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It looks set to be a massive summer of transfer activity for Arsenal this year; Mikel Arteta even said as much.

Based on fan sentiment and the number of reports in recent weeks, it’s no surprise that the club’s focus is on rejuvenating the attack, but the midfield also looks like it will be addressed.

Thomas Partey might now be getting a new deal, and perhaps most excitingly, the deal to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi looks increasingly certain.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the club could also be looking at a potential alternative to the Spaniard, someone who could also replace Partey.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth reviewing the situation with both Partey and Zubimendi.

Transfer Focus

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

Regarding the latter, news initially came out back in January that Arsenal were close to agreeing a deal to sign him in the summer, and while there have since been reports from Spain claiming that he could go to Real Madrid, other stories have reaffirmed the original news that he should be on his way to the Emirates for £51m.

Partey, on the other hand, looked like he was set to depart the club upon the expiration of his current contract in the summer, but that changed last week.

Ahead of the game against Crystal Palace, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that the club now wanted the midfielder to remain and were set to enter negotiations over a new contract with him.

However, with reports now linking the team to Hugo Larsson, re-signing the Ghanaian might not be necessary.

Yes, according to a recent report from the print edition of SportBild in Germany, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the Eintracht Frankfurt star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Manchester City and Liverpool are also keen on the young midfielder, who’s valued at £51m by his team.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but given Larsson’s ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be an ideal Partey replacement.

Why Larsson could replace Partey

So, the first argument for why Larsson could prove to be a good Partey replacement is also one that could be used to argue for him being an alternative to Zubimendi: his age.

At just 20 years old, the Swedish international is 11 years younger than the Gunners’ number five and six younger than the Sociedad star. Now, while that’s not a massive advantage compared to the Spaniard, who is still in his prime years, it is against the Ghanaian .

For example, research conducted by The Athletic revealed that central midfielders tend to peak at around 25 years old, so while the Frankfurt gem has years to keep getting better, the former Atlético Madrid ace is undoubtedly approaching the end of his career, and considering his usually dire injury record, this might make handing him a new deal particularly foolish.

Furthermore, besides being substantially younger, the “transitional monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, also looks just as good when we look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, according to FBref, he comes out ahead in plenty of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, key passes, shots on target, shot-creating actions, blocked shots and passes, errors leading to goal, ball recoveries and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.19

0.15

Progressive Passes

4.70

6.09

Progressive Carries

0.64

1.14

Shots on Target

0.38

0.26

Key Passes

0.85

0.63

Shot-Creating Actions

2.33

2.07

Goal-Creating Actions

0.13

0.48

Tackles Won

1.06

1.77

Blocked Shots

0.42

0.26

Blocked Passes

1.19

0.59

Interceptions

1.06

1.18

Errors Leading to a Goal

0.04

0.15

Dispossessed

0.42

0.52

Ball Recoveries

4.58

4.43

Ultimately, while he might not be the most exciting name out there, Larsson looks like he could be an incredible player in the future, so instead of a Zubimendi alternative, Arsenal might be wise to sign him as well and then not offer Partey a new deal.

He'd revive Odegaard: Arsenal racing to sign £70m goalscoring "powerhouse"

Martin Odegaard could do with some additional firepower with him at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 1, 2025

But there was still the feeling he bowled a little too short, especially with the first new ball when Trent Boult and Tim Southee had pitched theirs up with devastating effect

Andrew McGlashan in Christchurch31-Mar-2018A lot can change in a week. Just ask David Warner, Steven Smith, Cameron Bancroft and Darren Lehmann. In a less dramatic way, things have changed for Stuart Broad. Or actually, in a sense, they haven’t.In the build-up to the Auckland Test there was a strong indication that he would lose the new ball role he has held, largely without interruption, since 2013. Then England were bowled out for 58 and there was no time to try something new. Broad took the new ball alongside James Anderson.

‘Felt in the best rhythm I have for a couple of years’

Stuart Broad said his second-day performance in Christchurch was as well as he had bowled since his 6 for 17 against South Africa in Johannesburg more than two years ago. Broad took 4 for 38, moving ahead of Curtly Ambrose in the all-time list, to give England the advantage having spent a lot of time working on his action before this series.
“I’ve a had a couple of four-fors since then, but don’t think I’ve created as many plays and misses and chances. Today, I hit length hard, I was snapping into it. That gives me a lot of confidence and it proves, at the most basic form, that a bit of a hard work really pays off.
“I felt in the best rhythm I have for a couple of years. I was rubbish in Australia, to be honest. It was the lack of bounce I was getting because of my wrist. Everything about my bowling today, I felt in full control. The ball was bouncing through, it had pace, it was nipping. It’s quite an exciting place to be. When you see improvements over a short period of time it gives you a lot of energy.”

His 400th Test wicket, when Tom Latham clipped to midwicket, was one of the more subdued landmark moments you could see but there were small signs that the work he had put in during the alone hours in the Trent Bridge indoor school were paying off. There was a little bit more zip and bounce than in Australia and he was better aligned to the right-handers.But there was still the feeling he bowled a little too short, especially with the first new ball when Trent Boult and Tim Southee had pitched theirs up with devastating effect. The length of England’s new-ball bowlers has often been a gripe and was never more evident than the first afternoon of the Adelaide Ashes Test when Joe Root had put Australia in and watched his senior duo waste conditions.Two days before the second Test in Christchurch, Root had a long meeting with his bowlers which ran well past the end of an already lengthy training session. There have been a lot of meetings in the last few days. What was said will probably remain behind closed doors, but it would be a surprise if pitching the ball up had not been on the agenda.If it wasn’t, and the second morning in Christchurch was just Anderson and Broad thinking on their feet, then you would have to wonder why they couldn’t have done it before.The effect of pushing the ball full was almost instant and for Broad made for his most impressive spell since the start of the Ashes. He drew Latham onto the front foot, finding the outside edge as the opener looked to drive, then pushed one out a touch wider to Ross Taylor who couldn’t resist a flat-footed flash which sent a catch to Alastair Cook at first slip. The scalp of Taylor will have been especially satisfying as it continued a hold Broad has had over him throughout their contests together. This was the 10th time he had dismissed Taylor in 14 Tests.A full length also soon defeated Henry Nicholls, the ball nipping past the inside edge to take the back pad. CricViz analysis during Broad’s first spell showed at one point he was pitching 37% of his deliveries in a full-length area compared to 30% normally – the difference in length was calculated at 30cm.Bowlers have a natural length and it can be difficult to adjust at the drop of a hat, but when Broad gains the success he did pitching it up. it is a wonder why it hasn’t been his default. When Broad went through a previous struggle in 2011 it came during a time when he was given the ‘enforcer’ tag which led him to bowling too short. After a lean series against Sri Lanka that summer, he then pitched the ball up against India and took 25 wickets in four Tests at 13.84.”To go away and play for Notts and get a five-for pitching the ball up a week before the Test gave me a lot of confidence,” he said at the time. “That was how I wanted to bowl in this series but then for it to happen straight away at Lord’s, to pick up four wickets and could have potentially had more, that length showed me the way to go.”This time, the problems, Broad believed, had been caused by bowling so much round the wicket to the left handers. Leading into this series, having worked hard to make small corrections, Broad spoke about having plenty of legs in him at Test level. “I’m in a place now where I feel like I can do quite a bit of damage as a bowler again,” he said. Whether the new-ball talk was a ploy to get the competitive juices flowing or not, it may now be a little while before the Anderson-Broad partnership is broken.The new-ball burst didn’t last long enough to be classed as a return to the streaks that made him such a devastating bowler up until early 2016, but there were signs that he still has some more in him. However, late in the day, with England having endured a 142-run partnership between BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme, Broad returned and struck with his second ball. How? Yes, it was a full delivery that got the batsman driving. Saturday’s performance wasn’t a case of teaching an old(ish, by fast bowling standards) dog new tricks, but reminding him of the ones that make him most effective.

Arundhati and Co induced a collapse in the first innings, from which South Africa couldn’t recover

Srinidhi Ramanujam23-Jun-2024A Smriti Mandhana masterclass and Arundhati Reddy’s sharp bowling helped India beat South Africa by six wickets in the third and final ODI and seal the series 3-0 in Bengaluru.Playing in front of 15,000 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, crowd-favourite Mandhana led India’s small chase of 216 but narrowly missed out on a century, making 90 off 83 balls. She finished the series with 343 runs after two hundreds in the first two games. Mandhana’s total was also the highest in a three-match women’s series, as she surpassed Laura Wolvaardt’s 335 against Sri Lanka in April 2024.She put on 61-run and 62-run stands with Shafali Verma (25) and Priya Punia (28), India’s new no.3, to get the chase going. Seven of her 11 fours came on the offside, with six of them towards the cover region alone. Alongside Harmanpreet Kaur (42 0ff 48), she shared 48 off 47 to blunt the South African attack.Smriti Mandhana finished the series with 343 runs•BCCI

Adapting to different pitches and situations, Mandhana has shown immense maturity and clarity to play long innings, not just once but thrice, in a row. However, a top edge to Ayabonga Khaka at short fine leg in the 31st over ended her knock. India needed 45 from the remaining 19 overs then and the rest of the batters completed the formalities with 9.2 overs to spare.The lack of a sixth bowling option hurt South Africa. Marizanne Kapp played all the matches as a specialist batter due to workload management after recovering from her back injury. Their premier spin-bowling allrounder Chole Tryon had to miss the tour due to recurring back injury.Despite Wolvaardt acknowledging this in the past, South Africa went in with a like-for-like replacement for Masabata Klass with another right-arm Tumi Sukhukhune. A few individual brilliance aside, South Africa had failed to fire in unison in the series.

South Africa’s innings of two halves

After coming close to chasing India’s 325 in the second ODI, the visitors had an underwhelming outing with the bat after a brisk start from Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. They got through the first ten overs without losing a wicket, for the first time in this series, and added 46. Wolvaardt continued her purple patch, notching up her 32nd half-century in her 98th ODI.She started sedately, making 9 off her 15 balls and then targeted Pooja Vastrakar in the 10th over, hammering four fours with featuring gorgeous cover drives and pulls. A sweep and a pull off Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin fetched her two more fours, and she tapped a short and wide delivery off Smriti Mandhana to deep third.At the other end, Brits had a cautious start after getting out for 18 and 5 in the first two games of the series. On Sunday, there was intent to stay longer in her comeback series following a knee injury. A six over deep midwicket and fours to fine leg and deep backward point gave the impression of her getting her rhythm back.Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt added 102 for the first wicket•BCCI

The duo took the team past hundred in 119 balls and looked set to keep the momentum going. But an outstanding reaction catch from Reddy dismissed Wolvaardt for a 57-ball 61, ending the 102-run partnership in the 20th over.In the following over, Brits was run out for 66-ball 38 after a mix-up with Marizanne Kapp, who was promoted to no.3 after her century in the previous game.In her five-over third spell, Reddy produced another moment of brilliance, another catch in the follow-through to send Anneke Bosch back. Two overs later, Shreyanka Patil, who had come in for legspinner S Asha, dismissed Kapp caught and bowled for 7, by going around the wicket for the fifth ball after bowling the previous four from over the wicket.From 102 for 0, South Africa were left reeling at 120 for 4. Cameos from Nadine de Klerk and Mieke de Ridder helped them post over 200, but India’s tight bowling never let them into the game.On a pitch with cracks on one half and grass on the other, Harmanpreet opened the bowling with Patil and kept at least one spinner at play at one almost throughout the innings. Reddy was the best bowler of the day, finishing with figures of 2 for 36 in ten overs spread across four spells.Deepti Sharma, the most economical bowler of the day, also had her moment picking up two wickets in two balls bowling de Klerk and Nonkululeko Mlaba out in the 43rd over.There was slight drizzle after the first innings but it, too, fizzled out like South Africa’s batting, and did not result in overs being lost.

All tournament long, India’s top three had piled up the runs; yet, just as in the 2015 World Cup, they collectively failed at the first knockout hurdle

Sambit Bal at Old Trafford10-Jul-2019Just a heartbeat short. That may well be the enduring memory of this wrencher of a match for Indian fans. A million dreams had already died and been reborn, in a flicker first and then in a flame, but now it lay irretrievably in the ashes, with Martin Guptill having found the stumps from square leg to beat MS Dhoni’s lunging bat by just a few inches.Less than a foot and India’s World Cup hopes were now a farther four years away, and for Dhoni – whose resounding six to win the 2011 World Cup final, India’s first in 28 years, is imprinted on every Indian cricket fan’s heart – it’s probably forever gone. Dhoni, the maker of countless Indian dreams, the mightiest of finishers, for whom no chase has even been over until it’s over, but a man now raging against time and diminished physical – and possibly mental prowess – now makes his forlorn journey from the far end of the pitch with the stadium in near hush, head bowed. Possibly a bit slower than usual, not much emotion betrayed, not even a slight shake of the head, and he is gone, just like that, perhaps for the final time in Indian colours.ALSO READ: Kimber – a semi-final we didn’t think we’d haveA moment as poignant as any. The finish hadn’t been memorable, but it will always be a memory, an aching one, yet defining, because he had played the innings that had represented the final leg of his career. Battling, workmanlike, poised, and yet full of dot balls, with a solitary four and a last-gasp six. He had kept India alive, in the company of Ravindra Jadeja playing the innings of his life, but had failed to haul them over the line when all depended on him. His performance will divide Indian opinion tomorrow and in days to come.From 71 for 5 and then 92 for 6, India would have sunk rapidly without his steadying hand, and yet, despite the 59-ball 77 from Jadeja, the run rate had mounted to over 15 when Jadeja was dismissed. To that 116-partnership, Dhoni had contributed 32 off 45 balls with 20 dots that comprised, remarkably, a few leaves outside off. Without him, the chase would have been dead long before but the question that will linger is: did he not also make it nearly unachievable?But to remember the Indian chase only for Dhoni would be a disservice to Jadeja, who played with the spirit of a lion and the passion of man whose fire had been lit, with stroke-making skills to match. As Kane Williamson was to say later, it was as if Jadeja was playing on a different surface altogether. He hit four sixes, each a clean and emphatic strike, on a pitch where New Zealand had managed only one.

New Zealand found the perfect storm: overcast skies, a responsive pitch, some swing and two bowlers who didn’t put a ball wrong for nearly ten overs. And, as it often happens with a collapse, it feels like divine intervention

Not part of India’s plans till the last match of the round-robin stage, but a central part of a social-media storm that he himself ignited by reacting sharply to Sanjay Manjrekar’s suggestion that he shouldn’t be in the playing XI on account of being a “bits-and-pieces player”, he was, by some distance, the game’s best performer: the top scorer, the most frugal bowler along with Mitchell Santner, conjurer of as brilliant a run out as that by Guptill, and India’s best fielder. The cruelty of sport is that he will now be remembered as a side story: with a blow or two more, his would have been among the greatest-ever World Cup performances. And the unlikeliest.And to remember the chase by how it fell short will also obscure the real story, which is now part of an eerily familiar pattern that has followed India since the 2015 World Cup. Unbeaten till the semi-final that year, they fell to Australia in their first knockout match; this time, they topped the league stage with only one defeat. In between these, there was the loss to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final. The common thread: the top three batsmen stomp through the league phase as if the stage belongs to them, but fail to turn up in the final.The numbers couldn’t be starker. Put together, the top three contributed 3378 runs in these tournaments at an average of 73 but in the three matches that India needed to win, their total contribution was 109 at 12.1.In 2015, the chase of 328 was derailed when Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were dismissed in the space of 15 runs after a bright start; Rohit and Kohli were gone by the third over in the final of the Champions Trophy, and Dhawan joined them five overs later to leave India at 33 for 3. And here, perhaps in congruence with the relatively smaller target, the top three contributed three runs jointly. No one has scored more runs in chases than Kohli, but his scores in three of India’s biggest matches have been 5, 1 and 1.ESPNcricinfo LtdMohammad Amir found two perfect balls for Rohit and Kohli in the Champions Trophy final, and today, New Zealand found the perfect storm: overcast skies, a responsive pitch, some swing and two bowlers who didn’t put a ball wrong for nearly ten overs. And, as it often happens with a collapse, as indeed it happened to New Zealand against Pakistan in the group game, when the dice turns for or against you, it feels like divine intervention.Rohit had been dropped three times and survived a run-out chance during four of his five hundreds. Here he nicked the first ball that tested him and it was caught; on another day, the lbw umpire’s call would have gone for Kohli, and the ball would have eluded’s Rahul edge; Dinesh Karthik, after defending resolutely against Boult, fell to a stunning catch by Jimmy Neesham. Neesham later dropped a difficult chance off Rishabh Pant, and both Hardik Pandya and Jadeja mis-hit balls in the safe areas. But the match had swung decisively in the first ten, when India had been reduced to 6 for 3, and then 24 for 4.The middle order was India’s known soft spot. At No. 4 to No. 6 today, they had a rookie who was drafted in as a replacement; an x-factor allrounder without demonstrated defensive skills; and the back-up wicketkeeper possibly at the end of an international career that hardly ever took off. All in their first World Cups. The young ones did the team no disservice, but that India remained in striking distance till the final overs was entirely due to a player who was very nearly an afterthought.This was the worst nightmare of Indian fans – a top-order meltdown exposing an unproven middle order and Dhoni, unable to, or unwilling to, shift gears – come to pass at the most inopportune moment. In reality, they were well short.

The striker position at Manchester City has been full of heritage since the successful silverware-laden days at the Etihad.

While that infamous move for Robinho – the club’s very first marquee signing during the Mark Hughes era – didn’t turn out too successfully, the same cannot be said for a certain Sergio Aguero.

The Argentine is now known as one of the greatest foreign imports the Premier League has ever seen, scoring that title-winning goal which was just one of 260 goals he scored in City blue. He is a legend in these parts, a true icon of English football.

Well, they’ve now found someone capable of usurping Aguero’s record. Yep, you guessed it, it’s the relentless Erling Haaland.

Already a treble-winner, the Norwegian has found the back of the net on 118 occasions in 135 outings. He is certainly one of the best forwards of the modern era.

That said, he should watch out for Omar Marmoush who’s enjoyed a fine start to his time in English football…

What makes Marmoush so good

This January was an important one for the Citizens. For the first time in his tenure, Pep Guardiola was fighting for his life, seemingly unable to turn the tide on a run of form that saw them win just once in 13 matches. It was unheard of.

So, over the winter, they did their due diligence and splashed the cash to bring in the likes of Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Egyptian superstar Omar Marmoush.

The forward had scored 15 Bundesliga goals in 17 matches before switching Germany for England in a £59 move. Since then, he’s continued his menacing form.

The 26-year-old has so far featured off the left, up top and when Haaland has been fit, behind him.

That level of versatility is a key part of why Guardiola wanted to bring him to the Etihad over the winter and he’s rewarded the faith shown, notably scoring a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Newcastle.

That remains the sole game in which Marmoush has contributed with goals but his general play has been eye-catching with teammate Haaland declaring that “you can see he has something special.”

However, the transfer may never have happened if City’s transfer strategy last summer headed in a different direction.

Man City have already sold a Marmoush upgrade

Marmoush’s signing was needed. Haaland, of course, is a man possessed but behind him, they lacked a certain degree of firepower with Kevin De Bruyne now in the latter stages of his career and Phil Foden – the Premier League’s Player of the Season for 2023/24 – failing to meet the same standards. He’s scored just ten times in 36 outings this season, a far cry from his 27-goal exploits of last term.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

In many ways, the sale of Julian Alvarez didn’t help. It certainly benefited the club’s coffers, raking in an enormous sum of £82m. Since then, he’s showcased why City should regret selling him.

This wasn’t your Gabriel Jesus level of back-up striker. He was a constant threat and helped himself to 19 goals and 13 assists last season. Replacing an output like that wasn’t going to be easy.

Marmoush will no doubt help over the forthcoming seasons but Alvarez has now proven himself as one of the finest forwards in European football.

He showcased that in the Champions League this week, taking his tally in the competition this term to seven in nine games – just one behind Haaland – with a breathtaking strike against rivals Real Madrid.

Alvarez danced past Eduardo Camavinga on the left, cut inside and then bent a delicious effort into the far corner. It was postage stamp stuff. Quite brilliant.

That goal means that the Argentine now has 22 for the season and it was hardly a surprise to see pundits and journalists alike wax lyrical.

Joe Cole suggested that “he’s a Ballon d’Or winner of the future” while Spanish football expert Neal Gardner simply stated that he is “the most complete striker in the world right now.”

That was corroborated by Argentine journalist Roy Nemer who even before this goal suggested that Alvarez was the “best forward in the world” this season.

It’s hard to dispute that claim considering he ranks inside the best 7% of positionally similar players in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive carries, the best 11% for progressive passes and the top 15% for tackles, underlining the fact that he can do most things incredibly well.

Usually, City get things spot on when sanctioning sales. However, in a campaign where they will miss out on the Premier League and Champions League, they did get this one wrong.

Still, Marmoush is here now and they will get to enjoy the fruits of his labour before too long.

Savio upgrade: Man City may regret selling 'the best winger in the world'

Man City might rue selling a player who has shone for his current club since leaving.

By
Ross Kilvington

Mar 3, 2025

All the major talking points from the week gone by in the Super Smash

Deivarayan Muthu23-Jan-2019Mitchell out obstructing the fieldIn the fifth over of Northern Knights’ innings against Canterbury Kings, Daryl Mitchell patted a ball from Kyle Jamieson back to him and took a couple of steps out of his crease. The bowler swooped down on the ball in his follow-through and aimed to throw the stumps down, but Mitchell stuck his right leg in the way. Though the ball wasn’t heading towards the stumps, Mitchell was guilty of deliberately coming in the way of the throw.Jamieson gestured that Mitchell knocked the ball away with his leg and launched an appeal for obstructing the field. The on-field umpires Wayne Knights and Ashley Mehrotra got together and referred it to TV umpire Tony Gillies, who ultimately gave Mitchell out.

You don't see this everyday – Mitchell dismissed for obstructing the field. #BKSupersmash #wearecanterbury #cricketnation #KnightsvKings pic.twitter.com/T6IUrLeXvD

— Canterbury Cricket (@CanterburyCrick) January 16, 2019

Four days later, in the final over of Otago’s chase of 185, Auckland Aces’ Mitchell McClenaghan bowled an inch-perfect yorker from round the wicket and Leicestershire’s Ben Raine hastily jabbed his bat down and set off for a single. In the process, he collided with McClenaghan, who recovered and scooped the ball onto the stumps at the striker’s end, where Nathan Smith had reached his crease in time.McClenaghan, though, appealed for obstructing the field but replays indicated that Raine hadn’t changed his line while running. The soft signal was not out, and TV umpire Derek Walker sided with it.Sun stops play in NapierSun squinted into the eyes of the batsmen and forced a 25-minute interruption in the match between Central Districts and Canterbury at McLean Park in Napier. Moments before the players and the officials walked off the field, legspinner Todd Astle had drawn a thick outside edge from Dean Foxcroft, but Tom Latham, the keeper, had dropped it. The action resumed once the sun moved away.The setting sun was at an awkward angle again during the first ODI between India and New Zealand and interrupted the visitors’ chase on Wednesday.ALSO READ: Sun stops play in New Zealand v India ODI

Sun stopped play…love it! #SuperSmash pic.twitter.com/Odjwzgmywp

— Sean Brown (@sean_brown235) January 19, 2019

Astle, Neesham watchHaving been asked to prove their fitness in the Super Smash and audition for the last two ODIs against India, Todd Astle (knee) and James Neesham (hamstring) had low-key returns. Astle began promisingly and created the aforementioned chance, but lost his lines and lengths once Will Young and Tom Bruce began teeing off. Astle wound up leaking 44 runs in his four overs, including 14 in his last.Turning out for Wellington Firebirds against Auckland, Neesham was dismissed for 1 by Colin Munro. He then bowled only two overs, conceding 15 runs.Mitchell McClenaghan sends down a delivery•Getty ImagesMatch of the weekThe clash between Northern Knights and Canterbury Kings at Seddon Park. After being sent in, the Knights posted 154 for 5 in a rain-hit 16-overs-a-side game on the back of opener Nick Kelly’s maiden T20 half-century.Then the Kings lost Tom Latham to Mitchell Santner off the first ball of the chase. The returning Henry Nicholls flickered briefly for 40 off 25 balls before Ish Sodhi reeled him in with a wrong’un. Cam Fletcher and Leo Carter, however, put on a 56-run stand off 40 balls and took the game deep.When the Kings needed 19 off the last two overs it was anybody’s game. But Knights’ overseas recruit Kyle Abbott and Daryl Mitchell sewed up a six-run win (via DLS method) with a variety of cutters and yorkers. The result put the Kings out of contention for the knockouts.Batsman of the weekLatham exploited the short boundaries and the fast McLean Park outfield, cracking his maiden T20 century – and the first in this season’s Super Smash – off 57 balls against Central Districts. He was particularly severe on left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, smashing him for 30 runs from nine balls before holing out off him. However, the rapidly rising asking rate was too much to overcome and Canterbury came up short in a chase of 226.Bowler of the weekMcClenaghan is an excellent bowler in the Powerplay, but he hasn’t been as effective in the end overs. Against Otago, he nailed one yorker after another and defended 16 in the final over against the well-set Raine and Smith. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 11 scalps in five matches at an economy rate of 7.95. Jamieson, who has played two more games, leads the list with 14 wickets.

South Africa will look to bounce back from the beating they suffered against India

Ashish Pant09-Nov-2023Big picture: Batting might vs bowling smartsAfghanistan were so close to achieving their most important ODI win. Against Australia. For a shot at the World Cup semi-finals. Almost there. Before a Glenn Maxwell-sized meteor flattened them.They are now in Ahmedabad to play their final league game and will bow out of the World Cup at the largest cricket stadium in the world. Having only ever beaten Scotland once in 2015 and 2019, Afghanistan have beaten three former champions – England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan – this time, as well as Netherlands, but the 438-run victory they need against South Africa to push New Zealand out of fourth place on net run rate is impossible. An exit with ten points, as many as the team that qualifies fourth, however, will be a massive win in itself.Afghanistan have only played one ODI and two T20Is against South Africa and never won. But that was old Afghanistan. The Afghanistan of the 2023 World Cup have excelled as a unit. Each of their top five batters have 250-plus runs in the tournament. In the bowling department, it’s not the usual suspects doing the damage. Yes, Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker, but he hasn’t always been consistent. And while Mujeeb Ur Rahman has only seven in eight games, the likes of Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq have all been among the wickets.Related

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Scenarios – What NZ, Pakistan and Afghanistan need to do to make the World Cup semi-finals

Clinical, risk-assessed, productive – Afghanistan's batting evolution unlocks new highs

As far as South Africa go, with their semi-final spot already secure, this fixture is a pressure-free opportunity to pick themselves up after the beating they suffered against India in Kolkata by India. After that 243-run drubbing David Miller did not feel South Africa have been “horrific chasing”, but it’s no secret they have been much more successful batting first than second in ODIs this year.Eventually, the result is likely to hinge on how Afghanistan’s bowlers fare against South Africa’s batting might. Afghanistan and India are the only teams to have not conceded 300 even once this World Cup. South Africa have scored five totals in excess of 300, the highest being 428 against Sri Lanka. Do Afghanistan have it in them to contain South Africa?Form GuideAfghanistan LWWWL (Last five completed ODIs; most recent first)
South Africa LWWWWCan Marco Jansen bounce back from the beating he took against India?•Associated PressIn the spotlight: Ibrahim Zadran and Marco Jansen The current top-scorer for Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran was their first centurion at the World Cup, in their previous game against Australia. The opener averages 57.5 against fast bowlers in the competition and the way he tackles the South Africa quicks will be crucial. Ibrahim has had a top start to his ODI career. He has only played 27 ODIs but is already second on the list of most centuries for Afghanistan. A sixth will take him level with Mohammad Shahzad.Marco Jansen had a rare bad day against India, when he went for 94 runs in 9.4 overs and couldn’t do much with the bat. Having had a stellar run in the World Cup, he will be keen to show his bouncebackability. Jansen is in third place for the most wickets in the competition (17) and it’s his powerplay bowling that has really stood out: 12 wickets in eight innings – more than any other bowler in the tournament. Not to forget his batting lower down the order, where he’s struck at 111.34. After an ordinary outing at Eden Gardens, Jansen will want to return to his match-winning ways.Team news: Phehlukwayo to get a game?Depending on the Ahmedabad pitch, Afghanistan might bring back Farooqi for either Noor or Mujeeb. The rest of their playing XI is unlikely to change.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Azmatullah Omarzai, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Ikram Alikhil (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman/Fazalhaq Farooqi, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Noor AhmadAndile Phehlukwayo is yet to get a game in the World Cup•Associated PressLungi Ngidi did not complete his ten overs against India, walking off two balls into his ninth. While he did come out to bat later and is declared fit for the game, South Africa could rest either him or Kagiso Rabada, with Andile Phehlukwayo coming in for his first game. Tazbraiz Shamsi could also make way for fast bowler Gerald Coetzee.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi/Andile Phehlukwayo, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi/Gerald Coetzee Pitch and conditionsAhmedabad hasn’t had extremely high totals so far in the World Cup – no team has been able to score more than 300. The soil type will be a factor in how the surface plays. The temperature is expected to hover around the 36-degree mark when the match starts and will go down in the evening. There is little to no chance of rain.Stats and triviaRahmat Shah is just 13 short of becoming the fourth Afghanistan batter to score 4000 runs in international cricket.South Africa have a win percentage of 90.90 when batting first in ODIs in 2023. They have lost just one of 11 matchesHeinrich Klaasen’s strike rate of 148.67 is the highest in ODIs in 2023 (minimum 200 runs)If Jansen takes one more wicket, he will become the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in a single ODI World CupRassie van der Dussen has fallen to spin six times in eight innings so far this World Cup Quotes”We haven’t been horrific chasing, it’s just been one or two games where we slipped up. I think it’s just comparing to what we have done batting first, which has been exceptional.”
“In this World Cup, I think one part that we are not good enough in, is the fielding, you know, like we dropped so many catches. In the New Zealand game also, those dropped catches hurt us. Especially last game with Australia, that dropped the chances that we had. That was the reason, if we took that, the result and scenario would be far different than now.”

Looking to boost their attacking options even further, Aston Villa have now reportedly made their first move to sign an attacking midfielder who’s had a hand in 23 goals so far this season.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans were as bold as ever during the January transfer window, selling Jhon Duran for a reported £65m before welcoming Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. That bravery has been to no avail in the Premier League, however, with Unai Emery’s side taking one step forward and two steps back in recent weeks, culminating in a 10th place position.

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In the Champions League, meanwhile, the Midlands club have enjoyed opposite fortunes. Defeating Club Brugge 3-1 last time out, Aston Villa are now just one second leg win away from a Champions League quarter-final in what would be a sensational achievement.

Despite sitting 10th in the Premier League, the Villans have certainly remained ambitious in their pursuit of reinforcements too. According to Efotbal.cz, as relayed by Sports Witness, Aston Villa have now made their first enquiry over signing Pavel Sulc from Viktoria Plzen this summer, but face competition from Manchester City and Leeds United.

Such interest in the attacking midfielder should come as little surprise. Sulc has enjoyed another excellent campaign in the Czech Republic, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further 11, including one in a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United in the Europa League.

If ever a player was ready for a big move, it is the 24-year-old at the peak of his powers.

"Incredible" Sulc would add depth of quality

Whilst Aston Villa’s attack is currently filled to the brim with quality, it remains to be seen whether they’ll be in a position to welcome both Rashford and Asensio on a permanent basis following their loan moves this summer. And that could leave room for the likes of Sulc to arrive. A younger option than the duo who are 27 and 29 years old respectively, the attacking midfielder would prove to be a worthwhile investment.

Earning plenty of praise in the last year or so, including from Jacek Kulig. The football talent scout described the 24-year-old’s 23/24 campaign as “incredible” and has since watched on as he’s enjoyed another excellent season almost a year on.

When the summer arrives, Sulc looks destined to finally get his big move. Whether that means a trip to Villa Park is pending remains to be seen, however.

Tottenham Hotspur exited the FA Cup in the fourth round earlier this afternoon, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Jacob Ramsey put the hosts ahead within the first minute before Morgan Rogers struck halfway through the second period to hand Unai Emery’s side a two-goal cushion.

However, Mathys Tel scored his first Spurs goal in stoppage time, but it was too little too late for Ange Postecoglou’s men, as they lost for the sixth time in 2025 already.

It saw the club exit their second cup competition in the space of a week after losing 4-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night, with the Europa League their final opportunity to end their wait for a trophy.

Too many players failed to impress once again in the West Midlands, subsequently putting their future starting roles at risk as the Aussie looks to turn around their slump in form.

Spurs’ disappointing performers against Aston Villa

Rodrigo Bentancur started at the heart of midfield once again for the Lilywhites but failed to back up Ange’s decision to stick with him after Thursday’s defeat.

The Uruguayan featured for 72 minutes before being withdrawn, winning just one of the six duels he entered, being dribbled past twice and making no attempts to track back for the host’s second of the afternoon.

Lucas Bergvall looked off the pace once more in the loss, with the build-up of action undoubtedly contributing to his recent poor performances for Spurs.

The 19-year-old lost eight duels, the most of any players, committing four fouls in the process and getting himself carded once again compounding his disappointing showing in the West Midlands.

Despite the lack of positive impact from the aforementioned duo, there was another first-team member who failed to impress, with the talent looking like a shadow of his former self once again today.

The Spurs player who dropped a 4/10 display against Villa

For numerous years, Heung-min Son has been the shining light in a below-par period for the club, often producing the moment of magic to dig them out of a difficult moment.

However, the same can’t be said in 2025, with the South Korean failing to meet the high expectations he’s set for himself during his time as a player in North London.

The display against Villa today was no different, with the 32-year-old wasteful with the ball at his feet, showing signs that the best days of his professional career are now in the rearview mirror.

Son featured for the entirety of the meeting, but could only muster a total of 23 touches, the lowest of any player who started the clash, with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky registering more with his tally of 43.

The forward missed a gilt edge chance to get Ange’s men back in the contest, completing just eight passes and losing 83% of the duels he entered, leading to journalist Japtej Ghura labelling his display as “inexcusable”.

He also lost possession eight times within his 23 touches, highlighting his wasteful outing, getting dribbled past twice with his lack of explosive pace now evident – looking nowhere near the talent he once was.

To top off his showing, Son was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Express journalist Sam Smith, compounding his misery after the Lilywhites’ cup exit.

Tel’s late goal is proof that is coming to the point where the South Korean may have to step aside to allow the next generation to take over in North London – a difficult decision undoubtedly given his career at the club.

However, football is a cutthroat industry and if the club are to progress and fight for a trophy at any point in the near future, it’s crucial that Postecoglou axes the forward from his starting lineup.

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