female player we’re ever going to see’ – Charlotte EdwardsFor Perry, it was the second Heyhoe-Flint award in three years, after she won in in 2017, the inaugural year. She is ranked No. 4 and No. 3 among batters and bowlers in ODIs respectively, and is just outside the top ten in the corresponding charts for T20Is.”It’s an amazing honour and I’m a little bit shocked, given how many amazing performances there have been across the year,” Perry said in an ICC statement. “It’s amazing to be acknowledged and I do truly appreciate it. It’s a really nice way to finish the year on a personal note.”It’s been nice to have a chance to tour so consistently with the Australian team. It’s been an amazing year, I’ve really enjoyed all of it and it’s just been nice to be a part of it. It’s so exciting that the T20 World Cup is here at home early next year and with the target of the final at the MCG it could be a really special moment in the game’s history.”Healy, meanwhile, made the record books when she scored a world record 148 not-out in just 61 balls in October against Sri Lanka, the highest individual score in women’s T20Is. Her century came off 46 balls, the quickest by an Australian man or woman.Alyssa Healy has been named T20I Cricketer of the Year for the second year running•Getty Images”I’m really pumped to be awarded the T20I Cricketer of the Year,” Healy said. “The Australian women’s team had a fantastic 12-month period and we played some really consistent T20 cricket. Whilst the individual award is really nice for me personally, I think it was great to see our team play so well throughout that 12-month period, especially leading into a home World Cup in 2020.”Perry and Healy featured in both the ODI and T20I teams of the year, too. In the ODI team, the trio – Lanning, the third – was joined by compatriots Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt, who also figured in the T20I line-up.Australia are the top-ranked side in ODIs and T20Is, and have a chance to retain the women’s T20 World Cup at home next year. “A home T20 World Cup is an opportunity that doesn’t come along often, but we are looking forward to and embracing the challenge of performing well in front of our home crowd,” Lanning said.Thailand will be making their debut at a global event, men’s or women’s, at that World Cup, and in a boost for them, Chanida Sutthiruang, their star medium pacer, was named the Women’s Emerging Player of the Year.India was the next best represented country in the teams of the year, with four players – Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami and Poonam Yadav – figuring in the ODI XI and three – Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav – named in the T20I team.ODI team of the year: Meg Lanning (capt), Alyssa Healy (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Tammy Beaumont, Stafanie Taylor, Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Megan Schutt, Poonam YadavT20I team of the year: Meg Lanning (capt), Alyssa Healy (wk), Danielle Wyatt, Smriti Mandhana, Lizelle Lee, Ellyse Perry, Deepti Sharma, Nida Dar, Megan Schutt, Shabnim Ismail, Radha Yadav
Manchester United are eyeing up a shock move for a Premier League star this summer as his current side look to battle financial fair play concerns, it has emerged.
Ten Hag's defensive crisis continues
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag saw his defensive woes continue against Chelsea as he lost another two to injury. Already without Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez for the next month through injuries picked up in the 1-1 draw to Brentford, the Red Devils have also lost Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw to long term injuries, meaning that Diogo Dalot has often been deployed at left-back this season, to mixed results.
Man Utd ready to make £100m+ offer to sign "high quality" Real Madrid star
The Red Devils are in desperate need of reinforcements before the new season.
ByBen Browning Apr 5, 2024
At half time against Chelsea, they lost Raphael Varane through an injury that he had been battling for much of the first half at Stamford Bridge, where he was replaced by Jonny Evans, himself only just back from injury. The veteran defender lasted little more than 20 minutes though. Another injury saw him replaced by youngster Willy Kambwala, and sees Manchester United's defence stretched beyond bare bones, with no recognised left back and just Harry Maguire as a senior option at centre back ahead of a clash with Liverpool.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.
That results have suffered is not entirely surprising, though the performances have been far more concerning for Ten Hag and the new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with his side conceding the most shots in the Premier League in 2024. Clearly then, improvements are needed at the back, and the Red Devils could be about to land one if Ratcliffe gets his way.
Villa defender on United's wishlist
Now, a report from Football Transfers claims that United could once more make a move for Ezri Konsa this summer amid impending financial fair play concerns for Aston Villa. The defender, who can play as a right back or centre-back, has been a shining light for Unai Emery's side this season and made his England debut over the March international break.
Ezri Konsa vs Manchester United defenders PL 23/24
Ezri Konsa
Harry Maguire
Lisandro Martinez
Appearances
28
18
9
Pass accuracy
92%
83.2%
92.3%
Tackles + interceptions per 90
2.47
2.64
2.34
Aerial Duels won
68.6%
76.5%
37.5%
The report claims that United are looking to target "younger, homegrown talents", and have Konsa on their wishlist after interest in him last summer. The Englishman penned a new contract at Villa Park at the time, with the club more than doubling his £30,000 per week wages to keep him in the Midlands amid interest from Old Trafford.
If given the choice, Villa would obviously prefer to keep their star, whose game has improved significantly this season. Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell labelled him a "complete" defender that can do "everything" after his impressive start to the season.
“He’s actually unlocked new things in his game that we hadn’t really seen before as well, in terms of his ball progression in bringing the ball out from the defence", he explained.
“He didn’t play it safe before, but these weren’t really things that you saw from him and he’s kind of developed alongside Emery now as this complete centre-back. If you’re looking to tick things off that a modern-day centre-back can do, Konsa can do everything".
However, Villa posted losses of almost £120m last year, and there is concern that sales may be necessary to continue their upward progression. Should that prove the case, United may well look to take advantage.
PCB chairman adopts combative stance, asks Bangladesh to prove Pakistan is unsafe if they feel it is so
Danyal Rasool in Karachi23-Dec-2019Pakistan’s days of hosting international cricket away from home are over, according to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani. Hours after Pakistan wrapped up a Test series win against Sri Lanka in Karachi, the first time any Test cricket has been played in the country since 2009, Mani insisted that there was “absolutely no doubt” Pakistan would play all home series within the country going forward.Mani’s comments came at a time when top figures in Pakistan cricket have taken a strong stance on the upcoming, but as yet unconfirmed, Bangladesh tour of Pakistan. Reports suggest Bangladesh are willing to play T20Is in Pakistan, but want the Tests at a neutral venue. On Sunday, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq said Bangladesh had “no excuse” not to tour, while Test captain Azhar Ali urged the ICC to get involved should such a scenario come up.”No one should be under any misapprehension as to where Pakistan’s home Tests will take place,” Mani said at a press interaction. “All of Pakistan’s matches, against Bangladesh or anyone else, will take place in Pakistan. I still hope the BCB will reflect on the matter and accept there is no reason for them not to visit Pakistan.”If Sri Lanka can come – and bringing them was very high-risk – then it is safe. If anything even minor had happened, people would have said it isn’t safe to come. But they trusted the people here and came and they [the ones that opted out] said they wished they had come for the limited-overs series as well, because what they’ve been told and the ground realities are very different.”
The Bangladesh women’s team came to Pakistan, as well as the Under-16 team, and they went back very happy. So we don’t want them to be in any doubt that if they play us, it will be in PakistanEhsan Mani
After initial optimism about the tour of Bangladesh, as ESPNcricinfo has reported, the PCB has become concerned by the unresponsiveness of its counterparts in Bangladesh. Mani said he had read more about the tour in newspapers than via official communication from the BCB. “When they receive feedback from the Sri Lankans about how security matters were dealt with, hopefully they’ll think again and decide to tour,” Mani said.Pointing out that the PSL draft had over 400 overseas players listed, Mani argued that individual players no longer had a problem with coming to Pakistan. Unlike the last few editions of the PSL, where a handful of games at the back-end of the tournament were played in Pakistan, the entirety of the tournament will take place in the country this year.A lingering uncertainty, now that the PCB has become more forceful in its insistence that teams visit Pakistan for tour commitments, is what would happen if a visiting side refused to tour for a scheduled series. The PCB has, until now, opted against disclosing what its course of action would be, but Mani said the burden of proof had shifted from Pakistan to any team that believed it was unsafe to tour the country and hinted at the possibility of taking the matter to the ICC for resolution.”I have been around with the ICC for a long time. I know the way it works,” he said. “They will have to prove Pakistan is not safe. We think it’s safe, and we’ve shown the world it’s safe. Look at what happened in Christchurch [with the Bangladesh team], and incidents can happen in Australia and England, and all around the world. India is at present in far greater turmoil from a security perspective than Pakistan is. I will not take a risk with any players’ safety or security. We will listen to everyone who is worried about coming here, but ultimately they’ll have to prove it isn’t safe to come here.”The PCB’s tone might suggest discussions with the BCB have stalled, though Mani insisted talks had not been called off. While Mani stressed that nothing but a full tour would be acceptable to the PCB, he stopped short of suggesting that Pakistan would rebuff any other offer.”We would absolutely have the right to dispute such a decision with the ICC,” he said. “I don’t want to say too much, because our discussions with the BCB are ongoing. When they formally tell us what decision they’ve taken, we’ll see what we need to do. The Bangladesh women’s team came to Pakistan, as well as the Under-16 team, and they went back very happy. So we don’t want them to be in any doubt that if they play us, it will be in Pakistan.”
Carlo Ancelotti reveals when new signing Kylian Mbappe could make his Real Madrid debut while providing an update on Jude Bellingham.
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Ancelotti spoke about Mbappe's Real Madrid debutProvided update on BellinghamLos Blancos take on Chelsea in the final pre-season friendlyWHAT HAPPENED?
After officially completing his move to Real Madrid last month, Mbappe is currently enjoying an extended vacation and was not included in the club's travelling squad for their pre-season tour in the United States. The France captain has yet to play a match since appearing in the Euros semi-final against Spain, however, manager Carlo Ancelotti hinted that the attacker could make his debut in the club's first competitive game of the new 2024/25 season against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.
AdvertisementWHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID
Speaking to reporters in the US, the Italian manager said, "Mbappe can obviously play in the Super Cup from the start. Jude Bellingham too and others. They are prepared, they have followed a plan and will all play."
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Like Mbappe, Bellingham too did not travel to America for pre-season after guiding England to the final of Euro 2024. The player, however, has been following a strict regime even when on holiday as confirmed by the Los Blancos boss and could appear against the Serie A side on August 14.
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The reigning Spanish champions, who lost their first two friendly matches against AC Milan and Barcelona, will aim to finish the tour with a win over Chelsea in North Carolina on August 6.
The pair is uncapped in ODIs, but opened for India A during the one-day series in New Zealand last month
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Feb-20204:20
We want Rahul to get accustomed to the No.5 spot – Kohli
Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal “will definitely start” as openers in the three-ODI series in New Zealand, maybe as early as in the first game on Wednesday, while KL Rahul will continue to keep wicket and bat at No. 5 to give him more time to settle into his new role, Virat Kohli confirmed at a press conference a day before the game in Hamilton.Kohli was speaking before Agarwal had been named in the 50-over squad as the injured Rohit Sharma’s replacement, but did say that the team management had asked for another opener. Sharma will now return to India to treat his calf injury.”No, we are looking to stick to that same plan,” Kohli said when asked of the possibility of Rahul opening in Sharma’s absence. “It’s an unfortunate situation that Rohit can’t be a part of this series. In all formats, he’s on the list first and the impact he’s had is there for everyone to see.ALSO READ: Chopra – Having Rahul keep and bat low isn’t viable in the long term”We don’t have any one-day tournaments to look forward to so it’s an ideal time for him to go away and rectify this as soon as he can. He played the T20I series, so from the team’s balance perspective heading into a World Cup year, it doesn’t hamper combinations.”Prithvi’s in the team and will definitely start and whoever the replacement is [Agarwal] – we’ve asked for an opener. KL will play in the middle-order, we want him to get used to that role at No. 5 and keep as well.”Kohli also emphasised the need to respect the 50-over format even in what is a T20 World Cup year.”We’ve had five T20Is already, so it’s not like we don’t have a lot of T20 cricket (coming up),” he said. “We have the IPL as well, so we’ll probably utilise that (to prepare for the World Cup). Last year, we didn’t have much opportunity to prepare ourselves (for the 50-over World Cup) except for the games in front of you.
We certainly expect a bunch of young guys who are good fielders to do the job collectively, not just focus on batting or bowling. It’s about taking all three skills seriously and committing to all three completelyVirat Kohli on India’s patchy fielding
“But T20s is very different, IPL is the most competitive T20 tournament you can ask for as a collective, and guys will look to get into the frame of mind in that tournament and not this early in a 50-over format because you don’t want to play in a different manner.”You have to respect the format and play to the pace of the 50-over game, and as I spoke of the combination Rahul playing in the middle-order, it’s about guys settling in their roles and repeating that game after game. These things are all about creating good habits for different formats and then being able to switch. We’re not looking at preparing for the T20 World Cup through this series. IPL will be the right platform (for that).”Looking ahead to the ODI series, where New Zealand will be without Kane Williamson for at least the first two games, Kohli said India’s immediate priority would be to up their fielding, which was “disappointing” in recent times.”We have recognised it,” he said of the efforts in the field in the T20Is, which India won 5-0. “The average age is 27 max, so we should be fielding way better than what we have. The standards in the last series overall wasn’t that good from either side. It can happen in T20 cricket because it’s fast-paced. And once you get into a nervous zone, it’s difficult to get out of it because the ball keeps coming to you invariably.”But even in one-day cricket, we’ve had fielding performances which we’re not proud of and there’s no hiding from it. We’ve spoken about it, we certainly expect a bunch of young guys who’re good fielders to do the job collectively, not just focus on batting or bowling. It’s about taking all three skills seriously and committing to all three completely, like we do towards bowling and batting. Sometimes in fielding when it’s not a matter of execution or result immediately, things can be taken for granted. That’s something we want to stay away from.”
In one swift afternoon of football in Islington Arsenal's title hopes felt like they disappeared into the abyss. Have they learnt anything from last season's collapse? Time will tell.
Sunday offered little evidence they had. This Gunners team were soaring high in 2024 but Unai Emery came back to town and scampered off with all three points.
Mikel Arteta's men are just two points behind league leaders Manchester City now but we all know just how good Pep Guardiola's men are during a run-in.
It's unlikely they'll drop many, if any points over the coming weeks, with Arsenal now potentially left to rue their 2-0 defeat to Villa.
The team selection was an interesting one. Kai Havertz moved back into a midfield position to accommodate Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard started ahead of Gabriel Martinelli and there was no Jakub Kiwior after his early substitution against Bayern Munich. Instead, Oleksandr Zinchenko started.
Zinchenko's performance against Aston Villa
The £32m signing of Zinchenko back in the summer of 2022 was an eye-catching one.
Arsenal were acquiring a proven winner, someone with fight, passion and guile. He has shown every inch of those qualities during his time in north London but sadly, he is a defensive liability.
Described by CBS reporter James Benge as "unmissably bad" for his exploits against the Villans on Sunday, it was a performance that rather summed up the Ukrainian's campaign.
When he is bad, he is truly bad and that's what we saw over the weekend. Guilty of losing possession, lacking concentration and simply not being on the same wavelength as his teammates, it will frustrate Arteta no end that a player he knows well from Man City is his main source of blame.
Zinchenko can show some nice touches but when up against it, teams do tend to target his left-hand side. That's what happened against Villa.
As soon as Leon Bailey was introduced it looked like curtains for the full-back, with the Jamaican ultimately scoring the opening goal of the game just minutes from time. Where was Zinchenko? Nowhere to be seen.
The defender had a warning sign just moments before that. Guilty of doing too much on the edge of the area, as he so often is, Youri Tielemans dispossessed him and with a wonderful dipping effort struck both post and bar.
So, how do Arsenal solve the problem? Fortunately, they have Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu to call upon. They will also soon have Jurrien Timber back from an ACL Injury.
That said, have they potentially already sold their long-term replacement?
Arsenal's rising star has already been sold
Because of Arsenal's rise to title challengers under Arteta, he has found it difficult to hand regular chances to those coming through the academy.
It pales in comparison to his early days with the club when both Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were in the embryonic stages of their career.
There have been two moments for Ethan Nwaneri – the Premier League's youngest-ever player now – but for others opportunities have not been forthcoming.
Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri
As a result, they've decided that leaving is their only option. It's thought Arsenal are now on the verge of losing Charlie Patino, but they have already lost budding left-back Lino Sousa.
In a deal that could be worth more than £10m, the teenager joined none other than Aston Villa back in January with his departure coming as a shock.
Sousa hadn't achieved any first-team minutes yet but was well thought of by those in the know. After all, he had already been in a few matchday squads.
Described as "England's future left-back" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the future is bright for a player who's spent the second half of the current campaign on loan at Plymouth.
So, what makes him so special? Well, in the words of Arsenal youth expert Jeorge Bird, 'he is very composed in possession, with his playing style seeming somewhat reminiscent of Ainsley Maitland-Niles at youth level.'
Bird continued: 'Sousa relishes pushing forward but also doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities.'
So, he seems to combine the best of Zinchenko – that technical composure – but also adds an extra layer in terms of his defensive security.
Whether Sousa makes it at first-team level at Villa remains to be seen, but Arsenal could well regret their decision to cash in on such a talented youngster when the left-back berth is up for grabs.
As bad as Zinchenko: Arsenal's 4/10 star may have cost them the league
Arsenal were downed for the second time this season by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
All six names on the shortlist for this year's accolade are promising young England players who shone in the 2023-24 Women's Super League season
Chelsea star Lauren James could be set to follow in the footsteps of England team-mate Lauren Hemp and become just the second footballer to retain her Women's PFA Young Player of the Year award this month, after being named to a shortlist made up entirely of Lionesses.
The PFA Awards have been an important event in English football culture for 50 years now and more big names will be added to its illustrious history books when this year's accolades are dished out on August 20. It's a night that will see the positive state of women's football in the country well-illustrated, likely in no better way than by the Women's PFA Young Player of the Year nominees. All six are exciting young England players that the nation will hope can deliver success for the Lionesses in years to come, as well as their contributions at club level.
James is one of two Chelsea starlets up for the accolade, alongside Aggie Beever-Jones after her breakthrough campaign with her childhood club. It's over to Manchester for the rest of the names battling it out for the chance to earn individual recognition, with Man City represented by Khiara Keating and Jess Park, while Man Utd have Maya Le Tissier and Grace Clinton, whose place on the shortlist comes after a fruitful loan spell with Tottenham, in the running.
Find out more about the six-woman shortlist below…
GettyAggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea)
After loan spells with Bristol City in the second-tier and Everton in the WSL, Beever-Jones finally enjoyed her breakthrough at Chelsea in the past 12 months, scoring a remarkable 11 goals in the league in 2023-24 despite starting just six times. Those contributions helped the Blues win a fifth successive title, and they didn't go unnoticed by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman, who handed the 21-year-old her senior England debut in July.
AdvertisementGettyGrace Clinton (Man Utd)
It was no surprise to hear Tottenham head coach Robert Vilahamn express his interest in signing Clinton on a permanent deal earlier this year, such was the impact she made on loan from Man Utd. In her first season as a regular starter in the top-flight, the versatile 21-year-old played a key role in a historic season for Spurs, one which consisted of a top-six finish and an FA Cup final. Like Beever-Jones, Clinton earned a chance with England as a result and she took that opportunity with both hands, scoring on her debut in February.
GettyLauren James (Chelsea)
Man City star Khadija Shaw, an out-and-out striker, was the only player to score more goals in the WSL last season than James. As Chelsea dealt with a heap of injuries, most significantly in the absence of star centre-forward Sam Kerr, the 22-year-old stepped up and delivered massive contributions as the Blues won yet another league title. A match-winning hat-trick against former club Man Utd was a particular highlight as this incredible young talent enjoyed another wonderful year.
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GettyKhiara Keating (Man City)
Few expected Keating to be Man City's No.1 goalkeeper when the 2023-24 season began. However, the then-teenager managed to usurp two England internationals, in Ellie Roebuck and Sandy MacIver, to that status and she never looked likely to lose it throughout an outstanding campaign. No goalkeeper kept more clean sheets in the WSL last season than Keating, who also boasted the highest save percentage in the division and earned herself a regular spot in Wiegman's England squads as a reward.