Commitment from two young players follows recent exodus of senior players

David Hopps22-Jun-2022

Harry Brook is on the verge of an England Test debut after a stellar start to the season•Getty Images

Yorkshire’s new regime have received the first show of faith they needed with Harry Brook and Dominic Leech both committing themselves to a long-term future with the club.After a testing week, in which both David Willey and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have chosen to go elsewhere, the decision by two Yorkshire-born players to keep faith with the county during a difficult transition will lift spirits.The news of the new contracts will be welcomed as a blessed relief – adding to the delight around Headingley over some of the best ticket sales in the ground’s history for a Test bedevilled by rail strikes and positive Covid tests.The county is negotiating its way through the most challenging phase in its history after allegations of institutional racism and an unhealthy dressing-room culture.It is inevitable that the Headingley Test will be the focus for more disruption – and four former chairmen, including the ex ECB chairman Colin Graves, have teamed up to publicly demand an independent enquiry into the ECB’s handling of racism allegations against Yorkshire.Brook, who is currently in the Test squad and making a strong case to play for England in all three formats, will gain most attention by signing a five-year extension that will keep him at Headingley until at least October 2027.Leech, a 21-year-old fast bowler, is less well known, but his promise is considerable. He made his debut in 2020 and will remain with Yorkshire until at least October 2024.Yorkshire’s coaching team of Darren Gough, the interim director of cricket, and Ottis Gibson, the head coach, have clear views about their priorities as they seek to build a positive environment, and successful side, in the wake of the global fallout from Azeem Rafiq’s racism allegations. Both will be thrilled by the first sign that they build a successful future.”We are absolutely delighted that they have both committed their futures to the club,” Gough said. “Harry is an incredible talent and the performances he has put in so far this year have been nothing short of incredible, rightfully earning him an England call-up.”It’s clear that he has a very bright future and it’s great for the club to be able to secure his services for a long period of time.”Dom is a highly regarded seamer and we are really excited to see what he can achieve over the next few years.”Like most young fast bowlers, he’s had to cope with a few injuries in the early stage of his career but we are confident he has all of the attributes to be a brilliant cricketer for Yorkshire.”Dominic Leech is a promising young seamer who has committed to Yorkshire until 2024•Getty Images

Brook has enjoyed a stellar rise to prominence. So far this season he has scored a remarkable 926 runs in 11 County Championship innings, alongside 282 Vitality Blast runs at an average of 47. His form was recognised with a call-up to the England Test squad for the New Zealand series, having made his T20I debut during the tour of the Caribbean in January.He also skippered Yorkshire in their latest Blast fixture against Derbyshire at Chesterfield on Saturday.Yorkshire’s mass sacking of their coaching and ancillary staff in December will be debated for decades. Cricket does not deal in such wholesale changes in the same way as football does. But they will hope that a pattern may now be set.Most uplifting for Yorkshire was that the comments from both players appear to suggest a willingness to put recent political disruption behind them, perhaps even accepting it as the lot of a professional in team sport.Brook said: “I’m delighted to extend my contract with Yorkshire and hope I can contribute to a lot of wins in the coming years. Yorkshire is my home club and I’d love nothing more than to help bring some silverware to Headingley.”Leech said: “I’m really pleased to have signed a contract extension with Yorkshire and committed my future to the club. I’ve had a great taste of first-team cricket over the last few years and want to push for a permanent spot in all squads.”I’ve enjoyed working with our new coaching staff and look forward to continuing to develop my relationships with them. It’s great that the club have recognised my performances and rewarded me with this contract. Hopefully I can play my part in the side winning some trophies.”

There are any number of vacancies to be filled at the top of English cricket right now – captain, coach, director of cricket, head of paperclips*. But with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Olly Stone all at various stages in recovering from injuries, a genuinely fast bowler hitting their straps during the opening weeks of the County Championship has every chance of vaulting into the mix for the Test team.If that fast bowler happens to be named Jamie Overton, now 28 but long tipped to play at international level, then the anticipation sharpens. His maiden five-wicket haul for Surrey since moving to London from the west country in 2020, followed up with three more in the second innings for career-best figures in an innings win, will have had the selectors scribbling in their notepads. Or would have, if there were currently any in post.Never mind, the word will get out. Overton cranked up the intensity and cracked open the game for Surrey on day three at the Kia Oval, Hampshire brusquely swept aside as if caught up in the bank holiday weekend rush. Having picked up two wickets on the second afternoon, as the visitors struggled in reply to Surrey’s 467, Overton returned to quell a minor uprising by the eighth-wicket pair of Keith Barker and James Fuller, then bombed out the tail with enough alacrity that Rory Burns was happy to enforce the follow-on despite being a bowler down.Each of Overton’s five first-innings wickets was a capsule RF bowler’s dismissal. The left-handed Nick Gubbins was drawn into edging one angled across him; Liam Dawson beaten by a peach of an outswinger that hit the top of off. And after a tranquil start to the third morning, Overton came bullocking back into the fray to end a partnership worth 90, and the innings in the space of four balls: Barker bounced out from round the wicket, Kyle Abbott fending another bumper to short leg, Fuller’s resistance ended by a yorker that crashed into middle and leg.Overton was left out of the XI in Surrey’s opening fixture at Edgbaston – a tactical decision, according to the head coach, Gareth Batty – but showed the benefit of some technical changes made over the winter. “I don’t like singling people out but I think we’ve all seen Jamie Overton do something pretty special there,” Batty said. “Particularly that first innings, the bowling was electric, and that’s some hard work that he’s done. It’s nice that first outing he gets the rewards in wickets.”With Kemar Roach missing from the attack due to a hamstring injury, Overton carried straight on into a spell with the new ball. James Taylor made the breakthrough, straightening one a fraction to find the outside edge of Ian Holland’s bat, Ollie Pope taking a brilliant diving catch at slip – but it was perhaps no coincidence that the lapse came after Holland had been struck a blow on the hand in the previous over from Overton.The game again settled down for a period, despite Hampshire losing Gubbins before lunch. Joe Weatherley had weathered the initial storm, surviving a top-edged swipe at Overton that cleared Ben Foakes running back, and seemed to be progressing steadily towards a second hundred in consecutive Championship fixtures. But the return of Overton, this time menacing the middle of the pitch from the Vauxhall End, shook up the innings. His second ball, rearing past the gloves, brought a sustained appeal for caught behind, and although Weatherley slashed the next through backward point for four, he was immediately defeated by a short-pitched ball that stayed low and arrowed back at him, even as he tried to keep the hands down; Foakes’ leaping, one-handed take ended a century stand between Weatherley and James Vince.Overton removed Dawson for the second time in the match, this time flinching a pull to long leg, and Vince’s dismissal after a typically mellifluous half-century, tickling Taylor down the leg side shortly before tea, raised Surrey’s hopes of finishing the contest inside three days. Burns again turned to Overton, who claimed his eighth wicket when Felix Organ jabbed a sharp chance to gully, enabling him to better the 8 for 143 claimed for Somerset at New Road in 2018. With Taylor and Jordan Clark picking off the last four, Surrey secured victory well before the scheduled close.Overton has been on the England radar ever since he and twin brother, Craig, stomped out of Barnstaple and on to the county scene with Somerset as teenagers. But while Craig has been capped in eight Tests and four ODIs, and was involved on their most recent tour of the Caribbean, the closest Jamie has come is twice being called into white-ball squads without being picked.Related

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His performances at Surrey to date have not encouraged thoughts of a recall – remarkably, this haul more than doubled his first-class wicket tally for the club, after nine appearances in which he had averaged 87.33. Nevertheless, his pace and hit-the-deck approach remain coveted by England. And with Craig taking a career-best 13-wicket bag in Somerset’s one-wicket defeat at home to Essex – at one point, the brothers simultaneously took two in an over 150 miles apart – it raised the prospect that both could be involved in the summer, becoming the first twins to represent England in the process.Hashim Amla had suggested after the first day that this was “not a 300 for 3 pitch”, and that assessment was borne out. Resuming on 152 for 7, Hampshire had already shipped their best chance of getting something from this game – but losing by an innings still represented a mighty comedown after they had dished out a similar mauling of Somerset. Vince suggested after victory in the opening round that there wasn’t much room for improvement, but after seeing his side succumb twice in far-from-treacherous conditions, that position will have to be reassessed.

da brdice： Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will currently be preparing to face off against Sheffield United at Elland Road in the Championship on Friday night.

da betcris： The Whites went into the international break off the back of a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and will now be looking to bounce back to winning ways against the Blades.

Farke will still be without his two first-choice central midfielders, however, as Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are long-term absentees with knee injuries.

It was recently revealed by Bulgaria boss Ilian Iliev that the former is due to be out of action until the March international break, which is a significant blow for Leeds.

Why losing Ilia Gruev is a blow

Being without the former Werder Bremen man until March is a big blow for the Whites because it stretches beyond the January transfer window and leaves them in a difficult position.

If they do not find a free agent who suits what they want, it would be hard to commit to a signing to fill the void in January as it would have to be a player who would know that their game time could then be limited once Gruev returns to fitness in March.

The 24-year-old midfielder made 29 appearances in the Championship last season, completing 92% of his attempted passes and making 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game.

Gruev also completed 90% of his attempted passes and made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match across eight outings in the league this season before his knee injury.

The player Leeds should recall

Farke could ease the blow of losing Gruev by recalling youngster Darko Gyabi from his loan spell with Plymouth Argyle in the Championship.

Should they have the option to do so, the Whites must bring the England U20 international, who scored a stunning goal for his country against Italy’s U20s last week, back to Elland Road in January.

He took the ball in 30 yards out and dribbled a few yards before unleashing a scorching effort into the back of the net from long range to draw England level, in a game they went on to win 2-1.

Gyabi has also caught the eye with his performances for Wayne Rooney’s side in the Championship this season, and could provide the calmness in possession and combative nature out of possession that Gruev offered.

24/25 Championship

Darko Gyabi

Ilia Gruev

Appearances

9

8

Key passes per game

1.3

1.8

Pass accuracy

85%

90%

Duels won per game

4.9

3.3

Duel success rate

54%

50%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, both players create chances for their teammates whilst being reliable on the ball, albeit the Bulgaria international is not as loose with his passing.

Gyabi, though, appears to offer more of a physical presence in the middle of the park, winning more duels and a higher percentage of his battles each game.

The 20-year-old could, therefore, come in as a dream replacement for Gruev in the second half of the season, as a player who knows the club and has now proven himself in the division, which is why Farke should attempt to recall him.

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MatériaMais Notícias

da mrbet： A oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro Série C de 2022 contou com quatro jogos neste domingo (29). Em casa, o Altos venceu o Ypiranga no confronto mais tranquilo do dia. Enquanto isso, em Ribeirão Preto, Botafogo-SP e Mirassol conviveram com a emoção. Confira o resumo:

VOLTA REDONDA 0 X 1 BOTAFOGO-PB

No Rio de Janeiro, o Volta Redonda recebeu o Botafogo-PB em confronto que foi melhor para os visitantes. Na etapa final, Leandro Camilo fez o único gol do jogo e deixou o Belo com 16 pontos na tabela, logo atrás do líder Mirassol e do vice-líder ABC. Enquanto isso, os cariocas aparecem na 11ª colocação, com 10.

ALTOS-PI 3 X 0 YPIRANGA

A grande vitória do dia ficou pelo Altos. Em casa, o time piauiense fez três gols no segundo tempo, com Diego, Betinho e Manoel indo às redes. Com o resultado, os mandantes chegaram aos 6 pontos, mas ainda não saíram do Z4. Enquanto isso, o Ypiranga segue com 12, na 9ª colocação.

BOTAFOGO-SP 2 X 2 MIRASSOL

A emoção se fez muito presente no confronto paulista. Fora de casa, o Mirassol saiu na frente com Kauan, mas João Diogo deixou tudo igual. Já na reta final do duelo, Bruno Michel colocou o Botafogo-SP na frente, mas Camilo fechou o placar em 2 a 2. Sendo assim, a equipe amarela soma 17 pontos e segue na liderança da Série C. Enquanto isso, o Pantera tem 11 e ocupa o 10° lugar.

REMO 2 X 0 FLORESTA-CE

Fechando o dia da Série C, o Remo recebeu e venceu o Floresta, no Baenão. Os dois gols do triunfo vieram no segundo tempo. Assim, o Leão do Norte pegou o elevador e assumiu a 5ª colocação, com 13 pontos. Enquanto isso, os cearenses ficam na 13ª posição, com 10.

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AB de Villiers is one of the politest cricketers anyone could wish to meet, but as he set more one-day batting records, this time against West Indies, he made the rudest of interventions

Firdose Moonda at the SCG27-Feb-20152:00

‘De Villiers, a bowler’s nightmare’

AB de Villiers is hardly ever rude. If he sees someone he recognises he will say hello, smile and share a few words. If he sees someone he doesn’t, he will do all that too. But for a moment, when confronted with Andre Russell, de Villiers was downright rude.He stepped so far forward and outside offstump he was halfway to point, took one-hand off the bat and swept Russell to the square leg boundary.Read that again.Close your eyes to visualise it.What you will see is something audacious, ballsy, devilishly good and, in all the right ways, really, really rude.You can’t blame de Villiers for foregoing his impeccable manners and throwing a cricketing tantrum of sorts as South Africa looked to send a message about their suitability as successful candidates at this tournament.He had something to address after what he termed an “embarrassing,” defeat at the MCG. It always felt as if it was his job.De Villiers holds himself more accountable than many other captains. If a defeat is caused by batting lapses, de Villiers picks out his own wicket as the one that should not have fallen first. If the defeat is caused by bowling lapses, de Villiers identifies his own management of the pack as the reason.His understanding of leadership is based on selflessness. If the team underperforms, it is his fault. If they succeed, it the credit is shared. He will cite this innings as another example of that.When de Villiers arrived at the crease, the situation was tailor-made for him. South Africa had a solid base, but one created by circumspection, not speed. Their innings was in a tense period. It needed someone with courage, confidence and a dash of chutzpah. De Villiers has all three and a lot more.He was able to use the first 18 balls to suss out the situation because Rilee Rossouw played what could become a defining innings in his fledgling career. Rossouw was brought in for this match to add batting depth in JP Duminy’s absence on the back of a patchy introduction to ODI cricket which started with from four ducks in six innings and has since blossomed to include two centuries. A World Cup half-century under pressure will go some way to helping him establish himself.After holding himself accountable for South Africa’s “embarrassing” defeat at the MCG, de Villiers had a lot to prove•Associated PressAlready the captain has endorsed Rossouw as a player he “likes the look of,” because of his competitive streak, which de Villiers’ said injected energy into today’s knock. Rossouw was the one pushing the singles and piercing the gaps at the start of de Villiers’ innings. De Villiers allowed himself to be led until he could take the lead.A slow, overpitched delivery from Jerome Taylor was his cue – the ball threaded straight down the ground. It opened de Villiers up. The shot should have told West Indies to starve de Villiers of the fuller length he is so fond of, but they fed it to him. He dismissed three full tosses in the next three overs to allow South Africa to enter the final 10 overs like a car about to embark on a journey down a long straight road.The next time straight road you encounter – and you are not driving – press your nose to the window and keep your eyes open. Don’t blink for as long as you can as the vehicle picks up speed and you will see scenery whooshing past so quickly that everything looks wider and taller and bigger than it really is. The trees take on the shape of each other until they begin to look like a forest. The other cars on the road morph into a never-ending limousine. The people become a marching crowd. That was how de Villiers scored runs in those lost 10 overs.Russell bowled short, bowled full, bowled length, Benn flighted it and flirted with the leg side and Holder found himself on the receiving end of a demolition job. But what stood out about de Villiers’ assault was the number of times he walked outside off, took the ball from there and forced it onto the leg side. His team-mates have referred to that stroke as a Spiderman shot, because only someone with a superpower can do.To do it over and over and over again, each time achieving the same results, takes someone whose superpower is part of their DNA and de Villiers has always been that person.Not only did he once juggle being the key batsman with keeping wicket and captaining but he has broken records while doing all that too.De Villiers was the designated gloveman and skipper the day he scored the fastest fifty and fastest hundred in ODI cricket. Today, he designated himself to get South Africa’s World Cup campaign on track and scored the fastest 150. It was the rudest, and most wonderful, of interventions.

أعرب عماد النحاس، القائم بأعمال المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن سعادته بالفوز الذي حققه على المصري برباعية مقابل هدفين في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ببطولة الدوري الممتاز.

والتقى الأهلي مع المصري، على أرضية استاد برج العرب بالإسكندرية، في الجولة الخامسة من المرحلة النهائية لتحديد بطل الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وقال النحاس في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي: “أهنئ اللاعبين على الأداء الرجولي والفوز الكبير، وأؤكد على أهمية الاستمرار في هذه السلسلة من الانتصارات رغم ضغط المباريات، فنحن نخوض مباراة كل 4 أيام، مما يفرض علينا ضغوطًا كبيرة، بخلاف بعض الفرق الأخرى، لكن عزيمة اللاعبين وروحهم العالية هي سر النجاح”.

طالع أيضاً.. هاني رمزي ينتقد مدافع الأهلي: مسؤول عن هدف المصري.. وإمام عاشور أفضل لاعب في مصر

وتابع: “حتى وإن غابت الجماهير عن المدرجات، إلا أن وجودهم الدائم خلف الفريق يعد دافعًا كبيرًا لنا، لتحقيق الفوز في كل مباراة ولرد الجميل على هذا الدعم المتواصل من جمهور الأهلي العظيم”.

وأضاف: “دخلنا المباراة متأخرين بهدف مبكر للمصري، لكن تعامل الجهاز الفني بهدوء مع الوضع، وخبرة اللاعبين ساعدتنا على العودة السريعة وفرض سيطرتنا على مجريات اللقاء”.

وأوضح: “نعتمد على الضغط الهجومي وصناعة الفرص باستمرار، وهذا ما أثمر عن تسجيل الأهداف، كما أن لدينا مجموعة مميزة من اللاعبين في كل المراكز، وهو ما يجعلنا دائمًا في وضع قوي ويساهم في تشكيل ضغط متواصل على المنافسين”.

واختتم: “بدأنا تجهيز البدلاء مبكرًا في الشوط الأول تحسبًا لأي تراجع فني، لكن اللاعبين استعادوا زمام الأمور بسرعة ونجحوا في إنهاء المباراة لصالحهم بأداء مميز”.

 

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca slammed the referees for missing a 'clear' handball in the Blues' 2-1 loss to Brighton in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

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Chelsea lose 2-1 to Brighton in the FA CupLamptey's handball missed before Mitoma's winnerMaresca criticises lack of VAR during round fourFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea lost 2-1 to Brighton, as goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma cancelled out Bart Verbruggen's early own goal. However, questions have been raised over the legality of the Seagulls' winner in the 57th minute, as Tariq Lamptey looked to handle the ball after his shot was blocked and ricocheted off his hand in the build-up to Mitoma's winner. Maresca has now opened up about the match and criticised the lack of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT MARESCA SAID

Speaking to BBC Sport, Maresca said: "We controlled much better the first half. In the second half the only shots they had we conceded a goal from. I think the handball [before Brighton's second goal] is quite clear. In the last two or three days there were many different moments in different games. Without VAR it's complicated."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The FA Cup does not have VAR until the start of the fifth round due to a lack of necessary technology at smaller stadiums and the need for extra officials at every match. Maresca's words about the VAR absence affecting other matches come after Manchester United's 93rd-minute winner against Leicester City was not flagged offside despite Harry Maguire seemingly being behind the defensive line.

WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Maresca added that Chelsea can now focus on the Premier League and the Europa Conference League after being knocked out of the FA Cup. He also discussed the Blues' Premier League clash against Brighton on Friday, February 14.

The Italian said: "We tried to come here and play our football; we always aim to win matches, but at the same time, we must accept the consequences of the result. At 2-1, we had a few chances, but now we can focus on the Premier League and the Conference League. I don’t think this loss will affect our next match against Brighton on Friday in the Premier League—I’m sure it will be a completely different game with a different level of competition."

South African bags four early wickets as visitors stutter to 68 for 6 in reply to 238

David Hopps26-Jun-2022Chelmsford is Simon Harmer country again. The sun is up, the pitch is turning on the first day and one by one he can expect that all his dreams will come true.If Hampshire are to quicken their Championship challenge here – they lie second, three points behind Surrey as the halfway stage of the season approaches – then they will need to withstand Harmer at his most potent. Few county sides have shown the ability to do that. Much more likely is that he will finish with something approaching the best match figures of the season.By the close of the opening day, he held figures of 8-2-23-4 with Nick Gubbins, James Vince, Liam Dawson and Aneurin Donald already ticked off. The welcome inclusion of a few Championship matches in midsummer might be designed for him.An attention-grabbing haul will also sharpen his chances of retaining his place in South Africa’s side for a three-Test series against England, beginning at Lord’s on August 17. He returned to the fray after a near seven-year absence in March and April and returned 13 for 78 in two Tests, with Bangladesh shot out for 53 in Durban. But his fellow spinner, Keshav Maharaj was also in the wickets and it would be a rare thing for two specialist spinners to be fielded in England.These are the days of summer wine that Harmer has been missing, a throwback to 2017 when he took the second-highest haul in the country with 72 wickets at 19.19 and teams came to Chelmsford and came over all of a tizzy.The following seasons were successful, too, but his rewards have been meagre this summer, with only 12 wickets at 39.33 at the start of this match, partly the result of three tortuously slow, low Chelmsford surfaces in which all matches have been drawn. This surface had more bounce and pace, not just for Harmer, but also for the seamers. He was brought into the attack as early as the eighth over after Sam Cook had dealt with arguably the weakest opening pair in the country.The most extraordinary dismissal was Harmer’s first, that of Vince, who decided to try to dominate Harmer from the outset. Perhaps the influence of “Bazball” is now beginning to permeate county cricket. If Vince imagines such an approach will win an England recalled at 31 he may be deluding himself. He charged down the pitch to the second ball he faced, his first from Harmer, failed to reach the pitch, as the ball turned substantially through a wild swing, and was stumped.Harmer’s second over included the wicket of Dawson, who conjured up a gentle leg-side push at a turning delivery despite the presence of two close fielders, and even though it took a deflection of the wicketkeeper’s gloves en route it could not be construed as unfortunate.
Gubbins pushed firmly to silly point in Harmer’s sixth over and he had two wickets in two balls when Donald propped limply forward to be caught at short leg.In this season of good county surfaces, one of the most regrettable aspects is that so few of them have broken up on the final day. Matt Parkinson, Lancashire’s legspinner, is arguably the only slow bowler to have presented a persistent threat. Faced by a turning surface from the outset, Hampshire’s response was inadequate, but it is difficult to improve against something you meet so infrequently.Kyle Abbott, Hampshire’s South African pace bowler, suggested that Hampshire’s approach against Harmer had been a considered one.”We are coming up against a world-class spinner so we knew it was going to turn but we didn’t expect it to turn that much that quickly on day one,” he said. “It maybe took us a bit by surprise but we now have a challenge ahead of us now.”We discussed Harmer and how we wanted to play him but he is world-class and has taken a lot of wickets for Essex over the years and been successful for South Africa. I thought we played him pretty well except for some of those ones which we managed to get out. We need to find a way to negotiate that.”Essex were in bother themselves at 105 for 7 but allrounder Shane Snater hit about him cleanly to make 71 from 73 balls – the left-arm spin of Dawson suffering the most – and remarkably his third half-century of the season was enough to make him Essex’s third-highest Championship run-scorer. There was skill alongside the power, notably when he leant back to avoid a short ball from Brad Wheal and uppercut to the third man boundary. He fell attempting to slap Wheal down the ground.Nine days ago, Snater was a part of the Netherlands bowling attack which was flailed for a world record 498 by England in Amstelveen. He went for 99 runs, although he picked up the wicket of his cousin Jason Roy.”I don’t know what the groundsman has done differently but it has brought Harmy more into the game which is good for us,” he said. “If it is going to turn they also have spinners, but he is just so much better.”

La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are eyeing a 2025 move for one Arsenal mainstay, as it is believed he’s now “almost certain” to leave the club.

Arsenal prepare for Southampton after 2-0 win over PSG

Mikel Arteta watched his side put on an imperious display against French champions PSG on Tuesday night in the Champions League, a result which extended the club’s unbeaten run so far this term and made a real statement.

PSG preparing ambitious £83m bid to sign "world class" Arsenal player

The two teams only played the other night.

8 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 3, 2024

The Premier League title hopefuls were rarely threatened by Luis Enrique’s side – which is a testament to Arsenal’s all-round solidarity and big game management – with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka’s quick-fire first-half goals enough to seal a crucial three points in Europe.

Saka was bizarrely criticised for a “fringe” performance against PSG by pundit Darren Bent, despite his goal. That verdict aside, every Arsenal player, including the England international, contributed during an evening to remember at the Emirates Stadium.

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Next, Arsenal take on Southampton at 3pm on Saturday, and it is a match which Arteta’s side are expected to win comfortably with the Saints bottom of the table. Arteta will be able to call upon summer signing Mikel Merino again, following the Spaniard’s debut against PSG and after his recovery from a shoulder fracture.

Merino’s absence left Arsenal short in midfield for a time, and sporting director Edu Gaspar will be thankful that he didn’t green-light an exit for midfield general Thomas Partey as a result.

Partey was heavily linked with a summer exit from Arsenal since late last year, but the Ghanaian remained in north London and has since been handed the nod by Arteta in each of Arsenal’s league games so far – starting every single one.

The 31-year-old’s stellar partnership with Declan Rice in midfield looks unbreakable right now, with Partey winning all of his duels against PSG during an excellent display against a star-studded team.

It is quite the return to form for a player who started just nine times in the league last season, and the former Atletico Madrid star is on course to smash past the number of appearances he made over 2023/2024.

Partey "almost certain" to leave Arsenal as Barcelona eye move

However, there is the matter of his contract lingering in the background. The £200,000-per-week mainstay’s deal expires next summer, putting a host of clubs on alert over his potential availability in 2025. Unless Edu and Arteta opt to negotiate fresh terms, the African could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Despite his value to the team this season, journalist Jorge Asensio claimed this week that Partey is “almost certain” to leave Arsenal. Understandably, clubs are queuing up to sign him for a potential bargain price.

Barcelona are understood to be one of the interested sides, alongside Juventus, Inter Milan and Saudi Pro League clubs. Many more teams could register their interest soon, with Arteta facing the prospect of losing a “really important” player at the end of this season.

All the qualities that once rendered Andy Flower the perfect man for the job – his intensity, his attention to detail and his demanding personality – have now become the reasons he needs to go

George Dobell at the MCG29-Dec-20130:00

#Politeenquiries: Are both teams just hometown bullies?

It is a simply a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’ now. England’s defeat in Melbourne – and the manner of it – has rendered Andy Flower’s position as coach all-but untenable.Flower has done a magnificent job. Appointed with the team in disarray – he inherited a side who had just sacked their captain and coach and, in his first game in charge saw the side bowled out for 51 in Jamaica – he instilled a discipline and unity of purpose that saw the team rise to No. 1 in the rankings in all three formats. He was exactly the man required when appointed and has exceeded expectations. Despite recent events, he should still go with his head held high and great pride in what he has achieved.But all things must pass. All the qualities that once rendered Flower the perfect man for the job – his intensity, his attention to detail and his demanding personality – have now become the reasons he needs to go. England need refreshing. They need to rediscover their joy in playing the game. They need a change.For that reason, it is highly likely that, sometime over the next few days or weeks – probably in the aftermath of the Sydney Test – Flower will take the decision to resign. He will reflect on what he has seen and come to an honest decision over whether he is the man to inspire a resurgence in this England team. Anyone who has seen them disintegrate over recent weeks can come to only one conclusion.He will not be sacked. An odd situation has arisen where there is arguably no-one with the authority to do so. Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, has just stepped down and it is asking a great deal of his successor, Paul Downton, to make such a decision on his first week in the job. David Collier, the chief executive, is more suited to overseeing financial matters and long-term planning, while the idea that a non-paid chairman like Giles Clarke could take such a decision is ludicrous.One goes, one stays: Andy Flower and Alastair Cook are unlikely to be working together much longer•Getty ImagesDespite the current debacle, the ECB will not be without a succession plan. Ashley Giles remains the frontrunner to take control of the England teams in all formats and with a new head coach invariably comes a new back-room team which means the roles of Graham Gooch, the batting coach, and David Saker, the bowling coach, are extremely vulnerable especially after the batting collapses during this tour and the lack of a role for any of England’s tall quicks.

To have picked a side with an inadequate reserve wicketkeeper, a lack of reserve opening batsmen, three tall drinks waiters and a reserve spinner who came into the tour with serious doubts over his readiness to return to this level, has been proven to be folly

Graeme Welch, Giles’ right-hand man when he oversaw Warwickshire County Championship success in 2012, will be a strong contender for the bowling role and Paul Collingwood would be a viable candidate for the batting role. Graham Thorpe would, in normal circumstances, be a favourite for the batting position due to his links with England Lions but there is some doubt over his willingness to tour.There may be questions about Alastair Cook’s captaincy, too. Again, it is highly unlikely that Cook will be sacked. Rightly so, too: it is only a year since he led England to victory in India, and a few months since the previous Ashes and a home season that included taking the side to the brink of their first global ODI trophy. However, though he said what he had to after the Melbourne defeat, whether Cook has the appetite for the challenge after this dispiriting reverse remains to be seen.As his senior spinner wilted and his wicketkeeper flapped like a drowning seal, Cook looked a broken man on the fourth day. Stuart Broad, the captain of the Twenty20 side, and Ian Bell, the Test vice-captain and a particularly impressive leader at domestic level, would be the only viable candidates to replace him.The selectors need to reflect on their contribution to the current state of disarray, too. To have picked a side with an inadequate reserve wicketkeeper, a lack of reserve opening batsmen, three tall drinks waiters and a reserve spinner who came into the tour with serious doubts over his readiness to return to this level, has been proven to be folly. Several of those errors could have been averted had they simply taken more notice of results in county cricket.While there will be the inevitable calls for a complete cull from the side, that would prove a mistake. Kevin Pietersen remains, whatever his army of critics say, the prize wicket for every opposition side, while James Anderson showed in Melbourne that he remains a skilful operator. England’s early bowling on the fourth morning by Anderson, Broad and Ben Stokes was impressive. They created four chances before lunch but, partly due to Jonny Bairstow’s obvious deficiencies with the gloves, two of them went begging. Suffice it to say, Matt Prior had a good game in Melbourne.However, it’s hard to see how changes won’t be made for Sydney. Tim Bresnan and Michael Carberry are vulnerable but Monty Panesar, slinging down his left-arm medium pace with a horribly ragged action, was wretched and will almost certainly be replaced by the young legspinner Scott Borthwick. Borthwick is not the finished article but as a fine fielder, a decent batsman and a fresh face, he offers hope for the future. And, in a grim chapter for England cricket, hope is about the best that can be offered.