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There are still two Premier League games to go, but for all intents and purposes, Arsenal’s season came to an end on Wednesday night.

Moreover, while Mikel Arteta and the players still have to give their all for those two games – Champions League football hasn’t been secured yet – it’s clear the club are looking ahead to next season.

For example, just a few days after the disappointment in Paris, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano finally gave Martin Zubimendi’s long-rumoured move to Arsenal the ‘here we go’ treatment.

The details still need to be finalised, but the Spanish international is now set to join the Gunners for around £51m in the summer, and while that’s tremendously exciting, he’ll have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates at the Emirates.

Why Arsenal want Zubimendi

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining why Arsenal are so keen to sign Zubimendi in the first place.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Firstly, he helps to pad out the number six position in the squad, as while Thomas Partey is reportedly in talks with the club over a new deal, Jorginho is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer.

However, Arteta and Co are obviously interested in the Spanish international for far more than that, including his defensive nous.

For example, according to FBref, the “elite tempo controller,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, sits in the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for shots blocked and clearances, the top 7% for touches in his penalty area and percentage of aerial duels won, the top 15% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

That’s not all, though, as on top of his defensive abilities, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by former teammate Kieran Tierney, also has an abundance of experience and, more importantly, has proven himself in high-pressure games.

Zubimendi’s record
Team	Sociedad	Spain
Appearances	333	17
Minutes	21215′	984′
Goals	10	1
Assists	9	0
Major Trophies	1	1
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, he’s made 233 appearances for Sociedad’s first team, including 90 minutes in the club’s 2020 Copa del Rey triumph, and won 15 caps for Spain, one of which came in the second half of the European Championships final, a game La Roja beat England in.

In all, Zubimendi’s technical and defensive ability, combined with his experience of winning when the pressure is on, makes him look like the ideal midfield acquisition for Arsenal this summer, even if he’s worth millions less than one of his future teammates.

The Arsenal star worth millions more than Zubimendi

While Partey and Mikel Merino have both played significant roles for Arsenal this season, neither one has a higher valuation than Zubimendi, nor should they.

Declan Rice, conversely, does, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €110m, which is about £93m, or a whopping £42m more than the Sociedad star is set to cost the Gunners.

Now, while that is undoubtedly a lot of money for a central midfielder, it would be hard to say he’s not proven himself worthy of it this year, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher describing him as the club’s “best player this season.”

While it might sound a little hyperbolic, such comments are more than backed up by the midfield monster’s statistics this year.

For example, in 50 appearances, the “monster” Englishman, as dubbed by Arsenal writer Connor Humm, has scored eight goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.77, which is undeniably impressive for someone primarily playing as an eight.

Rice’s FBref Scout Report
Statistics	Per 90	Percentile
Progressive Carries	2.70	Top 5%
Corner Kicks	3.10	Top 5%
Carries into the Penalty Area	0.56	Top 6%
Crosses	4.66	Top 7%
Assists	0.21	Top 8%
Goals + Assists	0.38	Top 10%
Touches (Att Pen)	2.73	Top 10%
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.32	Top 11%
All Stats via FBref

Moreover, FBref has placed him in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and corner kicks, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 7% for crosses, the top 8% for assists, the top 10% for goals plus assists and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, signing Zubimendi is incredibly exciting and shows real ambition from Arsenal, but he will have to be truly sensational in North London to see his valuation match Rice’s.

Shades of Aubameyang: Arsenal lead race to sign "mind-blowing" goal machine

The prolific marksman could be the difference-maker for Arsenal next season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 12, 2025

It has been an interesting season in 2024/25 for Chelsea. They face a fight on their hands to secure a spot in the top five, and are still competing in the UEFA Conference League, a competition many expect them to win.

In the top flight, the west London side are one of the biggest underperformers when it comes to expected goals, highlighting an issue in front of goal. As per Understat, they have an expected goals tally of 64.83xG, but have actually managed just 56 goals, an underperformance by 8.83. There are only four top-flight sides with a bigger underperformance.

Thus, it might not be a surprise that the Blues are targeting a new attacker this summer.

The forward Chelsea want to sign this summer

It has been a theme in the last few years that Chelsea have signed players, and even a manager, from Brighton and Hove Albion. Well, this summer might be no different, given they are linked with Seagulls attacker Georginio Rutter.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, Enzo Maresca’s side are thought to be ‘closely monitoring the development’ of Rutter down on the South Coast, and could make a move for him this summer, having ‘added him to their shortlist’.

The situation between the versatile attacker and the West London outfit has been described as ‘one to watch’ by Plettenberg, ahead of what will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge.

He did not clarify a price, but Football Transfers value him at upwards of £39m.

Why Rutter would be a good signing for Chelsea

It has been an impressive season so far for Rutter in his debut campaign for the Seagulls. This term, he has eight goals and five assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, including five in the Premier League.

In fact, the 22-year-old Frenchman, who is capped at under-21 level for his country, might certainly help with the expected goals deficit at Stamford Bridge. He is generally a lot more consistent this term, with 5.68xG, a 0.68 difference from his actual tally, as per Understat.

Another reason Chelsea fans can get excited about signing Rutter is the flair he brings as part of his game. Described as an “entertainer” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United star is a tricky customer for most defenders, and oozes confidence in one-vs-one scenarios.

Indeed, it is not just that video that showcases how exciting Rutter can be with the ball at his feet, but the numbers from FBref are also there to back it up.

For example, the Seagulls’ number 14 averages 1.47 successful take-ons per game, ranking him in the top 9% of forwards across Europe over the last year.

Rutter key dribbling stats vs. forwards in Europe
Stat (per 90)	Number	Percentile
Take-ons attempted	3.86	94th
Take-ons completed	1.47	91st
Progressive carries	2.28	86th
Carries into final third	1.96	95th
Carries into penalty box	0.87	71st
Stats from FBref

There are certainly shades of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard in Rutter. At his peak, the former Blues winger was described as the “best player in the league” by Jamie Carragher, who said he “does things that others can’t do”.

The legendary Belgian attacker was phenomenal in a Chelsea shirt. He scored 110 goals and grabbed 87 assists in 352 games for the west Londoners, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.

That was thanks to his fearlessness on the ball, all the tricks at his disposal and the ability he had to glide past players. As per Sofascore per game, he averaged 5.8 successful dribbles in 2017/18, his highest on record.

If Rutter – registered 24 goals and assists for Leeds last season – is even half as good as Hazard was for Chelsea, they will have a world-beater on their hands. He certainly comes with lots of the flair their former number ten possessed, and has that ability to beat players in one-vs-one scenarios.

At just 22 years of age, there is plenty of time for Rutter to develop, too. He is a player who can score, create and carry in an effective manner, just like Hazard did. He could be a player Chelsea fans fall in love with.

Their best CF since Costa: Chelsea in talks to sign £65m "powerhouse"

Chelsea have made contact to sign “powerhouse” who would be a dream for Palmer

By
Connor Holden

Apr 15, 2025

Director Andrea Berta has personally held talks over signing a high-earning player as one of his first actions at Arsenal, and it is believed the Gunners target could now be tempted to join Mikel Arteta’s side as a result.

Andrea Berta's list of forward targets at Arsenal

Rumours have surrounded the acquisition of a new striker for Arsenal this summer, with Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko all repeatedly linked.

Arsenal: Berta tells Arteta to sign "powerful" forward likened to Aguero

He’s been compared to Man City’s all-time top goalscorer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

Following Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries, the need for another prolific option up top is made all the more prevalent, with midfielder Mikel Merino currently being used as an emergency makeshift striker.

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Arsenal are developing a strong interest in Gyokeres to fill the void from next season, according to David Ornstein, while fellow reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has tipped Berta to make an offer for Isak.

However, while a new striker is believed to be high on Berta’s agenda, the Italian also plans to upgrade Arteta’s wide options.

According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are targeting a left-winger this summer, and they’re even pondering the possibility of bringing in someone who can compete with Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.

Last summer, under ex-director Edu, Arsenal displayed a real interest in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams for the role.

It was reported at the time that Williams was a top target for Arteta, off the back of an impressive 2023/2024 campaign where he bagged 19 assists in all competitions, but the Spain international opted to remain at Bilbao for this season.

The 22-year-old’s contract includes a £48 million release clause, and Arsenal’s interest hasn’t gone away. However, they face very stiff competition for his services, as Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also targeting Williams.

Andrea Berta holds Arsenal talks with Nico Williams targeted

That is according to The Guardian and journalist Ed Aarons, who states that Berta has personally held Arsenal transfer talks with Williams’ representatives in “one of his first acts” as director.

In his report for The Guardian, Aarons also reports Berta’s influence could tempt Williams to join Arsenal over elite clubs in the race for his signature – following two years of heavy scouting from the Gunners.

The £200,000-per-week forward is also expected to push for a summer exit, but while his £48m release clause will be enticing, the major obstacle will lie in his rumoured wage demands. Williams apparently wants as much as £300,000-per-week at his new club, which would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player.

The question is, would he be worth it? Williams carries a reputation as one of La Liga’s most highly-rated young attacking stars, completing the fifth-highest rate of successful take-ons per 90 in the entire division (WhoScored), and his exciting style would hand Arsenal another major weapon in the final third.

His return has lessened this season compared to last – scoring nine goals and assisting seven others in all competitions – but his form has picked up lately as we approach the summer window.

The thumping heartbeat of their IPL 2024 triumph is flatlining, and the numbers don’t look pretty

Sreshth Shah25-Apr-20252:33

Cricinformed: KKR’s middle-order muddle

There’s a fine line between being inconsistent and being completely out of sync, and right now, Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) middle order is in danger of crossing it. The thumping heartbeat of KKR’s batting in IPL 2024 is flatlining this season. KKR’s inability to find any fluency through the middle overs has mirrored their broader batting slump this season. Their capitulation in Mullanpur — where they failed to chase a modest 112 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) – felt like a breaking point. A limp performance against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday only deepened the malaise.What’s most concerning is that the personnel hasn’t changed much – the output certainly has. Among all teams in IPL 2025, KKR’s middle order (positions 4 to 8) has the lowest collective average (20.00), and KKR’s average through the middle overs (7th-16th) this season (17.4) is also the worst in the league.Still, it would be unfair to pin the blame solely on the middle order. Their success last year was built on strong foundations laid by the openers. In IPL 2024, the Phil Salt-Sunil Narine combo had the third-highest aggregate among opening pairs, and averaged 46.58. Salt has moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season, and Quinton de Kock has struggled to replicate his success alongside Narine: their average opening stand this year is 18.16. KKR dropped de Kock in their last match against GT, only for his replacement Rahmanullah Gurbaz to begin his season with a first-over dismissal.It’s no surprise, then, that KKR have the worst powerplay dot-ball percentage of all teams in IPL 2025 (49.82).It’s a domino effect: the same middle order that once thrived on momentum now finds itself forced into damage control. Other teams with struggling middle orders such as Lucknow Super Giants (average of 22.24 from Nos. 4 to 8) and PBKS (25.47) have top-order runs to fall back on, which has kept them in contention for the playoffs.Following the defeat to GT, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane pointed to the need for batters to be “brave” with their intent despite the form slump. Ahead of Saturday’s home game against PBKS, Moeen Ali echoed that sentiment, but framed it differently. According to Moeen, the key lies in a shift in mindset, with the batters needing to almost trick themselves into confidence.Andre Russell has scored just 55 runs in six innings this season, at an average of 9.16•AFP/Getty Images”It’s about having the mindset where you kind of fool yourself into thinking you’re playing well and just go all out,” Moeen told reporters. “We need to go out there, express ourselves, and just have a bit more fun. Sometimes from the outside, it seems the pressure is too much on players, but it’s about taking that off and showing your skills.”Moeen remains optimistic about the line-up’s potential. “The real strength is we have guys who can go ultra-aggressive like Sunil Narine, and also classical players like Ajinkya, who’s in red-hot form. Angkrish [Raghuvanshi] is doing brilliantly, and then there’s Venky [Venkatesh Iyer], Rinku, myself, Russell. Everything is there. We genuinely have one of the stronger batting line-ups in the competition. Some players like Angkrish and Ajinkya have done well, but as a unit, we haven’t clicked. It’s just a matter of turning it around.”It won’t be easy, though. Bravo admitted, after the 39-run defeat against GT, that the KKR batters were just “out of confidence.” And KKR also have scars from their previous capitulation to 95 all out against PBKS. Three of Yuzvendra Chahal’s five best IPL performances have come against KKR, all since IPL 2022, and Venkatesh has been out three times in 18 balls against Marco Jansen.But PBKS have one weakness – powerplay bowling, with only 11 wickets in eight games – and KKR will hope to exploit it come Saturday. A strong start could fix a lot of their problems, and they only need to look at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) last season and Mumbai Indians on numerous occasions to know that comebacks are possible even when all looks lost. However, time is running out, and with KKR needing to win five of their last six games to make a strong case for the playoffs, it’s now or never for the defending champions.

Victoria opener looms as a key man in the final but says there’s no added Ashes pressure given he joins Gloucestershire in a fortnight

Alex Malcolm22-Mar-2023Victoria opener Marcus Harris has a staggering record in Sheffield Shield finals. In four appearances, he has scored three centuries and an 81, and has two Player-of-the-Final awards.But his success has come on the back of a valuable lesson he learned in his first one, playing for Western Australia in March 2014.”It didn’t start well,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo with typical candour. “As a WA group at that time, we hadn’t been anywhere near a Shield final. We built it up to be a really big thing and I remember we ended up losing the toss and bowling for a day-and-a-half. And then I remember I was batting No. 3 and, by the end of the first over, I was in and out of my pads and back in my shorts.”Related

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• Bullish Victoria out to spoil WA's tilt at back-to-back titles

• Peter Handscomb signs deal with Leicestershire

• Rocchiccioli relishes the graft of bowling offspin at WACA

On that occasion, Cameron Bancroft and Harris fell for golden ducks in the first two balls of the innings to Josh Hazlewood as WA never got close to beating New South Wales in a rain-affected draw.Harris’ personal redemption was swift. WA were again on the wrong side of a draw against Victoria 12 months later, but Harris was Player of the Match in Hobart making 81 and an unbeaten 153-ball 158 amid a tough week for his family.”My Nanna passed away the week before the Shield final, so I was really spurred on to do well that week,” Harris said. “I think it sort of took my mind off the game being so big. I had to deal with Nanna passing away and the funeral and I probably had one of my best games ever in a Shield final.”Since leaving WA to join Victoria in 2016, he has been part of two winning Sheffield Shield teams. He scored 120 and 21 in a draw against South Australia in 2017 in Alice Springs to secure Victoria a third straight title. But arguably his best performance came in Victoria’s 2019 triumph, when he made a sparkling 141 on a difficult pitch at Junction Oval against a high-class NSW attack in a game where only two other players passed 50 and the next highest score was 75.”I just think I’ve always enjoyed playing in finals, even in club cricket for Scarborough and junior finals,” Harris said. “I’ve always done okay. I just think I enjoy the big moment and I don’t put too much pressure on myself. I try and enjoy the game but it’s one of those things where I feel like it just gets me up and about.”The 2019 final had extra significance and added pressure. It was played with an Ashes tour looming in a summer where Harris was the incumbent Test opener, having earned his baggy green that season while also becoming the last batter to pass 1000 runs in a Shield campaign. While he was the Test incumbent and delivered in that Shield final, he was under pressure to keep his Test place in England with the looming returns of David Warner and Bancroft from their post-Newlands bans.There are direct parallels to this week’s Shield final. Then, like now, Harris enters the decider in Perth against WA as a key man to watch with a World Test Championship final in England and an away Ashes looming. Harris, 30, is not an incumbent Test batter but he is firmly in the frame for England having been part of Australia’s Test squad for five home Tests during the summer without playing. He did not travel to India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Australia’s selectors opted for a horse-for-course approach with Travis Head promoted to open when Warner got injured in Delhi. But during regular conversations with Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey and coach Andrew McDonald, it has been made clear to Harris that he remains on their radar to play in England because of his experience there.

“I feel confident in my body of work that I’ve had for six or seven years now and I feel like if I’m called upon that I’m ready to go and I can perform at the level I know I can. And if that stuff doesn’t happen, so be it”Marcus Harris on his English experience

Unlike 2019, where Warner and Bancroft loomed large on Harris’ incumbency, it is Warner’s place that is under the microscope, with Harris and Bancroft at the top of the list of candidates putting pressure on him. Bancroft, who will feature for WA in this week’s final, has put his name back in the frame after scoring six Shield centuries across 23 innings in the last 12 months, including 141 against Victoria in last year’s Shield final at the WACA and four more this season.Four years older and wiser, having just got married to his partner Cat on Sunday, Harris understands that this week is not the be-all and end-all for his Ashes hopes given he is set to play for Gloucestershire in the opening round of the county championship in just over a fortnight.”I think the key is just keeping focused on what I’m doing rather than what everyone else is doing,” Harris said. “There’s always chat especially around an Ashes series. It’s the biggest series we play in. There’s always going to be chat and speculation around who’s doing what and who’s going where. I think what I have in my favour and what I have confidence-wise is that this will be my third season in England in a row now.”I’m probably not putting too much pressure on myself all the time to have to perform. I obviously want to perform every game I play in but I understand that I’m playing 12 months a year now. It’s not like if I miss out this week in the Shield game I’m not going to be able to play cricket again until October. I know I’ve got another game in a week-and-a-half’s time in England. I’m in a fortunate position where I can play all the time. And I feel like the game is in a good place now where I understand my game. I can constantly tweak and not feel like I’m hindering my game. I think that just comes with age.”If there are questions about Warner’s place for the Ashes following his disastrous 2019 series, there will inevitably be questions of Harris in the same breath given he also averaged less than 10 in the six innings he played and was similarly tortured by Stuart Broad from around the wicket.But Harris has more first-class centuries in England than any other Australian Ashes candidate currently outside the Test XI, having scored three in each of his last two seasons for Leicestershire (2021) and Gloucestershire (2022).”I’ve enjoyed the challenge of England, rocking up to a different ground every week and having to problem solve a different way to try and make runs and I think that’s helped me as a player,” Harris said. “I feel confident in my body of work that I’ve had for six or seven years now and I feel like if I’m called upon that I’m ready to go and I can perform at the level I know I can. And if that stuff doesn’t happen so be it. I know I’ve still got a season with Gloucester to play and I’ll be back home for Victoria.”That’s where his attention is this week, trying to win another Shield title for Victoria at his old stomping ground. Harris showcased his WACA experience on a difficult pitch last week, making 84 and 29 as the visitors beat the reigning champions to qualify for this week’s final. Harris missed last year’s decider because he was on tour in Pakistan. But he brings valuable WACA intel for a young Victorian line-up determined to cause an upset.”I think the tough thing for younger blokes coming to Perth, it gets spoken about so much in the meetings and before the game and sometimes you can almost psych yourself out before you actually get out there,” Harris said. “I think it’s been good for us to be able to have the game here last week before the final.”At the WACA, JL [Justin Langer] always used to speak about giving yourself 30 balls to get yourself in, just because it was so different to what we play on [elsewhere] and then go from there. But give yourself a chance early and then assess it as you go on.”

And how often has a player made twin hundreds in a Test but ended up on the losing side?

Steven Lynch27-Apr-2021In a recent IPL match Steven Smith was caught by Jhye Richardson off the bowling off Riley Meredith – all three Australians. How many such dismissals, involving three overseas players from the same country, have there been? asked P Sridhat from India
The wicket you’re talking about came during the match between the Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings in Mumbai last week. Steven Smith, playing for Delhi, was caught at third man by Jhye Richardson off Riley Meredith, Australians all.It sent Shiva Jayaraman, of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team, delving into the darker recesses of his database, and he discovered 18 previous cases of an IPL dismissal involving three overseas players from the same country. Eleven of them also comprised three Aussies, including the first, when David Hussey was caught by Cameron White off Ashley Noffke while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru in the very first IPL match, back in 2008.Adam Gilchrist was the unlucky batter three times, while Ryan Harris was the bowler on three other occasions. Smith also featured as a fielder, when he caught Glenn Maxwell off Kane Richardson for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kings XI Punjab in Sharjah in 2014.Getty ImagesHow many people played the last one-day international of their career in a World Cup final? asked Richard Jellicoe from England
At the moment there are 16 men who fit the bill here, including Liam Plunkett – he has been overlooked by England since the 2019 final, but has been linked with playing for the United States, where his wife is from.Plunkett is one of nine men whose ODI careers were rounded off by a World Cup win, following Rohan Kanhai (1975), Imran Khan (1992), Paul Reiffel (1999), Glenn McGrath (2007), Sreesanth (2011), and the Australian trio of Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson in 2015. The other seven tasted defeat: Ross Edwards (1975), Faoud Bacchus (1983), Javagal Srinath (2003), Russel Arnold (2007), Muttiah Muralitharan and Thilan Samaraweera (2011), and Daniel Vettori (2015).In women’s cricket, where such matches were more infrequent in the early years, there are 33 players whose final ODI appearance came in a World Cup final.RCB overhauled a target of 178 without losing a wicket the other day – was this the highest total involved in a ten-wicket win in the IPL? asked Praveen Mistry from India
The Royal Challengers Bangalore hurtled to 181 for 0 in defeating the Rajasthan Royals (177 for 9) in Mumbai the other day. It was the 15th ten-wicket win in IPL history, but only two of those involved a higher target being overhauled: the Chennai Super Kings also made 181 for 0 in defeating the Kings XI Punjab (178 for 4) in Dubai in 2020, while the Kolkata Knight Riders ran up 185 for 0 to clobber the Gujarat Lions (183 for 4) in Rajkot in 2017.Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal took RCB to the third highest ten-wicket win in the IPL, against the Rajasthan Royals•BCCIOllie Robinson took six lbws in an innings – and nine in the match – in the County Championship the other day. Was either of those a record? asked Mark Plummer from England
The answer is that the Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson’s haul of lbws against Glamorgan in Cardiff earlier this month equalled both those first-class records. There had been three previous instances of a bowler claiming six lbws in a first-class innings, by Mark Ilott on his way to 9 for 19 for Essex against Northamptonshire in Luton in 1995, Chaminda Vaas for Western Province vs Southern Province in Colombo in 2004-05, and Tabish Khan for Karachi Whites against Khan Research Laboratories in Karachi in 2011-12.Ilott finished with nine lbws in that Luton match, as did Kabir Khan for Peshawar against Karachi Blues in Peshawar in 1991-92, and Tabraiz Shamsi for Titans vs Warriors in Port Elizabeth in 2015-16.In one of last week’s answers you mentioned a Test in which Virat Kohli scored twin centuries, but ended up on the losing side. How often has this happened in Tests? asked Gordhan Valasai from Pakistan
Virat Kohli scored 115 and 141 against Australia in Adelaide in 2014-15, in his first Test as India’s captain. That was the tenth time a batter had scored two centuries in a match and ended up on the losing side: the first was England’s Herbert Sutcliffe, with 176 and 127 against Australia in Melbourne in 1924-25.Since Kohli did it there has been one further occurrence: Brendan Taylor scored 110 and 106 not out for Zimbabwe in Mirpur in 2018-19, but Bangladesh won the match. Two other Indians have managed this bittersweet feat: Vijay Hazare, against Australia in Adelaide in 1947-48 (a match in which he also bowled Don Bradman, although not before he’d made 201), and Sunil Gavaskar, against Pakistan in Karachi in 1978-79.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco está negociando com a Crefisa pela venda de naming rights do São Januário. Segundo informações apuradas pelo Lance!, os valores que o Cruz-Maltino deve receber giram em torno de R$ 300 milhões pela transação. A assessoria do clube procurou a reportagem e negou a informação.

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A reforma de São Januário está orçada em R$ 506 milhões. O Vasco espera arrecadar R$ 500 milhões através da lei do potencial construtivo.

O que se tem no projeto de lei é um valor que seja compatível com o que a Prefeitura está “dando” ao Vasco. Com isso, a obra se torna viável para o clube. A venda do naming rights é para captar mais recursos e aumentar o orçamento da reforma de São Januário.

Esta é mais uma etapa importante para o Vasco. Pedrinho e toda a diretoria trabalham para que todos os passos para a reforma de São Januário estejam avançados avançados até o momento da liberação do potencial construtivo.

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José Roberto Lamacchia, o dono da Crefisa, já tinha demonstrado interesse em colocar o nome da empresa no naming rights de São Januário. As partes aguardavam apenas a posse de Pedrinho.

Pedrinho, caso você seja eleito presidente do Vasco da Gama, eu tenho interesse de colocar o nome da Crefisa no naming rights do São Januário

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disse o dono da Crefisa na época

➡️ Novo São Januário: confira as imagens do projeto de reforma e modenização do estádio do Vasco

🤔 ENTENDA O QUE É “NAMING RIGHTS”
É tipo um contrato de patrocínio, mas em vez de ceder espaço na camisa o clube ou entidade cede o nome de um local, estádio ou competição para uma empresa.

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A empresa paga um valor e passa a ter o direito de colocar seu nome no estádio ou competição por um determinado prazo.

Tudo sobre

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Arsenal have been almost faultless this season, but on Sunday, their unbeaten run finally came to an end.

Mikel Arteta’s side once again came unstuck at the hands of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa and now sit just two points clear of Manchester City atop the Premier League table.

It wasn’t a dreadful showing from the league leaders, but it was a disappointing and potentially worrying one.

Moreover, it was another game in which a particular player flattered to deceive, a player who could end up being Arteta’s worst signing since Fabio Vieira.

What went wrong for Fabio Vieira at Arsenal

Arsenal fans largely remember the summer of 2022 as the window when Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived from Manchester City and helped the team on their first title charge in a generation.

However, that summer also saw the club sign Vieira from Porto for around £34m, and while it was a surprise move, it was an exciting one.

After all, the Portuguese midfielder had just come off a campaign in which he produced 23 goal involvements in 39 games.

Unfortunately, aside from the odd moment of brilliance, the Santa Maria da Feira-born talent failed to make much of a mark during his first season in North London, racking up a tally of just two goals and six assists in 33 first-team appearances.

Things would only get worse the following season, as a combination of injuries, poor form and suspensions limited him to just 16 appearances, in which he scored one goal and provided four assists.

With two disappointing campaigns under his belt in as many years, the 25-year-old was sent back to Porto on loan for 24/25, where he did improve, but only marginally and ended the season with a tally of 11 goal involvements in 42 games.

The Portuguese giants did not want to bring their player back on a permanent deal this year, and so, with few other options, the Gunners agreed to send him on another loan, this time to Hamburg, with an option to buy.

Season

22/23

23/24

Appearances

33

16

Goals

2

1

Assists

6

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.24

0.25

In all, it’s clear that Vieira is a talented player, but it’s equally clear he is not, and never was, good enough to play for Arsenal.

Worryingly, the same might eventually be said about another of Arteta’s signings, someone who could go down as his worst since the Portuguese midfielder lest he improve, and quickly.

Arsenal star in danger of becoming Arteta's worst signing since Vieira

Overall, it would be fair to say that Arsenal’s summer business this year was a success.

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The likes of Eberchi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, for example, have all looked good to great so far.

However, there is one signing who has divided opinion more than any other, and is in danger of being labelled a flop if he doesn’t improve: Viktor Gyokeres.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, there is every chance the Swedish international will prove his doubters wrong and become the goalscoring monster Arsenal need him to be.

Unfortunately, there have been few signs of that happening so far this season.

For example, in 17 appearances so far, the former Sporting “powerhouse” forward, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored just six goals, which is not terrible, but it’s not enough for someone who wants to lead the line for a title-winning side.

Minutes

50′

Shots

0

Expected Assists

0.03

Key Passes

0

Touches

11

Lost Possession

6

Passes

4

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Moreover, the game against Villa on Saturday was another one in which he failed to stamp his authority on things.

The 27-year-old came on at half-time, but in his 50 minutes of action, he took just 11 touches, lost the ball six times, completed four passes, failed to take a single shot or create a single big chance.

It was a worrying display, and one that could easily see the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus leapfrog him in the pecking order when they are both fully fit.

Ultimately, while there is time for him to make his mark on this team, Gyokeres has underdelivered for Arsenal so far this year and is in real danger of becoming Arteta’s worst permanent signing since Vieira.

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While there were a few wobbles towards the start, it would be fair to say that Nuno Espírito Santo’s time in the West Ham United dugout has largely gone well so far.

The Portuguese coach has lifted the East Londoners out of the Premier League relegation zone and picked up some impressive results against Newcastle United, Manchester United, Everton and Burnley.

One of the players who seems to have benefited most from his arrival is Callum Wilson, who rediscovered his goalscoring form.

However, it might not be enough in the eyes of the club, as West Ham are now being linked with a striker who would represent an upgrade on the Englishman, a striker who once finished in a Jarrod Bowen-esque way.

West Ham linked with Wilson upgrade

The transfer window reopens in under a month, and, as is the case with most other clubs, West Ham have already been linked with a plethora of exciting players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, Toulouse’s highly rated English defender, Charlie Cresswell, has once again been touted for a move to the London Stadium, as has Nuno’s old number one, Jose Sa.

However, while both players would certainly have a positive impact at West Ham, neither one could be described as a Wilson upgrade, unlike Santiago Giménez.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, the Hammers are among several clubs that have been offered the chance to sign the AC Milan forward next year.

If the East Londoners do want to take up the offer, either on loan or in a permanent deal, they will have to get moving, as the report also states that Leeds United are the team with the most concrete interest in the player.

It could be a complicated transfer to get done for West Ham, but considering Giménez’s ability and goalscoring record, it’s one they should fight for, especially as he could be an upgrade on Wilson and arguably finished like Bowen in the past.

Why Giménez would be an upgrade on Wilson

There are a few reasons why Giménez would represent an upgrade on Wilson, and the first is their respective output.

Now, it is undoubtedly the case that the Englishman is actually outdoing the Mexican international in this regard so far this season, scoring four goals in 12 games compared to his one goal and two assists in 11 games.

However, when you take a step back and look at his form last season, and especially when he was playing in the Netherlands, it becomes clear that the former Feyenoord star is the more dangerous striker.

For example, while the former Newcastle United star scored only once in 22 appearances last year, the Resistencia-born marksman scored 22 goals and recorded six assists in 38 appearances.

Moreover, the season before that saw the Coventry-born ace do pretty well, scoring ten goals and providing one assist in 26 games, but his potential competition still did better, scoring 26 goals and providing eight assists in 41 games.

Giménez & Wilson’s recent form
23/24	Giménez	Wilson
Games	41	26
Minutes	3204′	1338′
Goals	26	10
Assists	8	1
24/25	Giménez	Wilson
Games	38	22
Minutes	2110′	458′
Goals	22	1
Assists	6	0
All Stats via Transfermarkt

With all this in mind, it’s clear that the “insane” Milan forward, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is the far superior goalscorer, and considering he is left-footed, there is a Bowen-esque way to how he often curls the ball into the net.

Now, on top of the output, the 46-capped Mexican ace also has age on his side, coming nine years younger than the veteran 33-year-old Englishman.

Finally, the £78k-per-week game-changer also has fitness on his side, as he’s only had one season in his career in which he’s missed more double-digit games through injury, compared to Wilson, who has had seven.

Ultimately, while it might not be the club’s top priority, West Ham should go out and sign Giménez as soon as possible, as he could supercharge their attack.

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Kate Abdo and Co. can fly into the UK as Paramount Plus has reportedly won the rights to the Champions League from 2027 to 2031. The move signals the end of TNT Sports’ decade-long grip on Europe’s most prestigious club competition and marks a major expansion of the American-owned streaming giant into the UK market.

• Paramount+ set to takeover UK

  According to Paramount+ has committed a substantial financial package to secure the rights, outbidding powerful rivals and positioning itself as the next major player in European football coverage. The company delivered a “knockout” offer, believed to be significantly higher than the competition. The decision, which spans six seasons, aligns the UK broadcast strategy with Paramount’s operations in the United States, where its affiliate CBS Sports already hosts the Champions League with presenters like Abdo, Micah Richards, Thierry Henry, and Jamie Carragher. That star-studded team may now extend their presence to British screens as part of a seamless international expansion.

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  TNT Sports’ decade of Champions League coverage draws to a close

  It is a major turning point for TNT Sports, formerly BT Sport, which first acquired the rights in 2013 through an enormous £897 million deal that prised them away from Sky Sports. The partnership began with the 2015–16 season and grew to include coverage of the Europa League and the UEFA Conference League. However, TNT saw its exclusivity diminish in 2022 when Amazon Prime entered the fray, picking up one game per week. Now, in just two years’ time, TNT’s association with UEFA club competitions will end completely. Despite this setback, the broadcaster still holds the rights to several domestic properties, including the Premier League until 2029 and a four-year FA Cup contract secured last year that guarantees extensive third-round coverage.

  Although Paramount+ has emerged victorious in this bidding war, the development places yet another financial burden on viewers already juggling subscriptions to Sky Sports, TNT, Amazon, and DAZN. With the fragmentation of sports rights accelerating, British fans may soon find themselves paying more than ever to follow Europe’s top clubs. However, there is a silver lining as reports that Paramount intends to air a selection of matches for free through Channel 5, its UK terrestrial network. This strategy mirrors its approach in other territories and could soften the blow for supporters reluctant to pay for yet another streaming platform.

• Streaming giants Netflix and Disney+ also tested the waters

  Although Paramount came out on top, the race was far from one-sided. Both Netflix and Disney+ reportedly explored bids, especially after Netflix’s breakout success with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing spectacle last year. That event drew an extraordinary audience of more than 100 million viewers, convincing the streaming pioneer to continue experimenting with live sports. Its latest splash, broadcasting Paul vs. Anthony Joshua this week, suggests Netflix’s ambition in the sports market remains strong, even if it fell short here. The scale of Paramount’s investment reflects the soaring value of Europe’s top football competitions. The current set of Champions League rights is estimated at close to £3 billion per season, highlighting just how fiercely broadcasters compete for a slice of the action. UEFA’s revamped tournament format, which launched in 2024, might be a factor in driving the value even higher.

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• AFP
  

  What happens to the Super League?

  While the broadcast landscape transforms, UEFA is simultaneously working through another massive development, which is a renewed proposal for a European Super League. According to a confidential eight-month negotiation process has been underway involving UEFA, A22 Sports Management (the Super League’s backers), and powerhouse clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. The discussions aim to bring an end to years of conflict by reshaping the structure of elite European competitions in a way that satisfies all parties. The most groundbreaking element of the proposal may be its broadcasting model. The Super League concept introduces UNIFY, a global streaming service offering both free, ad-supported broadcasts and premium paid options. Designed to give worldwide supporters unrestricted access to every match, UNIFY marks a radical departure from the existing broadcasting service. 

  With Paramount+ preparing its UK takeover and UEFA weighing fundamental structural changes to European football, the mid-2020s are shaping up to be an era of profound change. How these developments intersect, and whether the new Super League format might redefine the broadcasting landscape once again, remains an open question.