Arsenal have been handed a Noni Madueke injury blow as Mikel Arteta receives some news about the in-form summer signing.

Noni Madueke subbed off half-time with injury in Man City draw

The England winger’s electric start to life in north London has attracted due praise, with Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera arguably standing out as Andrea Berta’s finest purchases thus far.

Arteta has started Madueke in five out of Arsenal’s first six games in all competitions so far, and the England international has repaid that faith by terrorising full-backs with his trickery, burst of pace and initiative in the final third.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

Just months ago, Gunners supporters were protesting the ex-Chelsea star’s arrival with a petition and ‘#NoToMadueke’ movement on social media platform X, but fast-forward to now, and those same fans are now very worried about a potential long-term injury for him.

Madueke has also shined for the Three Lions under Thomas Tuchel on international duty, and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville is among the critics to admit they’ve been left surprised by the 23-year-old’s excellent performances in an Arsenal shirt.

In place of the previously injured Bukayo Saka, Madueke dazzled on the right-wing, but Arteta now faces the prospect of being without him.

The former PSV Eindhoven forward was forced off at half-time in Arsenal’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Man City on Sunday, and there are some fears that Madueke may have suffered an ACL injury.

If that were the case, he’d face months on the sidelines, but luckily for Arteta, it appears his problem isn’t as serious as that.

That being said, he’s still set for a lengthy spell out.

Arsenal dealt Noni Madueke blow as David Ornstein shares news

The reliable David Ornstein reports that Madueke avoided an ACL tear, but will be unavailable for around two months with a knee injury, putting his return date during the November international break, meaning he could play against Tottenham on November 23.

While he is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals or assists, Madueke has been without question one of Arteta’s best players of the campaign so far, so this is undoubtedly a blow for Arsenal.

Noni Madueke form at Arsenal prompts Chelsea regret

The winger was Arsenal’s most threatening player in their 1-0 loss to Liverpool prior to the last international break, before he put in a Man of the Match display against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates, whilst also impressing in the first hour of their 5-0 win over Leeds United.

Arsenal’s new £150,000-per-week star is looking like the player who expensive flop Nicolas Pepe was supposed to be, except Madueke didn’t cost a seismic £72 million to bring in.

There are some suggestions that high-ranking Chelsea chiefs held reservations over selling Madueke to Arsenal, and so far, he’s shown exactly why.

No money will be taken from the ICC’s annual payments to the Afghanistan Cricket Board

Firdose Moonda16-Apr-20252:03

Mel Jones: This group of Afghanistan women are trying to rebuild their lives

The ICC’s support plan for exiled female cricketers from Afghanistan will be funded by contributions from the ICC, BCCI, ECB and CA and will not include any money from the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) annual disbursements. An ICC spokesperson confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the initiative to assist the country’s displaced women cricketers, which will include coaching and mentorship, “will be constituted through a dedicated fund,” and the ACB will continue to receive its full amount from the ICC.Last year, the prospect of ring-fencing an amount for women’s cricket from the ACB’s portion of the ICC’s revenue distributions was discussed but that plan did not come to fruition. The ACB is the only Full Member board that does not field a women’s team, and is not able to because of the severe restrictions on women’s rights after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.The ICC’s latest plan, announced after their board meeting in Zimbabwe last weekend, is the first attempt by the game’s global governing body to engage with Afghanistan’s female cricketers in four years. It neither amounts to official recognition nor does it clear the path for Afghanistan to field a women’s team, as such a team can only be ratified by the ACB. Instead, the ICC hopes to work with Afghanistan’s female cricketers to provide them with both access to the game and funding for further education.Related

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“The ICC does not select a team for Afghanistan. Rather, we are committed to addressing the complexities of the issue and finding a solution that fits within the ICC’s legal and constitutional framework,” the spokesperson said.It was also confirmed that the ICC’s initiative will not be limited to the 19 Afghan cricketers resident in Australia but, “the plan is to include all displaced Afghan women cricketers regardless of their location.”The exiled Afghanistan Women in Australia played a T20 against the charity Cricket Without Borders•Martin Keep/AFP/Getty ImagesSome of the 25 players originally contracted by the ACB In 2020, prior to the Taliban takeover, live in Canada and the United Kingdom. As reported by ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday, the organisation Pitch Our Future, which was set up earlier this year for the 19 Afghan cricketers resident in Australia, will provide the ICC with the names of all the formerly contracted players who will then go through “an accreditation process administered in collaboration with the ICC member boards,” in order to access the benefits of the initiative.The details of training camps and exhibition matches will be fleshed out in the coming weeks once the ICC has appointed a task force to head up the support program. Pitch Our Future, who have already staged a match between an Afghan Women’s XI and the charity Cricket Without Borders on January 30 in Melbourne, hope to work with the ICC and already have a three-year budget and plans for activities including a trip to the Women’s World Cup 2025 to give Afghanistan’s female cricketers exposure to the game they love.CA have already played a role in assisting the Afghan cricketers through their support for Pitch Our Future but will now, along with the ECB and BCCI, also make a financial contribution. Between them, these three boards earn more than 51% of the ICC’s annual revenue, with the BCCI accounting for 38.5%.

Liverpool won the Premier League with relative ease last season, and so FSG’s staggering summer of spending at Anfield must have struck quite the frisson of fear through the rest of the European game.

Though Arne Slot’s side haven’t been at their best across the opening fixtures of the season, they have claimed nine points from nine in the league, winning a tough match at St. James’ Park before narrowly seeing off title rivals Arsenal after Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick.

The Reds haven’t looked at their most fluent, but new number nine Hugo Ekitike has certainly started in fine fettle, three goals and an assist from his first four games.

Undroppable, right? However, the deadline-day acquisition of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak maybe stirs the pot a tad up top.

What Isak brings to Liverpool

Liverpool have two of the most dynamic strikers in the game in Isak and Ekitike, but both would fancy themselves at their most fluent and formidable when threatening from the centre.

Isak is the more clinical and refined man, to be sure, but he’s also nearly three years Ekitike’s senior.

Having two high-level centre-forwards isn’t the worst problem for Slot to have, but he is going to need to consider ferrying one out to the left wing or pushing Liverpool toward a tactical transformation.

However, neither have Cody Gakpo’s fluency as a left-sided forward.

And, of course, Liverpool have already sold an elite winger in Luis Diaz who could have been the perfect balancing force in the frontline.

Liverpool may regret selling Luis Diaz

Liverpool sold Diaz to Bayern Munich for £65.5m in July, with the German giants convincing the 28-year-old to join after FSG failed to agree terms on a new contract with the Reds winger.

He arrived from Porto as Jurgen Klopp’s choice of replacement for Sadio Mane, and though he didn’t quite live up to the same stratospheric heights, succeeded all the same.

Indeed, Klopp himself lauded his new arrival as a “top world level player” back in April 2022.

He leaves an integral part of an illustrious period in Liverpool’s history, having scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions last term, filling in at centre-forward on multiple occasions.

Though some questioned Diaz’s output, he didn’t do too badly, ranking fourth among all left wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for goal contributions, and in what many would describe as the toughest division of the lot.

Most Goals + Assists from LW (Top 5 Leagues 24/25)
Player	Goals	Assists
Raphinha	18	11
Bradley Barcola	14	10
Vinicius Junior	11	10
Luis Diaz	13	7
Vincenzo Grifo	8	11
Data via Transfermarkt

Given that Isak arrives at Liverpool with a wealth of prolific Premier League experience under his belt, he could have formed an incredible partnership with Diaz, who always balanced his output and ranked among the top 9% of positional peers in the Premier League last season for pass completion, keeping it crisp and opening up a strong supply line with the Sweden star.

The fact that Liverpool’s player sales across the summer has left them with a smaller net spend than Arsenal perhaps underlines the suggestion that Diaz needn’t have been sold.

The emergence of 17-year-old sensation Rio Ngumoha has tempered the Colombian’s departure, but Diaz remains one of the most experienced and dynamic forwards in the business.

Equally, Florian Wirtz’s struggles across his initial foray into the English game are a reminder that Diaz was pretty crucial in Slot’s title-winning team, and he will be missed as the campaign progresses.

Now worth more than Isak: Liverpool wanted to sign "one of the best in the world"

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By
Ben Gray

Sep 2, 2025

على الرغم من تدهور علاقة رودري وريال مدريد بعد صراع الكرة الذهبية العام الماضي، إلا أن النادي الإسباني لم يغفل عن موهبة نجم مانشستر سيتي الكبيرة.

وقد ارتبط ريال مدريد بشكل متزايد بالتعاقد مع رودري لاعب خط وسط مانشستر سيتي في الأشهر الأخيرة، وهو أمر مثير للاهتمام في وقت يبقى فيه مستقبل فينيسيوس جونيور غامضًا.

وعلى الرغم من معاناة رودري من إصابات عديدة إلا أن ريال مدريد يدرك موهبة اللاعب الإسباني وما يمكن أن يضيفه للفريق.

اقرأ أيضاً.. ريفالدو: أتفهم سبب غضب فينيسيوس.. ولم يعجبني أداء برشلونة أمام ريال مدريد

ونقلاً عن صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية فإن مانشستر سيتي يدرك تماماً موهبة رودري ويسعى الآن لتمديد عقده.

وينتهي عقد رودري الحالي مع مانشستر سيتي في عام 2027 ويحرص النادي على تجديد عقده قبل فوات الآوان، وبدأ السيتيزن بالفعل تجديد عقد اللاعب الإسباني حيث تعافى من إصابته والمفاوضات جارية.

وحدد مانشستر سيتي رودري كلاعب أساسي في النادي، ويسعى النادي الإنجليزي لتأمين مستقبل ركيزة أساسية للفريق، ويعد هذا جزء من استراتيجية للحفاظ على لاعبيه الأساسيين.

After years in the wilderness, Sunderland have returned to the Premier League with intent.

Having already defied expectations by winning promotion, the Black Cats made sure their return was backed by serious financial investment.

The new arrivals included Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, Simon Adingra from Brighton, Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge, Noah Sadiki from Union SG, Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, and Nordi Mukiele from PSG.

For a club looking not just to survive but to compete, Sunderland needed players who could combine technical quality with the grit and work rate that defines their fanbase.

Few would have predicted such an impressive start.

With three wins from their first five matches, Régis Le Bris’ side sit fifth in the Premier League – an extraordinary beginning that has silenced talk of a relegation fight, at least for now.

This weekend’s trip to Old Trafford will provide a serious test, but Sunderland have already shown that they are capable of defying expectations.

Remembering Seb Larsson at Sunderland

For many supporters, this new Sunderland project has triggered memories of players who once carried the red and white in the Premier League.

In particular, Seb Larsson, one of Sunderland’s most reliable and technically gifted players of the modern era.

Larsson, signed on a free transfer from Birmingham City in 2011, became known for his relentless energy, vision, and above all, his set-piece quality.

He scored on his debut against Liverpool with a stunning volley and went on to make 203 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 21 assists before leaving when the club were relegated.

Arsène Wenger once described him as “maybe the best in the league as a free-kick-taker”, a reputation that endeared him to fans and opponents alike.

One of the new guard, meanwhile, is beginning to play a similar role for this Sunderland side.

While not yet at Larsson’s level of influence, his ability to dictate tempo, carry the ball, and press with intensity has been pivotal.

His profile – both statistically and stylistically – suggests he can grow into that same kind of heartbeat role for the Black Cats.

Sunderland star taking on the Larsson role

Only 25 years old, Enzo Le Fee already looks like Sunderland’s most important long-term signing.

Initially joining on loan from Roma last season, he became a permanent addition this summer for £19m, after playing a crucial role in their promotion campaign.

He made 18 Championship appearances, scoring once and registering three assists, and played the full 95 minutes in the famous 2-1 play-off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley.

This season, he has taken the step up to the Premier League with composure. This comes as no surprise for a player who was once described as a “sensational player” and someone who “does not belong in the Championship” by Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman.

In his first five appearances, he has already opened his account, scoring a late equaliser against Brentford before Sunderland sealed victory with a stoppage-time winner.

Matches Played

5

Goals

1

Shot-Creating Actions

7

Progressive Carries

2

Progressive Passes

6

The numbers show why he is so highly regarded.

Compared to midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the 89th percentile for progressive carries (2.30 per 90), the 85th percentile for successful take-ons (1.00 per 90), and the 85th percentile for tackles (2.87 per 90).

He also sits in the 99th percentile for blocks (2.30 per 90), underlining his defensive work rate and commitment.

Such a well-rounded profile has drawn comparisons to the likes of Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid, as per FBref’s similar players model – both players capable of blending defensive grit with forward drive.

For Sunderland, this balance is invaluable.

He is not just a technical player; he is the engine that allows the team to press, recover, and transition quickly.

Having already made three appearances for France, Le Fee has international pedigree to match his domestic form.

Sunderland fans will be hoping that his career trajectory continues to rise in the same way Larsson once did – creating opportunities, and chipping in with decisive moments.

While the headlines this summer focused on Sunderland’s spending spree and record transfer figures, it may well be that Le Fee – signed before the money poured in – emerges as the player who truly makes the difference.

Much like Larsson before him, he has the tools to define an era at the Stadium of Light.

Le Bris has found Sunderland's new Amad Diallo in "electric" star

Heading into their clash with Manchester United, Sunderland could have their next Amad Diallo in the making with this exciting youngster.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 3, 2025

Club currently sit bottom of Division Two after winless start to County Championship season

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2025Keaton Jennings has stepped down as Lancashire red-ball captain with immediate effect, with the club sitting bottom of Division Two in the County Championship. Marcus Harris, the club’s Australian overseas signing, will take over as interim captain.Lancashire are winless after five games of the Championship season, having drawn four and lost one. They succumbed to a three-day defeat against Northamptonshire at the weekend, prompting the club’s management to issue an apology to supporters on Tuesday morning, in which director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, described their form as “not acceptable” and said Lancashire would “make necessary changes” to improve the situation.That has led to Jennings relinquishing the captaincy in Championship cricket, although he will continue to lead the Blast side. Appointed in 2023, he was the team’s leading first-class run-scorer last year, with 1006 at 45.72, but couldn’t prevent relegation. So far this season, he has made 337 runs at 33.70 with two half-centuries.Related

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“It’s been a huge honour to lead Lancashire Cricket in the Championship over the last couple of seasons, a club with rich history that I hold dear to my heart,” Jennings said. “This has not been an easy decision, however after reflection and conversations with the management, I believe the team will benefit from a change of captaincy.”My passion and commitment to serving Lancashire has not and will never change. Our current position in the table is not reflective of our commitment as a team and club to winning. I recognise the best way for me to serve the club is to continue to score big runs at the top of the order and put in match-winning contributions. I feel as though the team will benefit from this change and it will help to drive us forward.”I will of course provide Marcus with as much support as he wants throughout the rest of the County Championship. I know that the team is focused on our collective goal of getting Lancashire back to winning four-day cricket.”Harris is currently the leading Championship run-scorer in either division with 749 at 83.22, including three hundreds. He will be assisted in charge of the red-ball team by vice-captain, Josh Bohannon, and James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker who is expected to make his first appearance of the season in the next round of games, starting on Friday.Chilton added: “Keaton has given his total commitment to the captaincy since taking over in 2023 and remains a key figure in the dressing room.”His experience and professionalism will continue to be invaluable, and I would like to thank Keaton for his service as Lancashire’s County Championship captain in recent years. We hope that the change in captaincy will allow him to concentrate fully on his batting and take some weight off his shoulders.”Marcus will provide an alternative perspective to leadership and, although relatively new to the group, he has worked with Dale [Benkenstein] before, and everyone has seen his impact on the team’s performance in the first five games of this season. We are also hopeful that James Anderson can get back on the field adding vast experience and leadership into the side.”Lancashire’s head coach Dale Benkenstein is under growing pressure•Getty ImagesForemost among Lancashire’s issues so far this season has been an inability to take wickets at home – in three games at Emirates Old Trafford, they have only bowled the opposition out once. Their next two fixtures are against Derbyshire, at home, and Leicestershire, currently second and first respectively in Division Two.John Abrahams, chair of the cricket development committee, said the board retained faith in the coaches, led by Dale Benkenstein.”The Lancashire Cricket Board remains fully behind the coaching group, and we want members to know that the club will do whatever the cricket department needs to effect change quickly,” Abrahams said. “We continually look at different ways we can improve the squad, whether that be loan or permanent additions to the squad.”We are also working closely with the grounds team to look at how we can perform better at Emirates Old Trafford, having experienced the challenging conditions to bowl teams out twice.”I’d like to thank the members for their continued support of the club, and we all hope to see a change of fortunes for the team in the next couple of weeks in the County Championship, ahead of the Vitality Blast starting at the end of this month.”

Hampshire slump to another thumping defeat after offspinner completes five-wicket haul

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay25-May-2025

Jack Carson walks off with the match ball after taking 5 for 26•Neil Marshall

Jack Carson’s five-wicket haul wrapped up a simple three-day victory for Sussex as they won on the road for the first time in the Rothesay County Championship this season.Offspinner Carson found turn, bounce and a bagful of Hampshire wickets as he ripped through three of the four remaining batters to pick up five for 26 – his best of the campaign.Hampshire were bowled out for 165, and despite Oli Carter falling, Tom Haines and Tom Alsop easily knocked off the 23 runs needed to take them past the winning line before lunch.Sussex’s third win of their return to Division One came with 20 points, to keep tabs on the leading title contenders.Hampshire began the day trailing by 29 runs, but they had only whittled that down to 15 before Brad Wheal turned Carson around the corner to leg slip.There was a mini-flashpoint when James Fuller and bowler Nathan McAndrew collided during a single. Liam Dawson wasn’t impressed, although the umpires calmed things quickly.Dawson took the hosts into a slender lead, his two accompanied by a huge cheer, but just 10 runs later he tried to ride Carson’s turn, but tickled behind to John Simpson.Dawson had been the main hope for Hampshire to test Sussex, but his exit for 48 saw Kyle Abbott edge to slip three balls later.Henry Crocombe put Hampshire out of their misery when John Turner prodded a short ball to short leg.Dawson managed to get Carter’s edge but it was a rare moment of joy as Sussex ticked off the runs in under 15 minutes.It was a particularly revered victory for the visitors, with strike bowler Ollie Robinson rested with an ankle injury and overseas opener Daniel Hughes absent awaiting the birth of his first child.Captain John Simpson had noted his side had “punched above expectation” so far this season. They leapfrogged Hampshire with the win, and also kept in touching distance of the title pacesetters.Simpson’s third century of the season, in a 173-run stand with Fynn Hudson-Prentice, was the difference in the match, while Crocombe’s first appearance of the season was a huge success – four explosive wickets in the first innings were followed by a tidy two for 44 in the second.For Hampshire, it was their first home defeat in the Championship since July 2023, with this only their fourth loss at Utilita Bowl since April 2019.Although this fixture was the first between the two south coast counties in a decade, Sussex have still only lost once on this ground in 10 red-ball outings – 20 years ago.Hampshire have endured a rollercoaster trio of matches heading into the Vitality Blast portion of the season.A dismal performance against Nottinghamshire was followed by a sensational victory at Edgbaston, which relighted excitement of a potential title charge, only for a seven-session mauling.Their six batting bonus points in the first block of Championship games is only better than bottom-side Worcestershire, with only Ben Brown of the regulars to average over 40. Only he and Nick Gubbins have recorded centuries.They didn’t get a batting point in this match, and only took three points from a dire week.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank will “definitely” be without a star player for this weekend’s trip to Leeds United, with the Dane looking to get back to winning ways after a hard-fought draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.

Tottenham display grit again after rescuing 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt

For the third time this season, Spurs were forced to come back from a deficit to salvage any kind of result, with their 2-2 battle in Norway following Tottenham’s draw at Brighton by the same scoreline and a dramatic 1-1 at home to Wolves last weekend.

On this occasion, an 89th minute own goal by Jostein Gundersen rescued Spurs from what would have been an embarrassing defeat at the Aspmyra Stadion.

Thomas Frank’s managerial record at Tottenham so far

Stats

Matches

10

Wins

5

Draws

3

Losses

2

Points

15

Points per game

1.80

The match marked a return to the venue where Tottenham had triumphed in last season’s Europa League semi-finals and booked their place in Bilbao against Man United, which proved crucial to Ange Postecoglou ending their 17-year wait for silverware, but this visit told a very different story.

Bodo/Glimt dominated for extended periods, with Jens Petter Hauge scoring twice shortly after halftime to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.

Micky van de Ven, wearing the captain’s armband, pulled one back just minutes after Hauge’s second before the dramatic late OG gave Spurs an arguably undeserved point.

Frank’s tenure thus far has attracted mixed reviews from the Lilywhites fanbase due to Tottenham’s lack of real dominance over lesser sides, and this was certainly on full display in the Arctic Circle.

That being said, you can make a very real case that all the best sides in Europe are capable of getting results despite not playing at their very best.

It is also worth remembering that Tottenham impressed against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final, battered London rivals West Ham and got the best of Premier League title contenders Man City at the Etihad, so there is reason to believe that Spurs are definitely improving from last season.

Their grit to battle back from losing positions so far is testament to this, and it is perhaps a sign of things to come under Frank as the tactician continues to assess his new squad.

Tottenham have been forced to deal with a plethora of absences for key players too, with James Maddison out for the majority of 2025/2026 after a nightmare pre-season injury, Dejan Kulusevski on the comeback trail and Radu Dragusin still recovering from an ACL problem.

Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani has been absent with a dead leg as well, but while the Frenchman is expected to return imminently, the same cannot be said for £140,000-per-week striker Dominic Solanke.

Dominic Solanke "definitely" set to miss Leeds as Tottenham given timeline

The England international was forced to undergo minor surgery on a niggling ankle problem, and while Frank doesn’t expect his lay-off to be long, journalist Tom Barclay has stated that Solanke will “definitely” be unavailable for their trip to Elland Road.

However, Tottenham are hopeful he’ll return after the international break.

His fitness issues have been a real cause for concern, with Solanke missing a total of 22 games through injury since joining Spurs from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024 as Harry Kane’s heir.

Richarlison has started almost all of Frank’s game in charge as a replacement for Solanke, scoring three goals, but concerns have surrounded the Brazilian as Tottenham’s focal point.

Last season, Solanke scored 16 goals and provided eight assists across 45 appearances in all competitions when fit and available — proving integral at times — and Frank needs the England forward back in his fold ahead of crucial matches against Aston Villa, Monaco, Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea right after the October internationals.

Few strikers have bridged eras and philosophies quite like Hernan Crespo, the Argentine who thrived under football’s finest minds. From Carlo Ancelotti’s calm mentorship at Parma and AC Milan to Jose Mourinho’s fiery motivation at Chelsea and Inter, Crespo experienced both tenderness and tenacity in leadership. Now a coach himself, he blends these lessons and teachings with empathy, pushing with passion, and inspiring with precision.

A legend shaped by great minds

Crespo’s name evokes an era of elegance, intelligence, and lethal precision in front of goal. With approximately 163 appearances and 93 goals across competitions which includes 125 Serie A matches and 76 goals, he was a master of movement and efficiency. A natural-born finisher, Crespo thrived wherever he played – River Plate, Parma, Lazio, Chelsea, Milan, or Inter. But behind the goals stood something deeper: his evolution under two contrasting masters of the game – Ancelotti and Mourinho. Reflecting on his journey, Crespo said: “Ancelotti was like a father to me when I arrived in Italy. Mourinho? An extraordinary motivator. No one gets into players’ heads like he does.” Both managers shaped him, one through warmth and wisdom, the other through challenge and conviction.

AdvertisementAFP When Crespo met Ancelotti and Mourinho

Crespo’s reflections on his former coaches reveal the essence of leadership in football. Ancelotti, who guided him during his formative years at Parma, became his moral and tactical compass. In contrast, Mourinho, whom he worked with at Chelsea and later at Inter, transformed his mentality. With Crespo now being at the helm of Sau Paulo, the Argentine speaks about what it's like being a coach.

"A player, generally speaking, thinks of himself and his own well-being. A coach has to think of a group of twenty-five or thirty people. What do you think is the hardest job? I always use the example of a school teacher who is responsible for teaching an entire class. I feel the same way when I lead a training session," said Crespo in an interview with

The 50-year-old, talking about his points of reference to coaching, said: "As for the coaching profession, I'll name three: Ancelotti, Mourinho, and Bielsa. Carlo was like a father to me when I arrived in Italy in 1996. I was twenty-one, and I learned everything from him. Mourinho is an extraordinary motivator, as I experienced at Chelsea. No one gets into players' heads like he does. And Bielsa is a visionary: he knows how to look beyond the present, he knows how to interpret football in a modern way. I take inspiration from them, but I know I'll never match their successes. But I've also achieved something on the bench… In Argentina, Brazil, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, I've achieved satisfaction and success."

Crespo's football journey: As a player and a coach

From River Plate’s Copa Libertadores triumph in 1996 to world-record transfers and multiple league titles, Crespo’s journey was nothing short of stellar. Under Ancelotti at Parma, he matured into a complete striker, winning the UEFA Cup, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana in 1999. His world-record move to Lazio in 2000 brought him the Serie A top scorer title with 26 goals. Later, under Mourinho at Chelsea, Crespo found success again, lifting the Premier League and Community Shield in 2005-06. Even during his loan at Milan, Ancelotti’s trust helped him score twice in the unforgettable 2005 Champions League final. Across Europe, Crespo’s game embodied versatility, consistency, and poise, achieving over 300 career goals and earning recognition as one of the most intelligent strikers of his generation.

Crespo’s transition from striker to strategist has been marked by the same intelligence and drive that defined his playing days. Beginning with Parma’s youth side in 2014 and later Modena in Serie B, he rose to prominence with Brazilian side Defensa y Justicia, guiding them to a historic Copa Sudamericana win in 2020. Success followed him to Sao Paulo, where he ended their decade-long title drought with the 2021 Campeonato Paulista, and later to Al-Duhail in Qatar, securing a domestic treble in 2022-23. In 2024, Crespo became the first Argentine coach to win the AFC Champions League with Al Ain, before returning to Sao Paulo in 2025.

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Getty Images SportCrespo from scoring goals to shaping minds

Now on the touchline for Sao Paulo, Crespo brings those same lessons to life. As a coach, he often compares his role to a teacher’s, guiding a classroom of players, each with unique strengths and struggles. “A player thinks about himself. A coach must think about thirty,” he explained. His managerial philosophy draws from Ancelotti’s empathy, Mourinho’s motivation, and Bielsa’s vision. Having led clubs in Argentina, Brazil, Qatar, and the UAE, Crespo blends emotional intelligence with tactical innovation, pushing his teams to think, not just play. His dream? “To coach a European team, maybe in Italy. It would be the closing of the circle.” As he continues this new chapter, Crespo remains the bridge between generations, the striker who learned from the best and now seeks to become one of them.

If you ask most fans which team had the best defence in the Premier League, most would likely say Arsenal.

Likewise, given the amount of money they spent in the summer, Liverpool would likely be described as having the best attack by most.

However, when it comes to the midfield, opinion could be split, although with players like Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Christian Norgaard, it might just be Mikel Arteta’s side again.

In particular, Zubimendi and Rice have had brilliant starts to the campaign, and what’s even more impressive is that the North Londoners could have had an even stronger midfield had they not sold an international who is a hybrid of the Spaniard and Englishman.

Zubimendi's start to life at Arsenal

Considering the club spent the best part of a year chasing the former Real Sociedad star, paying around £52m for his services and beating Real Madrid to do so, it would be fair to say that there was a level of expectation that he’d start his Arsenal career in positive fashion this season.

Fortunately, while there have been a few moments in which he’s clearly been surprised by the speed of English football, that is exactly what has happened.

For example, the game-changing Basque star has started all six Premier League games so far, as well as the Champions League clash away to Athletic Bilbao.

In those games, he has racked up two goals, both of which came in the game against Nottingham Forest, courtesy of a sensational volley and a perfectly placed header.

Moreover, there have been several times when he should have earned himself an assist, most recently when he played a perfectly dinked ball over the top of Newcastle United’s defence on Sunday, only for Nick Pope to pull off a brilliant reaction save and stop Jurrien Timber.

He’s not just been a goal threat, though, as, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 7% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for blocking passes and the aerial duels won, both per 90.

In short, Zubimendi has come in and almost straight away has become Arteta’s conductor from deep, helping break up opposition attacks and kickstart them for the Gunners.

He’s not the only summer signing making a splash in midfield in the Premier League this season, though, as a former Arsenal star who has been compared to the Spaniard and Rice is having a great campaign himself.

The former Arsenal star who is a Zubimendi & Rice hybrid

There are a few former Arsenal stars enjoying a positive start to the season this year, from Alex Iwobi at Fulham to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Marseille.

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However, although the pair are playing at the moment, they have not been compared to both Zubimendi and Rice, unlike Granit Xhaka.

Yes, the Swiss international, who left the club for around £21m in the summer of 2023 and then joined Sunderland this summer, is the former Arsenal star playing so well he’s been compared to two of Arteta’s very best players.

The comparison stems from FBref, which has concluded that in the Premier League this season, the Englishman has been the third most similar midfielder to the Black Cats ace, and the Spaniard is the eighth most similar.

To gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached, you can take a look at the underlying numbers in which the former Gunners star ranks closely to the two international stars.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.02

0.03

Expected Assists

0.10

0.10

Through Balls

0.17

0.19

Switches

0.50

0.58

Shot-Creating Actions

3.33

3.29

Goal-Creating Actions

0.67

0.58

When it comes to the former West Ham United captain, these metrics include non-penalty expected goals, expected assists, through balls, switches, shot-creating actions, and more.

It’s clear from these numbers and the eye-test that, like the Englishman, the former Bayer Leverkusen ace still has a wand of a left foot, and as Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley puts it, is “still one of the best passers in Europe.”

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.16

0.14

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.67

0.51

Tackles Won

0.83

1.02

Interceptions

1.17

1.19

Successful Take-Ons

0.17

0.17

Carries

36.2

37.1

Then, when it comes to the San Sebastián-born ace, the similarities tend to fall on the more defensive side of things, with their tackles won and interceptions per 90 being a key area in which the pair rank closely.

Ultimately, there is a strong case for Arsenal having the best midfield in the league, thanks largely to Rice and Zubimendi.

However, just think how much better their squad would be had they also kept hold of Xhaka.

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