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da lvbet： While it certainly wasn’t a disaster, it would be fair to say that Arsenal’s season was something of a failure this year.

da stake casino： A combination of injuries, suspensions and a lack of cutting-edge coalesced to see Mikel Arteta’s side end yet another campaign without a major trophy to their name.

Yet, there were at least a few positives, most notably the continued development of Bukayo Saka.

Saka’s 24/25

Appearances

37

Minutes

2619′

Goals

12

Assists

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.73′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, even though he missed over three months of action with a hamstring injury, the talismanic number seven was still able to amass a sensational tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 appearances.

So, fans should be seriously excited about recent reports linking the club to a Premier League star who could help the Englishman become even more unplayable next season.

Arsenal looking at big-money Premier League star

With how lacklustre the rest of Arsenal’s attacking options were this season, it’s not been a surprise to see the majority of links in recent weeks concern strikers and wingers like Benjamin Sesko and Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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

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A deal to sign the former, who produced 27 goal involvements in 45 games this season, seems to be moving closer and closer now, with reports from earlier this week claiming that an agreement has been reached on the player’s side and that an offer of between £68m to £85m will be enough to tempt RB Leipzig into selling.

Regarding Rodrygo, talks reportedly took place between the Gunners and the player’s representative last month, while reports from this week claim that a fee of around £77m could be enough to secure his services, and while that is a lot of money, it would likely be worth it, as he’s managed to 14 goals and provide 11 assists in 52 appearances for Real Madrid this term.

However, while both players would help alleviate some pressure on Saka in the frontline, a new creative force in midfield would surely be the best way to help boost his numbers, which is where Morgan Rogers could come in.

Yes, according to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal are seriously interested in the Aston Villa star.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners have already made contact and inquired about the possibility of bringing the young Englishman to the Emirates this summer.

However, on top of potentially having to deal with competition from Chelsea, the North Londoners would also have to stump up a fee of around £90m to land the 22-year-old, who has five years left to run on his £75k-per-week contract at Villa Park.

It looks like it would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he could help Saka become even more dangerous.

How Rogers could make Saka even better

Now, while there is likely a whole array of ways in which Rogers could help Saka to get even better, from covering for him when he needs a rest, to building an even stronger understanding of one another’s game on international duty, there is one reason more important than the rest: his output.

For example, in 54 appearances for Villa this season, the “unstoppable” midfield maestro, as dubbed by Jamie Carragher, scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.86 games.

Just imagine how many more goals the Gunners’ number seven could score next season with a number ten as effective as that behind him.

Moreover, with the Villa ace being such a goal threat in his own right, there is every chance that the Hale End icon could see his own assist tally soar as well as having more space to himself with opposition defenders having to pay more attention to the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell.

You can also get a good idea of just how dangerous a ten the former Middlesbrough ace is by comparing him to some of the other leading attacking midfielders in the Premier League, like Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White and the North Londoners’ own Martin Odegaard.

Rogers vs Palmer vs Gibbs-White vs Odegaard

Players

Rogers

Palmer

Gibbs-White

Odegaard

Appearances

54

47

38

45

Goals

14

15

7

6

Assists

15

12

10

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

0.57

0.44

0.4

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Impressively, only the Chelsea ace does marginally better than the Claret and Blue star, but given how he is the talisman of that side, and almost all attacks seem to flow through him, that’s not much of a surprise.

Moreover, if you’re achieving numbers only marginally worse than a player as talented and highly rated as he is, that can only be a good thing.

Ultimately, while the focus of this summer should be on the frontline for Arsenal, they should also do what they can to sign Rogers, as he’d undoubtedly improve the midfield and help make Saka even more unplayable.

Related Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

There might be another 90 minutes to play, but for most Arsenal fans, the season is now done.

Instead of looking forward to what is now a pretty meaningless Premier League game on Sunday afternoon, supporters are beginning to dream about what the club might do in the summer transfer window.

After all, after last year, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta has a big job on his hands convincing them that the board are prepared to go all in to finally get the club over the line next season.

Fortunately, recent reports have now touted an international superstar for a move to the Gunners, someone who is just the sort of signing fans have been crying out for and someone who’d be a dream addition for Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal transfer news

The last few weeks have seen Arsenal linked to a plethora of incredibly talented footballers, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could end up costing the club as little as £55m if reports are to be believed, which may well be one of the deals of the summer, as in just 51 games this term, he has scored 53 goals and provided 13 assists.

Eze, on the other hand, will cost around £68m due to a release clause in his current deal, although again, thanks to his ability to play in multiple positions and the fact he’s racked up 25 goal involvements in 42 games this season, makes that fee seem more than reasonable.

However, to really help take the team to another level and across the finishing line next season, Arteta and Co may want to sign a bonafide superstar, someone like Rodrygo.

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are “now seriously considering” moving for the Real Madrid star.

The journalist has revealed that talks have already “begun behind the scenes” and that the deal is “on.”

The report does not mention a price, but according to other stories from earlier this month, the Brazilian winger could be available for around £85m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but given Rodrygo’s stature and ability, it’s one worth pushing the boat out for, especially as it would seriously help Saka as well.

Why Rodrygo would be a dream signing for Saka

So, if Arsenal are able to get the deal done and bring Rodryo to the Emirates this summer, just why would his signing be such a good thing for Saka?

Well, the first thing is that he’d finally be able to take some of the burden off his shoulders, as not only is he a natural left-winger, but he’s one who knows just where the goal is.

Said to be among the “best players in the world” by Carlo Ancelotti, in 52 appearances last season, he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 52 games, which worked out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games.

Then this season, even though Los Blancos have struggled more, he’s still managed to put up impressive numbers of 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games.

For context, Gabriel Martinelli has scored ten goals and provided six assists in as many games, and Leandro Trossard has scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 55 games.

Appearances

50

50

55

Minutes

3290′

3493′

3428′

Goals

13

10

10

Assists

10

6

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.32

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

143.04′

218.31′

180.42′

So, with someone as effective as the Brazilian off the left, the Gunners mercurial number seven wouldn’t have to do quite as much himself, which could help him perform better.

The next significant benefit to signing the Real ace is that he’s more than comfortable playing off the right as well, so Arteta could more easily rest the Hale End superstar and help prevent him from suffering any more serious injuries.

Finally, during his time in Madrid, the Osasco-born dynamo has won everything there is to win in the club game, from league titles to the Champions League, so his know-how in those tense must-win games could finally help the North Londoners get over the line next season, and in turn, help Saka achieve his dreams of leading the team to glory.

Ultimately, while he’ll cost them a pretty penny, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Rodrygo this summer, as not only would he help elevate the whole team, but he could also be the perfect teammate for Saka.

Arteta has struck gold on Arsenal star worth millions more than Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 21, 2025

The closest Tottenham Hotspur have come to winning the Premier League in generations was under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine’s best team may have ended up being less successful than Ange Postecoglou’s current side – trophy-wise, anyway – but it was stacked with some outrageously talented players.

The likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and a young Son Heung-min will always get the plaudits from those outside of the fanbase, and understandably so, but the Lilywhites faithful know full well that Mousa Dembélé was just as important to that side.

The Belgian was an utterly superb central midfielder, so supporters should be excited about recent reports linking the team to a youngster who has shades of the retired monster about him.

Spurs midfield targets

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other central midfielders who have been touted for moves to Spurs in recent weeks, like Quinten Timber and Angel Gomes.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is the brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, the captain of Feyenoord, reportedly worth £25m and could be an ideal addition to the squad, as he’s capable of playing in attacking, central and defensive midfield.

Likewise, Gomes could be a sensational signing as, thanks to his contract with LOSC Lille expiring this month, he’ll be available for nothing, and at just 24 years old, he already has experience of national team football, the Champions League and top-flight football in both Portugal, France and England.

Yet, neither one of these internationals could really be described as having shades of Dembélé to them, unlike Adam Wharton.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Crystal Palace star is now a serious target for the North Londoners.

The report has revealed that the club are ‘prioritizing a central midfield’ signing this season, and the young Englishman ‘figures highly on their shortlist.’

However, it won’t be an easy deal to get done, as the Eagles are after upwards of £60m for the midfield maestro, but even then, with his ability and potential, that may be a fee worth paying for Spurs, especially as he could emulate parts of Dembélé’s game.

How Wharton compares to Dembélé

So, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it’s important to state that we are not saying that Wharton is currently as good a player as Dembélé was during his pomp at Spurs, as that would just be silly.

However, given the fact that he’s still just 21 years old and will be until midway through next season, it’s not that out there to suggest he could reach that level in time, especially as there are some similarities between the pair.

The first, and perhaps most significant, is the fact that the Palace gem very rarely loses the ball.

In fact, according to FBref, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by members of the media, sits in the bottom 40% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for the frequency he is dispossessed, coming in at just 0.89 times per 90, or, in other words, less than once a game.

A great example of this was in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, as, on top of winning duels, making tackles and playing a number of excellent passes, he was also able to hold onto the ball brilliantly despite the immense amount of pressure Pep Guardiola’s side tried to exert on him.

This ability to keep the ball was one of the Belgian’s most impressive, and it seems like the young Englishman has it in spades.

Then there are the more surface-level comparisons, such as both players coming from a London club – Fulham in Dembélé’s case – and the fact that they could and can play in either central or defensive midfield.

Appearances

51

43

Minutes

3571′

3011′

Goals

4

0

Assists

5

5

Ultimately, while it’s a lot of money, Spurs should do what they can to sign Wharton this summer, as he looks like he has the raw abilities and ceiling to become the club’s next Dembélé.

Eriksen 2.0: Spurs looking to sign "extraordinary" £25m Sarr upgrade

The young leader could be just what Spurs are after.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Arsenal are "unable to comment" after Thomas Partey was formally charged with multiple sexual offences. The Metropolitan Police have charged Partey with a total of six offences, five of them being rape and one of sexual assault. These charges are connected to allegations made by three different women.

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• Partey charged with rape and assault
• Will appear at Magistrates' Court next month
• Arsenal decline to comment

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to investigators, two of the rape allegations involve one woman, while three others are tied to a second woman. The single charge of sexual assault relates to a third complainant. Police officials noted that the alleged incidents are believed to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. A police inquiry into the allegations began in February 2022, following the receipt of the first complaint.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT ARSENAL SAID

  An Arsenal spokesperson told "The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case."

  The situation has reignited concerns among parts of the club’s fanbase. The campaign group Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence has held regular demonstrations calling for stricter responses to serious allegations involving professional players. Although their protests have not specifically mentioned Partey, the group has long maintained that any player facing such serious allegations should be suspended until the matter is resolved in court.

• WHAT HAS PARTEY'S LAWYERS SAID

  Partey has denied all accusations. In a statement shared by his legal representative, Jenny Wiltshire, the Ghana international maintained his innocence and said he looks forward to the chance to clear his name in court.

  In a statement, Wiltshire said: "Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him. He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name. Given that there are now ongoing legal proceedings, my client is unable to comment further."

• Getty Image/ Goal AR
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, expressed his department’s continued support for the women who have come forward.

  "Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward," he said. "We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing [email protected]".

Joao Felix has admitted he wants to return to his boyhood club Benfica to regain his form, but his wage demands and transfer fee may block a transfer.

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Joao Felix wishes for a call back to LisbonPortuguese forward unable to shine in recent spellsBenfica interested in bringing the forward homeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Felix has struggled to live up to the hype since leaving Benfica in a big-money move to Atletico Madrid, which was followed by an unsuccessful loan spell at Barcelona. Chelsea then snapped him up, but he failed to get going in the Premier League and was loaned to AC Milan last season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Although he had a good start at San Siro, the Portugal international was inconsistent in the latter half of the season as he amassed three goals and one assist in 21 games for the Italian club. With his future unclear yet again, Felix now hopes to return to Benfica, but Chelsea's asking fee and the player's wages are out of the Portuguese club's budget.

WHAT JOAO FELIX SAID

Chelsea signed Felix for €52 million (£45m/$61) from Los Colchoneros on a seven-year contract. The club are willing to offload the player, and Benfica coach Bruno Lage has been open about the desire to bring him back, but was clear that he must make a compromise on his salary if he is to re-join the Eagles.

Felix has now spoken about his desire to move to Lisbon, saying: "The whole world knows that Benfica is my favourite team. It's my home. One day I will return. I don't know if it's now or in a few years, but if it were now I would be very happy. There are two options: either I stay in England or I return to Benfica."

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR FELIX?

Felix is not a part of Enzo Maresca's project at Chelsea, with the London club already assigning his shirt number to Dario Essugo, suggesting another summer transfer is on the cards.

On Tuesday evening, the Emirates Stadium stood witness to perhaps its greatest result for a home team. Arsenal were the victors, defeating Real Madrid 3-0.

It was a remarkable display of football. The 15-time winners of Europe’s great competition, the Champions League, had been swept aside with relative ease.

Declan Rice was the hero, banging in two stupendous free-kicks to send north London into chaos.

Well, this time around, it was a rather more sedate affair. Brentford were the visitors to the Emirates and they were here to disrupt Mikel Arteta’s momentum.

The Gunners took the lead through makeshift right-back Thomas Partey, only for Yoanne Wissa to equalise. The game ended 1-1.

It marks a continuation of a poor run of form for Arsenal in the Premier League. The title race may have been done and dusted a few weeks ago but the run has still been a disappointing one, winning just two of their last seven league outings.

Still, they remain in Europe and are a game away from a semi-final spot.

Arteta will likely already know his team for the second leg in Madrid in Wednesday but did anyone stake their claim on Saturday evening?

Arsenal's best players against Brentford

This was a patched-together Arsenal side, make no mistake about it.

Despite the result, Arteta was right to rotate ahead of a trip to the Bernabeu but that did mean the likes of Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Mikel Merino dropped out.

As a result of those absentees, Leandro Trossard was handed a start as the central striker, Partey featured at right back, Kieran Tierney was on the left and Oleksandr Zinchenko came into the midfield.

Both full-backs very much caught the eye. Tierney, unfortunately, had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half but did well at the back. As for Partey, there was no denying his opening goal.

The man of the hour, Rice, broke from a Brentford corner, galloping forward like a racehorse beyond the halfway line. His pass had to be timed to perfection and indeed it was.

Partey was to his right and ran onto the ball, firing past Mark Flekken in the Bees net.

The Ghanaian enjoyed a fine evening at full-back, standing in for Timber and Ben White who picked up another injury in training. Rice was a machine in the middle again, but they weren’t the only two standouts from the draw on home soil.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Arsenal defender is now undroppable

When Gabriel hobbled from the field during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham a few weeks ago, fear spread like wildfire through the fanbase. Rightly so, too.

The Brazilian has been one of, if not the best player at the club this season. He’s been a rock at the back and a menace from set plays, proving to be an asset in both boxes. He’d barely missed a minute of football either.

Yet, here was Arsenal’s third big hamstring injury of the season, following in the footsteps of Saka and Kai Havertz. The prognosis was that the centre-back would miss the rest of the season.

In his place has stood Jakub Kiwior, the Polish defender who hasn’t exactly set the world alight when handed rare opportunities this season.

Prone to a nervy moment, the former Spezia man now well and truly deserves his flowers. Indeed, across his last 19 starts in all competitions, Arsenal have not lost a single game, winning 13 matches and drawing six.

He saved his best performance for Madrid in midweek, putting a nervy error in the first half beyond him to deal with the threat of Kylian Mbappe and Co superbly well.

Wins

13

Draws

6

Defeats

0

Goals conceded

13

Clean sheets

9

Against Brentford, despite not keeping a clean sheet, he was also in top form.

It wasn’t the most eye-catching of displays but he came through the game ably, notably winning every single one of his four contested duels and completing 94% of his passes. It was a supremely composed display, building from the back and holding onto the ball well further up the field.

To sum up that influence in possession, only two players on the pitch registered more touches of the ball; William Saliba and Jorginho.

Handed a 7/10 match rating by Football.London at full time they wrote that “there is a sense of calm that previously was not there when he first came.” That sums things up rather nicely.

Previously, supporters didn’t want to see Kiwior anywhere near the starting lineup but he has very quickly become as undroppable as the likes of Rice and Saliba.

He will never be raved about from up on high but this is an underrated squad player who’s now played exceptionally well in recent weeks. The Pole will deserve his place in the starting lineup against Madrid in a few days’ time.

Arsenal preparing mega £129m offer to seal their best signing since Rice

The game-breaking star would fire Arsenal to domestic and European glory.

7 ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 10, 2025

A match in Brazil descended into a mass brawl after a slap from an official with Military Police called to intervene.

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• Brazilian match descends into brawl
• Military Police called to intervene
• Watch the video

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Clube Banespa were taking on Sao Paulo FC social club in an Under-17s clash when a choatic fight broke out after a player put his head towards a linesman, who retaliated with a slap. The linesman is then quickly surrounded by players and forced to back up against a fence as he came under attack.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, Military Police were then called to calm down the incident. All individuals involved were taken to the police station.

• Teradeportes
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THOSE INVOLVED?

  The incident was then said to have been reported for investigation in contravention of the Brazilian Penal Code articles 129 (bodily harm) and 147 (threats), so further action could well be taken.

Alexis Mac Allister has expressed his desire for Liverpool to sign a Tottenham star, who he claims to be the "best in the world" in his position.

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Mac Allister lavished praise on Romero Shares the same dressing room on Argentina dutyWants Liverpool to bid for the Tottenham defenderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mac Allister has made a passionate case for his club to pursue a transfer for fellow Argentine international Cristian Romero, praising the defender as one of the finest in the world. When asked by to name a player he would want to join him at Anfield, Mac Allister instantly responded with Romero’s name. His reasoning went beyond national camaraderie, pointing instead to Romero’s quality on the pitch and the trust he inspires during matches.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT MAC ALLISTER SAID

“Oh, Cuti [Romero]. He’s a player I love,” said the World Cup winner. "The way he speaks and plays, sometimes you feel like he’s too much because he makes everything so easy. He gives me confidence. For me, he’s been the best centre-back in the world for several years."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mac Allister and Romero have built a strong partnership on the international stage, featuring prominently in Argentina’s recent success. Both players were part of the squads that lifted the Copa America in 2024 and the 2022 World Cup. The duo’s on-field chemistry and mutual respect are evident, and Mac Allister now appears eager to bring that connection to Merseyside, where Liverpool are looking to strengthen under Arne Slot following a successful Premier League campaign.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite Mac Allister’s hopeful endorsement, a move to Liverpool for Romero appears improbable in the short term. The Tottenham defender is being pursued by Atletico Madrid, and the defender has done little to silence the speculation, telling reporters: "I'd love to play in La Liga. I'd love to play in La Liga. I like watching a lot of games, and I have a lot of teammates who play there in Spain, and we watch them. It's one of the leagues I'd like to play in."

Being overlooked for central contract left retiring bowler feeling like “a third wheel” on tournament eve

Matt Roller11-Nov-20233:29

Harmison: England squad for WI will have fresh faces

David Willey signed off from his international career by taking his 100th ODI wicket in England’s win over Pakistan in Kolkata – then revealed he had considered pulling out of the World Cup as late as the day that the team flew to India at the end of September.Willey announced before England’s defeat to Australia in Ahmedabad last week that he would quit international cricket after this tournament at the age of 33. He was told in September that he had not been offered a central contract for 2023-24, then learned that he was the only member of the World Cup squad without an offer.He was incensed, and soon decided that he was no longer interested in feeling like “a third wheel” as a fringe player. He said that constant uncertainty over his schedule had taken its toll on him, his wife and their two children, and has therefore opted to “take control”.Related

Mott has Key's 'full backing' to continue as England white-ball coach

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Willey started the World Cup running the drinks for England but replaced Sam Curran for their fourth match, a 229-run loss to South Africa in Mumbai, and has played every game since. He finished the tournament with 11 wickets at 23.54, second only to Adil Rashid in England’s squad, and signed off with 3 for 56 in his 10 overs.”It was mixed emotions,” Willey said. “My time is done… but it’s with deep regret. Anybody looking in has probably looked at the way I’ve gone about my business and [seen that I am] probably playing the best cricket of my career. I’m 33, as fit as I’ve ever been.”One of the reasons that I wasn’t offered a contract was them going in a different direction after the World Cup – I don’t know why [they are]. It’s been a period for some time now… not knowing quite where I stand with England and it’s just taken its toll, and becomes very tiring.”David Willey was Player of the Match in his international swansong•AFP/Getty ImagesWilley believes he would have been able to play a valuable role for England at the T20 World Cup next June, had he been offered a contract. “[If there is] an injury or two, they’re going to be calling on someone with very little to no experience in World Cups,” he said.”Never say never, but right now, I’m very confident [in] my decision that today was my last game of cricket for England. Do I want to go to the Caribbean and run drinks, and not know where I stand, and just feel like a third wheel again – which is very much what I felt like when I turned up at Lord’s, being the only one without a contract? Probably not, so I’m done.”Willey said he had doubts over whether he should travel to India after learning that he was the only squad member without a central contract: “I wasn’t sure whether I was going to come to the World Cup, even to the 11th hour. The morning that we were joining up at Lord’s, I still wasn’t sure whether I’d make the trip or not.”He added: “From then on, it [retirement] was something that was on my mind. It’s not just that I haven’t been offered a contract; it’s how I feel valued as an England player, when I look down that list of other guys that have got contracts… I came to the decision that the time was right for me to call it a day.”Willey removed both Pakistan openers – Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman – in his new-ball spell on Saturday, then returned to have Agha Salman caught at mid-on to become the 15th Englishman to reach 100 ODI wickets. He also became the second England men’s player after Alastair Cook to win the Player of the Match award in his final international appearance.”On the phone to my wife this morning, she said, ‘Go on – just get to 100 wickets. It’d be a nice way to finish,'” he said. “To do that was a nice way for me personally [to sign off].”He said he wanted to leave international cricket on his own terms, and hoped that he had proved Rob Key – who, as managing director, was ultimately responsible for central contract offers – wrong. “Keysy said to me, ‘I hope you can prove me wrong.’ Maybe I’ve done it over the last few games,” Willey said.”The timing [of his retirement announcement], people may have looked at it and frowned upon my timing there. But for me personally, there’s not many opportunities you get to walk away from [international] cricket on your terms, and I wanted to really enjoy my last three games of cricket [for England] and play without looking over my shoulder, thinking, ‘One bad performance and I’m out of the side.'”Willey will continue to play domestic and franchise cricket. He captains Northamptonshire in the T20 Blast and has a contract with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the ILT20 in January-February. He is also likely to be retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, and by Welsh Fire in the Hundred.

Arsenal are planning to open initial transfer talks for a marquee striker who potential new sporting director, Andrea Berta, tried to sign during his time at Atlético Madrid.

Andrea Berta closing in on Arsenal sporting director role

Five months after Edu Gaspar’s resignation as sporting director, it is believed Mikel Arteta could soon welcome a brand-new transfer chief.

Mikel Arteta ready to sell Jakub Kiwior as Arsenal identify £75m replacement

The Gunners are in the market for another centre-back this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 8, 2025

Berta, who left Atlético in January, is available for hire and Arsenal are reported to be closing in on his appointment as Edu’s replacement in the Gunners boardroom.

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Some media sources claim Berta to Arsenal is “all but done” after advanced talks with the 53-year-old, and in predictable fashion, transfer rumours have swiftly followed news of Berta’s pending arrival at the Emirates.

Ex-Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere suggested that Berta could use his Atlético connections to help Arsenal strike a deal for Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, and he adds that the director’s possible arrival is a “very, very exciting” one.

“He has great experience and has been at Atlético Madrid for 12 years,” said Aliadiere (via The Metro).

“If you look at the signings he has made and what the club has achieved, it is very exciting. Very, very exciting.

‘If we look at the job Edu has done from when he came in and where Arsenal were, the signings he has made, I think he has done very well. You don’t work at Atletico alongside Diego Simeone if you’re not very good at your job, so I am very excited. But of course, we hope to sign some big players now.”

Some supporters will be hoping Berta’s influence can indeed assist Arsenal in their pursuit of a new number nine, whether that be Cunha or another high-profile name.

Arsenal lost Gabriel Jesus to a long-term ACL injury earlier this season, with some reports claiming he could even be out until 2026, while Kai Havertz is set to miss the rest of this Premier League season.

Arsenal planning initial talks to sign Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke and Football Insider, £268,000-per-week Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is now on Arsenal’s transfer shortlist as a striking option, and Berta is a “huge fan” of the player.

As per O’Rourke, Berta attempted to lure the Argentine to Atlético when he was overseeing transfers at the Wanda Metropolitano, and Arsenal are now set to open preliminary talks to sign Martinez.

With Berta on the way to north London, Arsenal are laying the groundwork over a “mega-money” deal for Martinez, which other reports state could cost Arteta’s side up to £80 million to get over the line.

The 27-year-old World Cup winner currently captains the Nerazzurri and is a crucial player for Simone Inzaghi, having scored 17 goals across all competitions already this season.

Martinez has showcased impressive proficiency over his many seasons at the San Siro, and the South American still has fours years left to run on his contract, making this a potentially costly operation.