Australia coach Andrew McDonald saw small signs of encouragement from Sam Konstas in the second Test against West Indies but has indicated there will “great opportunity” for players to push their case for Ashes selection early in the domestic season and in Australia A matches.Konstas made 25 in the first innings in Grenada before following that with a duck during a brief period of batting late on the second day. He will play the final match at Sabina Park, the ground’s first day-night Test, which provides an opportunity to finish on a high and leave himself near the head of the selection queue for the home Ashes series later in the year.”Four games in, eight innings, it’s probably early for anyone to judge, really,” McDonald said of Konstas’ early Test career. “I think the challenges in Test cricket aren’t necessarily always your skill level or your technique. It’s dealing with the moments, the pressure, all the other things that externally come with that as well. He’s a player finding his feet in the environment.Related

• Ashes Slashes: Broad gives 'muddled' Australia top three the thumbs down

• 'Don't get too caught up in every innings' – Cummins urges Konstas to look at the big picture

• Carey keeps on keeping on as Australia's quiet achiever

• Starc, Hazlewood make quick work of West Indies to help Australia retain Frank Worrell Trophy

“[It was] a small step forward in the last game with that first innings. I thought the way he structured up his first 20-odd balls, he had the positive intent, he was moving a lot better compared to the game before where it looked like he was stuck in the middle and didn’t know whether to play a shot and it was either ultra-aggressive or ultra-defensive.”Konstas will likely feature in the four-day matches on the Australia A tour of India in late September before being available for the opening Sheffield Shield matches in early October with four rounds expected before the start of the Ashes.”There’s great opportunity in domestic cricket at the start of the season, and there always is leading into any Test series,” McDonald said. “We saw with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, there was opportunity for players to put their hand up there. There’s also Australia A [against Sri Lanka A] in the Top End [Darwin] at the moment, so we’re watching that closely…so it’s really about the opportunity that presents.”First and foremost, we concentrate on what’s right here, right now. Everyone will be speculating around who can come in, what possibilities are, but we’re confident the players that we’ve got here can do the job.”Prior to the tour, McDonald said it may not be possible to draw huge relevance from this tour to the Ashes and it is a view he maintains despite it having been pace-bowler dominated rather than seeing a significant role for spin.”There’s been a lot of variable bounce and sideways movement, so it’s probably not similar to Australia,” he said. “Maybe some surfaces will be. I think Perth potentially, when it does crack a little bit, it can go up and down and a little bit sideways. But I think the first four rounds of Shield cricket will draw a better connection to the Ashes than what we’re seeing here.”What we are seeing here, though, is people getting exposed at Test level, and within that exposure, the mental challenges of Test cricket are real.”Usman Khawaja has been troubled from around the wicket•Associated Press

The continued scrutiny of the top-order was eased somewhat by Cameron Green’s half-century, but is countered by the struggles of Usman Khawaja. McDonald was keen to stress that Australia have ended as comfortable winners of both Tests. West Indies crumbled in both second innings – facing just 34.3 overs in Grenada and 33.4 in Barbados – having been on even terms after two days.”For every failure in the top-order, the middle-order’s been able to get us out of those situations and vice versa,” he said. “We’ve had times when the top-order’s prospered and the middle potentially hasn’t delivered what you’d probably expect.”Ultimately the game of cricket’s matching the bowling with the batting. At the moment we’re doing that. We’re finding ways through it. Would we like to have greater output from the top-order? There’s no doubt about that. And those players would want more runs. But they’ll come.”We’ve been able to find a way through the West Indies batting order…and they’ve been quite big victories.”McDonald added he did not foresee any changes for the final Test, which will be Mitchell Starc’s 100th, although they will assess players once in Jamaica.A decision on whether to release Marnus Labuschagne from the squad will be taken once play starts. There is an option for him to rejoin for Glamorgan in the County Championship or potentially head to Darwin for the second four-day game against Sri Lanka A which starts on July 20. However, giving him a break before the August ODI series against South Africa is also a possibility.

Gill had accused England of breaching “the spirit of the game” but Crawley shrugged that off

Matt Roller24-Jul-20250:49

What makes Crawley and Duckett click as a pair?

Zak Crawley has revealed that he “loved” his role in the timewasting row at Lord’s and sensed “a good chance” to rile India by playing pantomime villain after his 84 laid the foundations for England’s strong response in Manchester.Crawley was told to “grow some f***ing balls” by Shubman Gill, India’s captain, as he successfully ran the clock down on the third evening at Lord’s, and the pair later pointed fingers at one another in a heated exchange. Gill attempted to reignite the tension between the sides by accusing England of breaching “the spirit of the game”, a charge which Crawley shrugged off.”I’ve always enjoyed that part of cricket, to be honest, especially when you’re batting,” he said. “There’s two of you against eleven and they’re desperate to get you out, and they’re chirping you.”Most of the time, I’d probably let it slide, and then other times, I feel like it’s a good chance to put it back on them. I loved that little eight-minute passage. No-one stepped over the line. I thought everyone was in good spirits. It was just competitive cricket, and I really enjoyed it.”Related

When left is right for Jofra Archer

'England openers came out 90 seconds late' – Gill on Lord's sledging

Pant bats with fractured foot to add crucial runs at Old Trafford

Pant suffers foot fracture, set to miss remainder of series

Asked whether he had intentionally arrived at the crease late, as Gill suggested, Crawley said: “No, no. Not at all. I sit in my spot [in the dressing room] until the umpires go out. I saw the umpires go, and I walked out. I wasn’t aware that we were 90 seconds late, but fair enough.”Crawley’s 84 on Thursday was his second half-century of the series and came after scores of 19, 0, 18 and 22 in the second and third Tests. He hit 124 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May, but this was his highest score against a World Test Championship opposition since his 189 against Australia two years ago, also at Emirates Old Trafford.”I have high standards for myself, and I work very hard in my game,” he said. “I always want more for myself, and I’ve certainly wanted more for myself than I’ve got in the last year or so. That’s just an internal thing. I don’t feel that pressure from anyone else.”I just feel like I owe it to myself to have a few more good performances. Days like today make the practice and the tougher times worth it a bit more. Obviously, I wanted more runs today, but I feel like I’ve worked hard and earned those runs.”2:17

Crawley: ‘Owe it to myself to have a few good performances’

Crawley said that he had worked hard on trying to stay “relaxed” at the crease after a series of “half-hearted” dismissals in the series. “Sometimes you’re looking for something a little bit too much… It looks too aggressive, but in my mind, actually, I was like, ‘Too half-hearted.’ I was pleased today that when it was there to hit, I put my hands through it.”He explained that he had taken deep breaths before facing up several times throughout his innings to “take the tension out” of his body, conscious of his poor recent form. “It’s hard: the big crowds, haven’t had loads of runs of late, you get a bit tense. I always play my best when I’m really relaxed,” Crawley said.”There are little things, little triggers that you have in the middle that make you feel relaxed, whether it be walking slower or anything like that… I certainly didn’t do it as well at Edgbaston. I was absolutely knackered when we were batting there, so it was pretty hard to feel sharp. But I did it much better today, and I was happy about that.”Crawley eventually fell to Ravindra Jadeja, well caught by KL Rahul at slip, after adding 166 for the first wicket with Ben Duckett. It was their fifth 100-plus stand as an opening pair and the second of the series, and Crawley said that he was more than happy to let Duckett – who made 94 – be “the leader” of their partnership.”He’s a phenomenal player and he takes a lot of pressure off me,” Crawley said. “He scores at a run-a-ball effortlessly, and it allows you to go about your business. We talk a lot in the middle about how we want to go about it, and obviously our height difference – and being left-right-hand – probably makes it quite hard for the bowlers at times, when we’re both going well at either end.”

Liverpool supporters are likely to be buoyed by some fresh remarks regarding the club’s January transfer business, as FSG line up a move for one of Europe’s brightest defensive talents.

Liverpool's centre-back issues under the spotlight

The Reds have looked flawed this season, with record signings Florian Wirtrz and Alexander Isak still bedding in and Mohamed Salah among those out of form, and they also look light on centre-back options.

Granted, Virgil van Dijk largely looks as good as ever, barring a recent dip, but he is 34 years of age and will need replacing eventually, while Ibrahima Konate has flattered to deceive and is injury-prone.

Joe Gomez is another player who is known for his fitness woes in his career, while highly-rated new signing Giovanni Leoni will cruelly miss the rest of the season after suffering ACL damage in the EFL Cup clash with Southampton.

Not only that, but Marc Guehi is now being linked with a move to Bayern Munich, and Liverpool’s failure to sign the Crystal Palace captain on deadline day is increasingly looking like a bitter blow.

The January window will give the Reds a chance to bolster their defensive options, with Bayern Munich’s Dayo Upamecano linked with a move recently, and now another Bundesliga player has been backed to come in.

Liverpool could sign another "phenomenal" England international with Guehi

He is having an outstanding period in his career.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 25, 2025 Liverpool "serious" about strengthening in January

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness, who is well connected on Merseyside and now reports for Football Insider, claims Liverpool could look to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck in January, with “serious movement” expected in the market.

“He’s proven to be the best defender so far this season in the Bundesliga. He looks to be a real talent and he’s the right age at 25. Look, there is no doubt Liverpool are working overtime right now trying to fix this defence. They’ve got to push the boat out in January.

“It doesn’t look as though it’s going to be Schlotterbeck now, but he could still be one of the targets, certainly. I do expect to see some serious movement in January from Liverpool, and they’re going to be spending where they probably hadn’t planned to because there’s some some cracks appearing. They’re going to have to get that defence shored up.”

A new centre-back does feel like a pressing matter for Liverpool, given the aforementioned options there, both in terms of form and fitness.

It often feels like a matter of time before Konate misses a chunk of action, and should Van Dijk pick up an injury, it would have the potential to completely derail the Reds’ season.

Appearances

4

8

Starts

4

8

Minutes played

360

720

Clearances per game

5.5

4.9

Tackles per game

1.8

2.0

Aerial duel wins per game

1.8

2.9

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

1

Schlotterbeck stands out as an impressive option alongside Guehi, but it remains to be seen if Dortmund let him go, and the likes of Arne Slot and Richard Hughes have a big decision to make when it comes to whether to wail until the end of the season for the ideal signing or not.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em 11 de julho de 1920, o Corinthians superou o Santos por 11 a 0, impondo a maior goleada da história do Clássico Alvinegro e do clube. O placar ainda poderia ter sido maior, tendo em vista que o jogo nem chegou ao fim. 

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFlamengoFlamengo pode aumentar freguesia do Corinthians em ItaqueraFlamengo05/10/2023CorinthiansAbatido e frustrado, Duílio conta os dias para deixar a presidência do CorinthiansCorinthians05/10/2023CorinthiansFortaleza encerra sequência invicta de Mano Menezes em estreias pelo CorinthiansCorinthians05/10/2023

+Fortaleza encerra sequência invicta de Mano Menezes em estreias pelo Corinthians

Tudo aconteceu no primeiro turno do Campeonato Paulista daquele ano. Jogando na Vila Belmiro, o Santos não soube aproveitar o fator casa e foi dominado. Aos 21 minutos do segundo tempo, o árbitro Eduardo Taurisano teve que encerrar a partida por falta de atletas adversários. Afinal, cinco jogadores santistas foram expulsos por enfrentarem a arbitragem.

O Timão começou o duelo com muita vontade e determinação. Assim, logo abriu o placar. O primeiro tempo terminou com um resultado já elástico. Os clubes foram para o vestiário com a vitória parcial de 5 a 0 para o Corinthians. Na segunda etapa, os visitantes continuaram a atacar. Sem chances de reação, o Santos começou a forçar expulsões.

continua após a publicidade

+Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Os dez primeiros gols foram de Basílio, Bororó, Amílcar, Neco (três gols) e Gambarotta (quatro gols). O último, porém, foi de um santista. O detalhe é que Ary Patusca balançou as redes propositalmente, como forma de protesto, e não escondeu isso. Desse modo, o árbitro teve que o expulsar por atitude antidesportiva e encerrar o confronto antes do esperado.

O Corinthians, que nada tinha a ver com a confusão, comemorou muito aquela goleada, que até hoje se mantém como a maior da história do Clássico Alvinegro. Depois disso, o Santos abandonou o torneio e o Corinthians ficou em terceiro lugar na tabela ao final da competição.

continua após a publicidade

ESCALAÇÃO DO CORINTHIANS NESSE JOGO: Colombo; Nando e Gano; Garcia, Amílcar e Ciasca; Américo, Neco, Bororó, Gambarotta e Basílio. Técnico/Capitão:Amílcar Barbuy

Estagiário sob supervisão de Vinícius Perazzini*

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansLance!Santos

قام ثنائي فريق مانشستر سيتي، إيرلينج هالاند وفيل فودين، باستفزاز جماهير فريق ليفربول، خلال مباراتهما مساء أمس، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” قمة منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26، حيث حقق مانشستر سيتي فوزًا كاسحًا على ليفربول بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. روبرتسون: ليفربول تعرض لضربة قوية أمام مانشستر سيتي.. وانتظرونا بعد عيد الميلاد

جاءت أهداف مانشستر سيتي في شباك ليفربول عن طريق كل من إيرلينج هالاند، نيكو جونزاليس وجيريمي دوكو.

وخلال احتفال لاعبي مانشستر سيتي بهدف دوكو المذهل في الشوط الثاني، ظهر إيرلينج هالاند وفيل فودين وهما يستفزان جماهير ليفربول على طريقتهما الخاصة.

ووجد هالاند وفيل فودين تفاحة ملقية على أرض الملعب، من جانب الجماهير، وتحصل عليها الإنجليزي في البداية وتناول قضمة منها، قبل أن يمنحها للنرويجي الذي تناول جزءًا آخر منها، قبل أن يلقيها على الأرض من جديد.

the Haaland & Foden apple incident from this angle😂😂

pic.twitter.com/WNzrK3QHDy — foland (fan) (@propsMCFC) November 10, 2025

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي حاليًا المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 22 نقطة، بفارق 4 نقاط عن آرسنال المتصدر، في حين تراجع ليفربول إلى المركز الثامن برصيد 18 نقطة.

Warwickshire battle through six wickets for Rocchiccioli but stalemate beckons on final day

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Jul-2025

James Coles brought up his 150•Getty Images

Warwickshire 415 (Yates 93, Hain 87, Barnard 66, Crocombe 3-82) and 88 for 1 trail Sussex 533 (Hughes 151, Coles 150, Rocchiccioli 6-173) by 30 runsJames Coles made 150 and there were six wickets for Warwickshire offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli but despite their efforts Sussex’s Rothesay County Championship match against Warwickshire is heading for a draw.Coles’ second successive Championship hundred helped Sussex take a first-innings lead of 118 after their first innings ended on 433, 20 minutes after tea on day three.It left Warwickshire with 24 overs to get through to stumps and they closed on 88 for one, losing Rob Yates for 11 when he inside-edged a fine ball from Ollie Robinson onto his middle stump.Off-spinner Jack Carson nearly broke through late on but Daniel Ibrahim put down a tough chance at short leg to reprieve skipper Alex Davies, who has so far added 66 with Tom Latham as Warwickshire closed 30 runs in arrears. But the effects of a slow pitch and the Kookaburra ball are likely to ensure a stalemate, especially with some rain in the forecast on the final day.Coles, 21, made an unbeaten 148 against Durham last week and followed it up with his sixth first-class hundred, sharing stands of 73 with Dan Ibrahim (36), 59 with John Simpson (30) and 50 with Fynn Hudson-Prentice (45) before he was sixth out, caught behind via an inside edge off Ethan Bamber.He had to be patient for long periods. Even without Chris Rushworth, who injured his hamstring after sending down just three overs on the second day, Warwickshire bowled diligently and fielded well. Coles, unbeaten on 50 overnight, brought up his hundred with an edge to the third boundary just before lunch, but it was one of the few unconvincing shots he played in nearly six-and-a-half hours at the crease when he faced 294 balls, an outstanding effort on another day of sweltering heat at Hove. He hit 19 fours and pulled a six into the pavilion off Oliver Hannon-Dalby.Warwickshire’s hard work in the field was epitomised by Rocchiccioli, the Western Australian who arrived in England for his first taste of county cricket last month having taken 84 Sheffield Shield wickets since the 2023-4 season. Here he followed up his six wickets on debut against Somerset at Edgbaston last week with six more. Three came on the second day and he had to plug away from the sea end until his 18th over today for further reward when Carson (28) was smartly taken at leg slip.Rocchiccioli then polished off the innings by removing Gurinder Sandhu and Henry Crocombe with successive deliveries. The 328 balls he sent down was the most in an innings by a Warwickshire bowler since Ashley Giles bowled 68.3 overs against Yorkshire at Headingley in 1996. He just about had the strength to doff his cap to acknowledge the appreciative applause of the crowd after he’d sent down his 50th over.Bamber was the pick of Warwickshire’s seam attack, picking up Ibrahim who played around a straight one as well as Coles and there was a wicket apiece for Yates and Ed Barnard.

Everton are building something under David Moyes’ wing – again.

Having shaped the Merseysiders into a force of consistency and resilience over a decade of tireless service, the 63-year-old has been back at the helm throughout 2025, with the summer transfer window packaging exciting new talent into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

However, with Idrissa Gueye set to leave at the end of his contract next year and Tim Iroegbunam yet to prove he has the minerals for a sustained starting role in Moyes’ system, Moyes may look to strengthen his central fold in 2026.

He does boast one of the most dynamic centre-midfielders in the Premier League, though, with this profile something that proved successful for the Scottish manager all those years ago at Goodison Park.

Moyes' best-ever Everton midfielders

Moyes enforces a principled and organised playing style, and energy and industriousness is at its heart. This was true 20 years ago, and it remains a core element of the make-up now.

But pragmatic though Moyes has been tagged at times, he has always pushed for creativity, an attacking dimension coming from the centre and with the capacity to defend strongly.

Tim Cahill embodied this. Not quite a forward, he scored lots of goals. Not quite a central midfielder, the Australian was combative and aggressive.

No player has ever featured more often in a Moyes side than Leon Osman. Not the flashiest, the versatile Englishman played his entire career on the blue half of Merseyside, save for two early-career loan spells as he was making his way.

Moyes’ Most-used Everton Midfielders

#

Player

Apps

1.

Leon Osman

345

2.

Tim Cahill

278

3.

Mikel Arteta

209

4.

Lee Carsley

194

5.

Marouane Fellaini

173

Data via Transfermarkt

Another of Moyes’ mainstays was Mikel Arteta. Look closely and you may trace elements of Moyes’ influence in the Arsenal manager’s drilled and oiled style, merged with the technical genius of Pep Guardiola to shape the Gunners into bona fide contenders at the highest level.

As a player, the 43-year-old was dynamic and intelligent, adding a dimension otherwise unavailable to the Blues team. He is creative on the ball and tenacious against the run of play, once saying he would “go through a brick wall” for Moyes.

Arteta was arguably Moyes’ most trusted lieutenant, the man who helped make it all tick.

Now, the tactician has refashioned his former favourite in the shape of a new Everton star.

Moyes' new version of Arteta

Like Arteta during his Everton prime, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a versatile midfielder.

The opening months of the 2025/26 campaign have shown the 27-year-old to be a talented and effective midfielder, situated in the centre of the park and tasked with connecting play.

Yet he arrived from Chelsea, for a £28m fee, having played second-fiddle in Enzo Maresca’s team. He was part of last term’s Club World Cup and Conference League-winning squads, but featured only 13 times in the Premier League, starting twice.

But moving to Everton was the perfect thing for a man in the prime of his career. His performances since arriving at the Hill Dickinson prove this, and he is showing too that he can be a “revelation” for multiple clubs, having been hailed as such for his efforts at Leicester by former boss Brendan Rodgers.

Averaging 1.9 key passes and winning 5.3 duels per game this term, as per Sofascore, it’s hard to argue against the success of the signing; Dewsbury-Hall may even be one of the Premier League’s most underrated signings.

Arteta’s clever and imaginative passing was a staple of his game. In this, Dewsbury-Hall could emulate him. Data from FBref shows us that the Englishman ranks among the top 8% of midfielders in the Premier League for passes into the penalty area and the top 8% for progressive passes per 90.

Starting all but one of Everton’s Premier League matches thus far, missing out against Crystal Palace due to suspension, the £90k-per-week talent has shown he has the personality and presence to become Moyes’ next Arteta, instrumental in progressing play and steering Everton away from their pragmatic reputation.

The likes of Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye will more often than not take the headlines, but in Dewsbury-Hall, Moyes has recycled a tried and tested playing style, and it’s already beginning to bear dividends.

Related Everton's "revelation" could become the biggest loser from Grealish's rise

Jack Grealish’s form at Everton could nudge another star out of Moyes’ best team

Posts ByWill Miller Oct 16, 2025

Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has opened up on why he dropped Mason Greenwood from the starting XI in the recent Ligue 1 win over Auxerre. The former Brighton boss was speaking ahead of the club's Champions League clash against Serie A side Atalanta, set for Wednesday night in France, and explained his reasons for keeping the ex-Manchester United man on the bench.

Greenwood snub explained

Marseille managed to beat their opponents 1-0 on Saturday, despite a player from both sides being sent off. Greenwood, who has starred for the Ligue 1 outfit since crossing the channel from England, had an unfamiliar feeling of warming the bench for the match. But De Zerbi claims it was just player management, and that he felt the forward was tired and needed a rest.

Speaking ahead of this week's European action, the Italian head coach said: "I never pick a team with the next match in mind. Atalanta isn't more important than Auxerre. Now, I can think about the match against Atalanta and then I'll think about the one against Brest.

"I felt Greenwood and Paixao were tired and less sharp. Not physically, but less sharp than usual, and less brilliant. That's why I preferred to start Aubameyang and Vaz up front. They should be ready. The Champions League is important, and I'd like to be able to prepare for this match with more options in terms of players."

AdvertisementGettyA new start in France

The 24-year-old left United in 2024 for a fee worth around £27 million, having had a turbulent few months. The ex-Red Devils star's personal life had been clouded in controversy, after he was arrested in October 2022 and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. He had previously been shipped out on loan to Spanish side Getafe by the Premier League giants, but still had plenty of interest from Europe after continuing to perform on the pitch. In 2023, all charges against Greenwood were discontinued, but United opted not to reintegrate him into their squad. Instead, he left for France, but not before United could insert a significant sell-on clause into his contract. In the time since, the academy graduate has made 49 appearances for Marseille, scoring 30 goals and notching 10 assists. 

Giants still circling

Despite his past controversies, a number of European giants are believed to be monitoring the England international, with many weighing up a move for the player. However, Marseille president Pablo Longoria will be keen to keep hold of him, after admitting he pushed to get a deal done in the first place, despite facing opposition from the mayor of the city. 

Speaking in a recent interview, he said: "At that moment, you have to think about the decision and what are the values of your club. We took a lot of information from all the clubs he played at and about what was the situation, and what had happened. At that time, you are taking advantage of a situation in the market, because you know he is super talented and you are having this possibility from a circumstance that happened in the past. There was only one person who disagreed at the table.

"Sincerely, for me it was very easy when you are convinced in all the communication strategies. You know you need a communications strategy, so let’s tell the truth. Let’s say why we take this decision, but with transparency, explaining all the processes, explaining why we arrived to take this decision. After that, time will judge."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPEyes on Atalanta

Greenwood will likely return to the starting line-up for the clash with Atalanta. So far in the Champions League, Marseille have only won one of their three games in the competition – a 4-0 win against Ajax. They gave Real Madrid a run for their money, narrowly missing out, with the same happening against Sporting CP. Greenwood will be hoping to add to his goal and assist in the competition when he faces the Italian side this week.

With a quarter of the season already played, it would be fair to say that Arsenal are flying.

Mikel Arteta’s side had a slight stumble away to Liverpool a couple of months ago, but since then, they’ve been ruthless and looked far better than the defending Premier League champions.

In fact, following their win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, the North Londoners are now seven points clear of Arne Slot’s fragile-looking Reds, and appear destined to finally end their long title drought at the fourth time of asking.

The team are looking better and better with almost every passing gameweek, and one international in particular now has a shout for being one of the best in the world, just like Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal's world-class Saka

The Arsenal squad of today is almost entirely different from the one Arteta took control of over five years ago, and now has more than its fair share of world-class players, such as Saka.

For example, despite missing almost four months of action through injury last season, the Hale End icon still ended the campaign with 26 goal involvements in 37 appearances.

Moreover, he’s already missed some of this season and has still managed to score three goals in ten appearances.

However, while there is no denying the winger’s outrageous talent, it would be fair to say that he somewhat struggled to influence proceedings on Sunday afternoon.

The 24-year-old started his third game on the bounce against Crystal Palace, but ended up coming off the pitch 66 minutes in without a goal or assist, and unlike against Fulham, without looking all that dangerous.

Now, he did complete 100% of his dribbles, won two fouls and won 100% of his aerial duels, but he also amassed a combined expected goal plus assists figure of 0.03, failed to create a big chance and didn’t take a single shot on target.

However, such a middling performance shouldn’t worry fans, as Arteta later confirmed that the talismanic winger was unwell before the game and unable to train with the team in the build-up.

So, as long as he recovers, supporters should expect Saka to be back to his world-class best for the next game he starts, which can be said about one of the Englishman’s teammates as well.

The Arsenal star becoming one of the best in the world

As things stand, it wouldn’t be all that controversial to call the likes of Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel Magehlese world-class.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Yet, there are other players in Arsenal’s squad who are getting closer and closer to being classed in the same category, such as Jurrien Timber.

The Dutch defender joined the club from Ajax in the summer of 2023, but had his first full season playing in red and white last year after missing almost all of 23/24 with an ACL injury.

The 24-year-old was undoubtedly one of the club’s bright spots last year, as, alongside the rest of the defence, he mostly stuck to his job and made the club incredibly difficult to break down.

However, so far this season, he has taken his game to another level entirely and certainly has a shout at being one of the best right-backs in the entire Premier League.

After all, as things stand, the Utrecht-born “diamond,” as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has made 12 appearances for Arteta’s side, ten of which have been starts, and has therefore been a key part of a backline that has conceded no goals in the Champions League and just three in the league.

If such a run continues, “Ajax’s crown jewel,” as analyst Ben Mattinson once dubbed him, could help the North Londoners beat Chelsea’s record of just 15 goals conceded in a league season.

However, it’s not just his defending that has got even better this year, as the dynamic full-back has also become far more of an attacking threat.

His dribbling and close control have come on leaps and bounds, and while he’s not someone who is going to deliver a Trent Alexander-Arnold-esque cross, he can and does create chances for his teammates or ends up in the box himself.

Goals

0.26

Top 1%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.26

Top 1%

Shots on Target

0.64

Top 1%

Through Balls

1.03

Top 1%

SCA (Shot)

0.51

Top 1%

Passes into Penalty Area

1.79

Top 4%

GCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.13

Top 4%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.90

Top 4%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.13

Top 4%

xG: Expected Goals

0.23

Top 7%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.23

Top 7%

Progressive Passes

6.41

Top 7%

Average Shot Distance

8.60

Top 7%

npxG/Shot

0.21

Top 7%

Pass Completion % (Medium)

88.8%

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.59

Top 7%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

2.56

Top 7%

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.26

Top 7%

GCA (Shot)

0.13

Top 7%

Tackles

3.72

Top 7%

Goals + Assists

0.38

Top 10%

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% for full-backs in the league for goals scored, shots on target, through balls, the top 4% for passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

On top of that, he also has two goals and two assists to his name in just nine league games so far this season.

Ultimately, while it is still early on in the season, it’s becoming impossible to ignore the fact that Timber is currently playing like one of the best full-backs in the world.

Not Eze & Gyokeres: Arsenal pair look like the best since Bergkamp & Henry

Aretat has helped to create Arsenal’s best duo since Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 27, 2025

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits he is concerned about star striker Viktor Gyokeres after the Swede picked up a muscular injury during the win at Burnley on Saturday. The Gunners return to action this week in the Champions League when they travel to Slavia Prague, but they will face this test without their talisman up front after he missed training on Monday.

• Arteta's Gyokeres concerns

  Gyokeres has settled straight in at his new club, bagging six goals in 14 appearances across all competitions this season. Although he is yet to score against a top-half club in the Premier League, Arsenal fans have been impressed with their new striker's work on and off the ball as he continues to adapt to life back in England. But despite becoming a mainstay in the starting XI, the former Sporting man is expected to miss some time after being taken off at half-time during the 2-0 win at Turf Moor. That will include the latest instalment of Champions League action, as Arsenal look to maintain their perfect record in the competition in Prague.

  Speaking in his press conference ahead of the trip to the Czech Republic, head coach Arteta admitted he is worried about the extent of the 27-year-old's injury. He said: "I am concerned because he hasn't had many muscular issues, and he had to leave the pitch as he was feeling something. That is a concern for a player who is very explosive."

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Arsenal in familiar territory

  The Gunners now find themselves in a familiar situation. With no Gyokeres, there is no recognised striker available for the club, with both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz missing as well. The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Arteta, as his side look to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. As mentioned by the Spaniard, Gyokeres has never struggled with injuries in his career. The ex-Brighton and Coventry man has missed just five games for club and country in his career, but a muscle issue for a player who relies on being explosive with his movements is not a good sign. Rivals Tottenham had a similar problem with centre-back Micky van de Ven last season. The Dutchman – known for his pace and running power – tore his hamstring, the worst possible injury for a player of his type. Arteta will be hoping that the extent of Gyokeres' injury is far less serious. 

• Squad depth set to be tested

  On top of Gyokeres, Havertz and Jesus, Arsenal are missing several other key players. Midfielder Martin Zubimendi also reported muscle discomfort during the Burnley match and was substituted late on for Christian Norgaard after receiving treatment. Although the Spaniard is suspended for the trip to Prague after collecting three yellow cards in the competition, he did take part in Monday’s training session, which serves as a positive sign ahead of the Gunners' Premier League meeting with Sunderland this weekend.

  Noni Madueke, who arrived from Chelsea in a £50 million deal during the summer, has been out since September with a knee injury picked up during a 1-1 draw against Manchester City. The winger avoided surgery and is reportedly pushing for a return to boost his chances of representing England during the upcoming international break.

  Club captain Martin Odegaard has endured a difficult season with recurring shoulder issues and a recent knee injury sustained in last month’s 2-0 win over West Ham. He has not featured since that match, though Arteta is optimistic that Odegaard, along with Havertz and Madueke, could be fit for the upcoming north London derby.

  If that was not enough damage to the Arsenal squad, Gabriel Martinelli has also missed the past two games after suffering a thigh strain late in the win against Crystal Palace in October. It means the London club must dig deep as we barrel towards the break, and hope that they can regain their core ahead of a crucial winter period as they push for the title.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The year of the Gunners?

  Every game will feel like a final for Arsenal this season, as they chase down elusive silverware under Arteta. They remain firm favourites to win the Premier League, and amongst the top dogs in the Champions League as well. But they have been here before, and it only takes one or two slip-ups for the title to slip from a team's grasp; that is a potential banana skin when they visit Sunderland on Saturday.