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With three wins from their opening nine Premier League matches, Leeds United have already gone against the label that often falls onto newly promoted sides as being relegation fodder.

It might not be as spectacular as Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka-led efforts, but Daniel Farke’s Whites now find themselves on double digits in terms of points collected, with a much-needed 2-1 home win against West Ham United on Friday night also seeing the West Yorkshire outfit get one over on a potential relegation rival.

Yet again, Joe Rodon put in a valiant effort in the heart of Farke’s defence, with his standout display against Nuno Espirito Santo’s visitors further cementing his tag as Leeds’ “most important player”, as was handed to him at the start of the month by journalist Isaac Johnson.

Rodon's performance vs West Ham

The Welsh “warrior” – as he has also been lovingly labelled in the past by his manager – has gone on to be an ever-present part of the German’s side, ever since Rodon was just a much-loved loan option from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodon didn’t miss a single Championship game last season as Leeds were crowned champions of the tricky division, and he has remained as one of the first names on the team sheet in the league above, too, and for very good reason.

The 28-year-old powerhouse would ensure the three points were sealed when heading home this corner unmarked, but it wasn’t just this effort beating Alphonse Aréola in the Hammers’ net that cemented his position in the Whites’ good books.

Indeed, Rodon would also finish the contest with a 92% pass accuracy intact as a calm and controlled operator on the ball, on top of nine clearances also being registered to ensure the likes of former Leeds star Crysencio Summerville were kept quiet.

If Leeds want to establish themselves as a formidable Premier League outfit and beat the drop come the end of the long campaign, they will need Rodon to keep up these imperious levels, with Farke very much aware of how much of an integral component he is to his team, having also once lauded him as “unbelievable” rock defensively.

However, another Leeds first-teamer is also deserving of his flowers, too, away from all the praise being dished out to the Swansea-born battler, with the star in question arguably putting in an even better performance than Rodon on Friday night.

The 9/10 star who was even better than Rodon

Ultimately, it was a team effort that got the narrow win over the line, with Lucas Perri in between the sticks, having to make sure he stayed alert, with two saves tallied up on his return to Farke’s starting lineup.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin also tirelessly threw himself into the contest, even if he didn’t add to his solitary Leeds strike, with the easily scapegoated number nine winning eight duels in total.

But, as much as everyone did largely play their part in a second home win of the season being secured, Brenden Aaronson stood out as an extremely bright spark with his sublime individual display.

Aaronson would steer his side to their third three points of the Premier League season when being in the right place at the right time to convert a rebound after just three minutes. Yet, on another day, he could have also been remembered in even more glowing terms for being the audacious ace who fired home this sensational solo effort.

Unfortunately, the crossbar would then intervene.

But, this well-worked effort agonisingly scraping the crossbar shouldn’t detract from Aaronson’s otherwise near faultless night, with the American – who was labelled as “anonymous” by journalist James Marshment just last season – arguably standing out even more than Rodon when judging his all-round game.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches

38

Shots

3

Accurate passes

11/15 (73%)

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

3/3

Recoveries

4

Total duels won

8/12

Across the 90 minutes, away from grabbing his early goal, the revitalised number 11 would also successfully complete all three of his dribbles as a constant menace for West Ham to contain, on top of also winning 80% of his ground duels to further reinforce his liveliness.

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth would reward Aaronson for his standout showing with a 9/10 rating post-match, with Smyth stating that the 25-year-old put in a “tonne of hard work” to help the 2-1 win be secured.

In time, Aaronson will hope that he’s viewed as an undroppable Rodon-like cog in the Leeds machine, with his blistering display against the Hammers very much boosting his position in Farke’s first team, moving forward into a busy November.

Fewer touches than Perri: Leeds must drop star who lost 100% ground duels

Daniel Farke could be tempted to ditch this Leeds United star even after his side were victorious against West Ham United.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 25, 2025

Vincent Kompany’s new Bayern Munich contract runs until 2029 without a release clause but with a Champions League bonus. The Belgian, who led Bayern to the Bundesliga title in his first season, has been rewarded for his rapid success as the club look to secure their long-term future under the 39-year-old tactician.

Kompany signed long-term deal with Bayern until 2029

Bayern recently announced the extension of Kompany’s contract until June 2029, a major show of confidence in the Belgian manager after a stellar debut campaign in Bavaria. The new deal makes Kompany the first coach since Hansi Flick in 2020 to be offered a renewal by the club, underlining the hierarchy’s satisfaction with his work.

Bayern’s leadership finalised the agreement at the club's headquarters, marking the occasion with a celebratory toast. The 39-year-old’s deal was initially due to expire in 2027, but the two-year extension ensures long-term stability after several seasons of managerial turnover.

Importantly, Kompany’s new contract does not contain a release clause, a key move to safeguard the German club against potential future interest from Manchester City, his former club, or other top European sides. Instead, the deal features performance-based incentives, including a lucrative bonus if Bayern win the Champions League.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe structure behind Bayern’s long-term faith

The ex-Burnley manager's immediate impact in Munich has been undeniable. After taking over from Thomas Tuchel in the summer of 2024, he guided Die Roten to a dominant Bundesliga title, finishing 13 points clear and scoring 99 goals in 34 matches – a return to the free-flowing, aggressive football that defines the club’s identity.

This season, Bayern’s resurgence has continued. They currently sit top of the Bundesliga with 24 points from eight games, boasting both the best attack with 30 goals and the best defence with only four conceded. Their recent 3-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach marked their 13th consecutive win across all competitions, equalling an elite European record previously held by AC Milan in 1992-93.

Such results have cemented Kompany’s growing reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers. His emphasis on tactical flexibility, ball progression through the backline, and vertical attacking transitions has rejuvenated a Bayern squad that looked disjointed under previous management.

Inside Kompany’s Champions League clause and Bayern’s ambitions

Bayern’s management see the Champions League as the next major frontier for Kompany. After the club’s quarter-final exit to Inter last season, the new clause offers tangible reward for continental glory, a €1 million bonus should the team lift the trophy, according to .

The clause symbolises Bayern’s renewed belief in a long-term project built around the former Manchester City captain’s modern footballing vision. Kompany himself spoke about his pride and motivation to build on their progress: “I’m grateful, honoured and would like to thank FC Bayern for the trust and the working environment they’ve given me from day one. It feels like I’ve been here a lot longer and that I know the club well. It’s been a great experience so far. We’ve started on a wonderful journey. Let’s keep working hard and celebrate much more success!”

His words reflect a growing harmony between the club's leadership and coaching staff, something that had been missing since Flick’s departure.

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GettyTough tests ahead for Kompany’s record-breaking Bayern

The Bavarians' focus now turns to a crucial ten-day stretch that could define their early-season momentum. Kompany’s men face three major fixtures: a DFB-Pokal clash against Koln on October 29, a Bundesliga showdown with Bayer Leverkusen on November 1, and a high-stakes Champions League meeting with Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain, on November 4.

Bayern are targeting a return to continental dominance after five years without a Champions League title. With Kompany now secured until 2029 and a strong blend of youth and experience in the squad, Bayern believe they’ve finally found the leadership stability to compete for Europe’s biggest prize once again.

If the Belgian can translate his domestic brilliance to Europe, that €1m bonus may be just the beginning of a golden era under his watch.

يعيش نادي الزمالك حالة من الترقب قبل الإعلان الرسمي عن هوية العضو الجديد في الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا.

وتشير الكواليس إلى أن الساعات المقبلة قد تشهد حسم أحد الملفات المهمة داخل القلعة البيضاء، بعد رحيل أحد أفراد الطاقم الفني في ظروف غامضة أثارت الجدل بين الجماهير.

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وعلم بطولات أن أحمد عبد الرؤوف أصبح الأقرب للتواجد في جهاز فيريرا، حيث تم الاتفاق على عقد جلسة غدًا الإثنين بين المدرب البلجيكي وعبد الرؤوف لمناقشة دوره الجديد داخل الفريق.

وأكدت مصادر داخل النادي أن يانيك فيريرا يضع عبد الرؤوف في مقدمة المرشحين للانضمام للجهاز الفني، لما يمتلكه من خبرات ومعرفة دقيقة بطبيعة العمل داخل الزمالك.

ويرى المدير الفني البلجيكي أن وجود عبد الرؤوف سيساهم في تحقيق توازن أفضل بين الجهاز الأجنبي والعناصر المحلية، ويعزز التواصل مع اللاعبين داخل غرفة الملابس.

يأتي ذلك بعد استقالة حازم إمام من منصبه في الجهاز الفني، بعدما شعر بأن دوره أصبح هامشيًا وغير مؤثر خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

وقبل مغادرته، عقد حازم إمام جلسة ودية مع المدير الرياضي الذي وافق على الاستقالة، مؤكدًا احترام النادي الكامل لموقفه وتقديره لما قدمه للفريق.

He might still be in the job, but it feels like time has run out for Graham Potter at West Ham United.

The Englishman has been the club’s manager since January, and instead of leading them into an exciting new era, the team have regressed under him.

He has overseen 25 games with the Hammers, winning just six, drawing five and losing a staggering 14, which has seen him amass just 0.92 points per game.

The situation is so dire now that there is a real chance of relegation unless something changes, so it’s probably a good thing West Ham are now linked with someone who could be their new Sam Allardyce.

West Ham target Potter replacement

With just how badly they’re playing at the moment, it is surprising that Potter is still in the West Ham dugout, but with the number of coaches linked with the club, that could soon change.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

One of the managers most heavily touted for a move, or in his case, a return to the club, is Slaven Bilic.

However, considering he hasn’t managed in a top league for around five years, we are unsure whether he’s the right option.

Nuno Espírito Santo, on the other hand, would be a seriously exciting appointment, but as he has only just left Nottingham Forest, we aren’t sure this is a move all that likely to transpire.

Interestingly, another name has popped up, someone who would be a better fit than Bilic and more likely than Nuno: Sean Dyche.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the former Everton and Burnley boss is someone the club have been in contact with in case they fire Potter.

While he might not be the most inspiring choice, he is reportedly “itching” to return to top-flight management and could be just what West Ham need, an Allardyce figure, if you will.

Why Dyche would be West Ham's new Allardyce

So, it would be fair to say that describing someone as a club’s new Allardyce might not be the best way to make fans excited about a potential appointment.

Moreover, while he didn’t send them down, and did a far better job than plenty of their recent managers, the West Ham faithful weren’t particularly enamoured with Big Sam during his four years at the club over a decade ago.

However, with the club down in the relegation zone, morale at a considerable low in the fanbase and this season’s newly promoted sides looking dangerous, what the Irons need is stability and someone to ensure the worst doesn’t happen.

That is what the former England manager was a specialist at doing and what Dyche would be able to do if he was hired to replace Potter.

The “remarkable” manager, as dubbed by former professional turned pundit Ally McCoist, was called in by Everton to save them from the drop in January 2023, and he did just that, before being replaced once the club was stable.

24/25

16th

23/24

15th

22/23

17th

21/22

18th

20/21

17th

19/20

10th

18/19

15th

17/18

7th

16/17

16th

14/15

19th

That is why he could be an excellent option for the Hammers, as he could come in for this year, get the fans back onside, make the team more difficult to play against and then make way for a more progressive coach in the summer.

Moreover, even though he was brought in to save the Toffees from going down, the Englishman’s record there was far better than Potter’s is in East London.

Games

83

25

Wins

26

6

Draws

24

5

Losses

33

14

Points per Game

1.23

0.92

For example, the former Burnley icon oversaw 83 games for the Merseysiders, of which 26 were wins, 24 were draws and 33 losses, resulting in a pretty decent points per game average of 1.23.

Ultimately, Dyche wouldn’t be the most inspiring of choices, but like with Allardyce back in the day, he’d be a safe pair of hands to ensure the worst doesn’t happen this season.

Bilic upgrade: West Ham approach "incredible" manager admired by Mourinho

The experienced manager would be a brilliant hire for West Ham United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 22, 2025

Both Pat Cummins and Nitish Reddy and fit and “very keen to go”

Shashank Kishore22-Mar-20253:14

Cricinformed – SRH’s six-hitters set for a new IPL high?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will maintain their ultra-aggressive batting approach from last season, head coach Daniel Vettori has said ahead of their IPL 2025 opener against Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad.”Whatever ground we go to, we have an understanding that the batting team is going to be aggressive,” Vettori said. “The only thing that can mitigate that is the pitch, but most times, the pitches in IPL are very flat.”When you come to these grounds, you know exactly what to expect. You know how the batsmen are going come against you. It’s quite…..maybe not fun is the right word, it’s a good challenge for a bowling group to try and work their way through that.”That’s what Pat [Cummins, the captain] addressed the bowling group the other day. He said the expectation is on the batters to do all the work, score the runs and the bowlers can sort of feed into that. If we get those days to make it all work, it’s going go a long way in us winning games. The onus on batting group to score runs and for the bowlers to be able to mitigate that.”Vettori expressed excitement about the expectations surrounding the team and hoped they could replicate the intensity that took them to last year’s final.”Expectations bring some excitement,” he said. “Expectations are built around the performances of last year and the quality of the team we’ve been able to put together at the back end of last season and into the auction.”As a franchise, we’re really excited about the season because we have that foundation from the five players [Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma] we retained and how well they performed last year, hopefully we have the squad to perform as well this year if not better.”Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who claimed the second-highest run tally for an opening pair last year, will continue at the top for SRH. Vettori also welcomed Ishan Kishan into the side, calling him a “huge addition”.”Don’t think we’ll be changing the opening combination, Ishan complements them as well as anyone,” Vettori said. “He has a similar stye of game, left-handed, the ability to take on all types of bowlers. We’re very lucky to have him part of the squad to complement those two, then have Nitish and Klaasen and few of our younger batters to be able to come into the squad as well. We look at that as a huge addition to the team.”Vettori was pleased to see a fit-again Cummins and Nitish, with Cummins recovering from an ankle issue that forced him to miss the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Nitish, one of their breakout stars from IPL 2024, comes back following a rehab from a side strain that kept him out of action for a month.”They’ve come through their training sessions really well,” Vettori said. “They had injuries around January, it’s been an extended period since they played but they’ve also had time to recover. When they play as much cricket as they do, it’s sometimes nice to be able to get the chance to refresh.”Both of them are eager and excited about the season. That’s a great position to have. Sometimes when you come into the IPL, it’s the end of a very long season, players can be slightly jaded, but those two are very keen to go.”Cummins will lead a strong pace battery that has two other prolific performers in Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel – bowlers who won the purple cap in IPL 2023 and 2024 respectively.”Shami two years ago was purple cap winner, Harshal [won it] last year – they are two big additions,” he said. “We know it is big shoes to fill from Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] and Nattu [T Natarajan] – stalwarts of the Sunrisers, who mean much to the franchise.”It was hard to see them go, but that’s the dynamic of the auction. You have to be as nimble as possible to take opportunities. To see Shami come to us, bowl so well in the Champions Trophy is fantastic, those two can complement what Pat brings to the table.”

Former Bayern Munich and Juventus attacker Douglas Costa has an arrest warrant issued against him due to unresolved child support payments amounting to over €78,000. His contract with Sydney was terminated after mutual agreement after Costa has been forbidden from leaving his native country Brazil and went on to apologise to the club's fans in his statement.

• Sydney terminate Costa's contract

  The Australian outfit terminated Costa's contract upon mutual understanding, as the former Bayern and Juventus finds himself caught up in "ongoing legal and personal matters" in his homeland. Costa had joined the Sky Blues on a two-year deal last year and scored six goals in 25 games. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Costa threatened by legal issues

  According to a report from , Costa could be in legal trouble as he faces the prospect of a 30-day jail sentence after a Brazilian court issued an arrest warrant over unresolved child support issues. The report adds that the 6th Family Court of Porto Alegre signed the arrest warrant, which is valid for two years and mandates a 30-day prison term. The issues concerns to a reported amount of over €78,000 in alimony payments that Costa allegedly did not make.

  Despite being given over two months to settle the matter, Costa informed the club that there is no immediate resolution in sight.

• An apologetic farewell

  Costa asked for forgiveness in his statement after he was released by Sydney. “I want to thank Sydney FC for giving me the opportunity to play in Australia – it was an incredible year in Sky Blue,” Costa said.

  “I am very sorry that I cannot return at this time due to the matters I must resolve at home, but I will always remember my time in Sydney fondly. To the members and fans, I truly appreciate the support you gave me and the team. Playing in front of you was very special, and I will never forget it.”

  Head coach Ufuk Talay expressed his gratitude to the 35-year-old, stating: “Douglas gave us some entertaining performances during his season here, and I want to thank him for the effort and quality he brought to the squad. We have supported him over the last couple months to try and resolve his issues, however we’ve agreed this is the best path forward for the squad as we prepare for the season ahead.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Sydney FC strengthen their squad ahead of the 2025-26 season

  Sydney look keen on challenging for the A-League title this season, having recruited as many as eight players. These include the arrivals of Akon Akol, Rhys Youlley, Al Hassan Toure, Paul-Okon Engstler, Marcel Tisserand, Peruvian international Piero Quispe, Victor Campuzano and Abel Walatee.

   .

After months of speculation, Jack Grealish has found himself a new club with Everton. He’ll be staying in the Premier League as he joins David Moyes’ side, who hope to build upon their strong finish to the 2024/25 campaign.

The England winger has completed a season-long loan move to the Toffees, who will have the option to make the move permanent for £50 million upon the season’s conclusion. This will be half the price that Manchester City paid Aston Villa for Grealish in 2021.

Grealish has had a mixed time in Manchester, where his team’s impressive trophy haul hasn’t been reflected in the 29-year-old’s personal goal contributions.

Grealish was one of several forward players that Everton had explored. Earlier in the window, they were heavily linked to Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling, but the two clubs’ evaluations of the player were too far apart.

Moyes isn’t currently content with his summer arrivals and is now looking to bring in yet another winger to finalise his attack.

Moyes and Everton keen on Hutchinson after Grealish

Reports from TEAMtalk have indicated that Omari Hutchinson is Moyes’ ideal new right-winger. The England U21 star could leave Ipswich Town only a year on from his permanent arrival and being hailed as a “fantastic player” by boss Kieran McKenna​​​​​​.

Ipswich are asking for £40 million, which would make Hutchinson the second most expensive player to sign for Everton ever, although he may only hold this position for 12 months if they decide to activate their option to buy Jack Grealish.

Hutchinson shares a lot of characteristics with current Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye and has been compared to the Toffees star by FBref. Both players share similar stats in terms of progressive ball carries and passes, and shots per game.

Ndiaye features in the list of the top ten most used players by Moyes since his return to Everton, so it is not surprising that he is looking to bring in another similar-profile attacker.

So far this season, Ipswich have not included Hutchinson in their match-day squads, and he was also notably absent throughout pre-season. Sometimes, when a player is on the cusp of leaving their club, they’re excluded from the squad so that the team can begin to adjust to life without them, meaning Hutchinson’s absence from Ipswich’s opening fixtures may be a sign of his impending departure.

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ByBen Gray Aug 13, 2025

TEAMtalk also revealed that if Everton can’t sign Hutchinson, they have two alternative players they would consider instead. The first is Tyrique George, who Chelsea are considering loaning out for the season so that he can get first-team minutes. The second player is Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu; at this stage, it is unclear whether a move for him would be a loan or permanent transfer.

Moyes' new attack quells pre-season woes

Hutchinson might end up being the final piece in Moyes’ newly forged Everton attack. An attacking trio of Hutchinson off the right and Grealish off the left will be capped off by new striker Thierno Barry, who has joined from Villarreal for £27 million.

This new attack will rectify some of the issues that Moyes’ side faced across pre-season. Everton managed four goals, two draws and zero wins in a pre-season schedule that saw them face sides such as Blackburn Rovers and Accrington Stanley.

A large contributor to these results was an unsettled forward line that often saw players having to be shoehorned into positions they were not comfortable with, like Harrison Armstrong and James Garner being played as wingers rather than midfielders. This new attack will have the new signings to play in their preferred roles and will allow some of the current squad to play where they are most comfortable, hopefully elevating their performances.

Arsenal's out-of-favour forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard sent a timely reminder to manager Mikel Arteta on Tuesday night, coming off the bench against Athletic Club to ensure the Gunners started their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 win. The north Londoners' expensively-assembled attack struggled to break down the hosts' defence, but the two players who have been linked with an Emirates exit delivered in style late on.

The north London team eased past Athletic Club 3-0 in a pre-season friendly last month but this was a much tougher test this time out. Arsenal spent more than £170 million ($232m) on a new attack comprising of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke, but it was Martinelli who unlocked the Basque outfit's staunch backline.

A little more than 30 seconds after emerging from the bench with 20 minutes left on the clock, the Brazilian made a 40-yard run and showed excellent composure to slot a finish underneath the onrushing goalkeeper.

The 24-year-old, who – like Trossard – has been linked with an Arsenal departure, then set up his fellow substitute to put the game to bed three minutes from time, securing the three points for Arsenal in what was a tricky away trip to begin their league phase in the Champions League.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the San Mames…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (7/10):

Arsenal's number one was rarely troubled but when he was tested, he stood up to what the Spanish outfit had to throw at him.

Jurrien Timber (8/10):

Was coollness personified at times. His decision-making was top notch, he was firm in the tackle, and the hosts got very little tune out of him.

Cristian Mosquera (8/10):

Continues to impress in William Saliba's absence. The summer signing is unlikely to keep the Frenchman out of the starting line-up when he returns from injury but he is proving his worth so far.

Gabriel (8/10):

The Brazilian is a commanding presence at the back and still offers an aerial threat in attack. The captain is just a class operator these days.

Riccardo Calafiori (8/10):

He is still keeping Myles Lewis-Skelly out of the team, and with solid displays like this, it is easy to understand why. May not offer as much as the teenager going forward, though.

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Declan Rice (6/10)

Seemed half a step slow compared to Athletic Club's midfield, particularly in the first half, and had to be careful after picking up an early yellow card. Did play a part in his team's first goal.

Martin Zubimendi (6/10):

Wasn't able to reproduce his heroics from Arsenal's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

Mikel Merino (6/10):

Was part of a midfield that was a bit slack and didn't keep the ball well enough. Improved a bit as the game wore on.

AFPAttack

Noni Madueke (6/10):

Got plenty of chances to run at Athletic Club's defence but he was often well marshalled by Adam Boiro out on the right wing.

Viktor Gyokeres (5/10):

Had some half chances but this was a bit of a frustrating night for the Swedish striker. Was hooked just after the hour mark after suffering a head injury and not getting much service.

Eberechi Eze (5/10):

The England international did not look completely comfortable as a left-winger. It is early days but there is room for improvement, or perhaps a position switch is in order.

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Leandro Trossard (8/10):

Produced a lovely flick over the top to release Martinelli for Arsenal's opener. Then got on the scoresheet as well late on.

Gabriel Martinelli (9/10):

Showed great speed, quick feet to set himself, and a calmness in front of goal to put Arsenal one up. Brilliantly set up Trossard for Arsenal's second.

Christian Norgaard (6/10):

Brought on when the game was won and helped to see things out well.

Piero Hincapie (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Mikel Arteta (8/10):

His players are so well organised out of possession but they did not create enough clear-cut chances when trying to get forward. His substitutes had an instant impact to provide the necessary spark. Job done.

The South East Stars are through to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final, after a thrilling fightback against the Southern Vipers in their semi-final at Beckenham.The Vipers had posted 220 for 9 from their 50 overs, Nancy Harman their top scorer with 38 and Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking 3 for 33 and the Stars looked dead and buried at 131 for 7 until a partnership of 90 from 86 balls between Alice Davidson-Richards and Kalea Moore turned the contest on its head.There were seven balls remaining when Davidson-Richards hit Alice Monagan for a single to send the Stars through to the final. Davidson-Richards, who was dropped on 31, finished on 90, while Moore was unbeaten on 52 and the Stars will now face the Sunrisers in Saturday’s final at Grace Road.The Vipers won the toss and chose to bat but lost Ella McCaughan in the third over for 2, caught behind off Corteen-Coleman.Rhianna Southby made a quickfire 20, but she swatted a bouncer from Alexa Stonehouse to Emma Jones and visibly remonstrated with the umpires before heading back to the pavilion.Phoebe Franklin then produced a superb forward diving catch at midwicket to get Naomi Dattani off Stonehouse for 9.Danni Gregory got Georgia Elwiss for 34 with a rank ball she pulled straight to Jones and Emily Windsor then tried to cut Gregory and was bowled for 30.Abi Norgrove was bowled by Kalea Moore for 25 before Nancy Harman and Alice Monaghan put on a useful 48 for the seventh wicket, although there was confusion at the end of the 36th over when the former hit a four and retained the strike. A single was also missed and as the scorers and analysts tried to work out what happened, Corteen-Coleman had Monaghan caught on the long-on boundary by Davidson-Richards for 26.The same duo removed Harman, this time as Davidson-Richards sprinted round the boundary, before Freya Davies was run out by Franklin off the last ball of the innings for 7, leaving Ava Lee unbeaten on 14.At the halfway point the Stars looked favourites but they lost Stonehouse for 10 when she skied Davies and Dattani took a steepling catch and Franklin then top-edged Davies and was snared by Lee for 7.Elwiss then took two wickets in as many balls when she sent Chloe Hill’s off stump flying then bowled Kira Chathli, leaving Aylish Cranstone to block out the hat-trick ball.The pivotal moment came when Davidson-Richards offered the simplest of caught-and-bowled chances to Lee and she was punching the air in anger when Lee somehow dropped her.When Cranstone was caught and bowled in the next over from the Beckenham End, by Rebecca Tyson for 27, the Stars were in trouble on 94 for 5 and things looked bleaker still for the hosts when Emma Jones drove Dattani to cover and was caught by Elwiss for 7.Priyanaz Chatterji was on 9 when Elwiss couldn’t cling on to a difficult return catch off her own bowling, but she couldn’t cash in as she drove Elwiss to Windsor having only added a single.Moore, however, re-injected some belief into the chase and kept the Stars ticking over at a run a ball until 18 were needed from the last three.Dattani bowled the 48th and it went for 14, effectively ending the contest and leaving Davidson-Richardson to hit the winning single.

After three near misses at the Premier League title, it’s a surprise to no one to see Arsenal conducting business in the transfer market to make the jump to being champions.

The Gunners are currently enduring a 20-year drought without a league triumph, a period that is simply too long given the stature and size of the football club.

Mikel Arteta is the latest manager tasked with ending the drought, but the Spaniard may need to make early inroads throughout 2025/26, or he could find himself in danger of losing his job.

If he is to avoid such a situation from occuring and subsequently end the extended period without a title, he will need backing from the hierarchy to aid his quest.

No signings have yet been completed at the Emirates this summer, but numerous deals appear to be heading in the right direction if recent reports are to be believed.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions

Arsenal appear to be edging closer to completing a deal to land Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi after Fabrizio Romano confirmed a deal has been agreed with the player himself already meeting Arteta.

However, there could be a delay in a move for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, with the club and player potentially unable to come to an agreement on wages, whilst a fee is also yet to be sorted for the Slovenian international.

Despite the moves elsewhere, work is still being done to land other first-team targets, with AC Milan star Rafael Leao still on their radar, according to Italian outlet CalcioMercato.

They claim that the Gunners are still huge admirers of the Portuguese international winger, who has impressed massively in 2024/25 after registering 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.

However, whilst the Serie A outfit are reluctant to sell the 26-year-old this summer, they may consider an offer in the region of €90m (£77m) with Chelsea also said to be interested.

Why Arsenal’s £77m target would be a better signing than Rodrygo

Real Madrid star Rodrygo has been another player who’s been firmly in Arsenal’s sights over recent months, especially after it was confirmed he could leave the Spanish giants this summer.

The Brazilian international, who registered 24 goal contributions this season, could be set to leave the Bernabeu this window to find a new adventure after starting just 22 league matches.

Given his talents, it’s no surprise that he’s set to be a sought-after talent this window, with numerous sides across the globe also touted with a move for his signature.

However, the 24-year-old won’t come cheap, with Xabi Alonso’s side demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the youngster throughout the off-season.

Such a fee could prove to be too much for Arteta’s side, with Leao potentially offering the Gunners a cheaper alternative in their hunt for Premier League glory.

Despite the lower transfer value, the Milan star has managed to outperform Rodrygo in numerous key areas, further highlighting why he’d be a better addition ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Leao, who’s been labelled a “superstar” by writer Theo Mwangi, has registered more combined goals and assists than the Brazilian, along with a higher shot on target rate – demonstrating his impressive ability in front of goal.

Games played

34

30

Goals & assists

16

11

Shot-on-target accuracy

44%

37%

Key passes made

2.3

2.2

Passes into opposition box

2

1.2

Take-on success

46%

44%

Carries into opposition box

2.6

2.3

Fouls won

2.1

1.7

Aerials won

57%

30%

He’s also completed more key passes and a higher tally of passes into the opposition box per 90, handing the likes of Bukayo Saka the chance to improve their own tallies in the final third.

His superb levels of performance don’t end there, completing more take-ons and carries into the opposition box per 90, highlighting the threat he poses with the ball at his feet.

Whilst £77m may appear to be a hefty investment, it’s one that could immediately solve a problem position off the left-hand side of Arteta’s attack in North London.

Rodrygo may be the supporters’ first choice this summer, but it’s evident that the Portuguese star is a better and cheaper alternative, having the tools to help lead the club towards title glory next campaign.

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