UAE coach Lalchand Rajput will be up against the team of his country of origin, whom he coached to the T20 World Cup truimph in 2007

Sidharth Monga09-Sep-20252:38

Best of Asia Cup feat. Kohli, Naseem, Rajapaksa and others

Big picture: It’s India against Lalchand Rajput’s UAEIt’s been a month and five days since the most lucrative banner in cricket took field. It is rare that India get such a long break from international cricket. They resume international cricket with a tournament that to the cynical mind exists so that other Asian boards can benefit from India’s economic heft and in turn support the BCCI in the boardroom. However, one mustn’t downplay the opportunity it gives to some of the smaller teams to play big-time opposition.Like UAE, India’s first opponents, who have played a full T20I tri- series since India last played international cricket. They came within a shot of upsetting Afghanistan even though they didn’t win a single match in the tournament. This is just the kind of tough cricket they needed before facing the best team in the world in a year in which their momentum of a bilateral series win against Bangladesh was thwarted by two defeats in ten days to Uganda in the Pearl of Africa series.Make no mistake, they are coming up against the reigning T20 world champions, who are not just the only team to have won every match in a T20 World Cup but one that has only got better since that campaign. India may have a small weakness in not having a specialist bowler who can hit sixes, but their specialist batting’s firepower and their specialist bowling’s uniqueness makes them strong contenders for being the best T20 empire ever created.Who else to know the powerhouse India have become than the UAE coach, Lalchand Rajput, who took India to their first T20 World Cup campaign when the superstars of the game were not even serious about the format? If Rajput and captain Muhammad Waseem can plot a win against India, it will be the upset of the year.Form guideIndia: WWLWW
UAE: LLLLLIn the spotlight: Shubman Gill and Simranjeet SinghIndia’s Test captain Shubman Gill is making a comeback into the T20I team. Not just any comeback but one as a vice-captain, which suggests he will take his opening position. There can be an argument made that he never lost the place, he was asked to vacate it as he prepared for what was perceived as more important cricket at that time. Now he comes back as India get a little more serious about their combination in the lead-up to their world title defence early next year. And he comes back with form: 650 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of 155.87 while batting within himself.Fellow Punjabi, Ludhiana’s Simranjeet Singh bowled to Gill in the nets when the India Test captain was about 12 years old. Always on the fringes of Punjab and Kings XI Punjab, left-arm spinner Simranjeet was stranded in Dubai during the Covid-19 lockdown. He ended up staying back, coaching young cricketers, and now, at 35, will come up against Gill, who has just turned 26.10:21

Does Samson get a place in India’s starting XI?

Team news: Will Sanju Samson get a chance?The big question for India is around Sanju Samson and the No. 8. If Gill takes the opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma, does Samson bat at No. 3 or in the middle order or does he get to play at all? An ideal T20 combination won’t ask him to bat out of position or disrupt their Nos. 3 and 4, which should open the door for Jitesh Sharma to come back into the XI. Stranger things have happened, though, and there is a lot of popular backing for Samson.The other question for India is: do they play four specialist bowlers plus two allrounders and have no batting from No. 8 onwards or do they go three plus three? If they go four plus two, they could play both mystery spinners in Kuldeep Yadav Varun Chakravarthy, with Harshit Rana asked to do a batting job at No. 8. Three plus three will call for one of the spinners to be left out unless the pitch is a turner, which it doesn’t seem to be.India (possible): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Varun ChakravarthyAlishan Sharafu, back to opening the innings during the tri-series after an experiment to space the big hitters out through the order, should continue doing so with captain Waseem. Asif Khan and wicketkeeper Rahul Chopra should form the rest of the core of the batting. Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid and Haider Ali are the core of the bowling, with Simranjeet making an impression with figures of 4-0-24-1 in his only match this year.UAE (possible): 1 Muhammad Waseem (capt), 2 Alishan Sharafu, 3 Rahul Chopra (wk), 4 Asif Khan, 5 Muhammad Farooq, 6 Harshit Kaushik, 7 Muhammad Zohaib, 8 Muhammad Jawadullah/Saghir Khan, 9 Haider Ali, 10 Junaid Siddique, 11 Muhammad RohidPitch and conditionsWhen India played in Dubai earlier in the year, in the ODI Champions Trophy, they unleashed four spinners on a used surface. The pitches are likely to be fresher and livelier for the Asia Cup, which might call for more balanced attacks and a second specialist fast bowler to partner Jasprit Bumrah. The oppressive heat at this time of the year will test the conditioning of both the sides.Stats and trivia UAE have played India only once in T20Is, losing by nine wickets in the 2016 Asia Cup. They have also lost each of their three ODIs against India, the last of those in the 2015 World Cup. India hold a 24-3 win-loss record in T20Is since the start of the last T20 World Cup.

Leeds United have only scored 11 goals in their 11 Premier League matches so far this season since they won promotion from the Championship last term.

The newly-promoted side have struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis. That has not been because of a lack of creativity, though, as the Whites have created 14.7 xG in the division, per WhoScored.

Leeds’ biggest xG underperformers

Player

xG

Goals

xG differential

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

2.89

1

-1.89

Jayden Bogle

0.88

0

-0.88

Brenden Aaronson

1.79

1

-0.79

Joel Piroe

0.73

0

-0.73

Pascal Struijk

0.65

0

-0.65

Dan James

0.47

0

-0.47

Jack Harrison

0.41

0

-0.41

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, too many players have been wasteful with the chances that have been created for them in the Premier League so far this season.

Summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in particular, has not been clinical enough as the starting number nine for the West Yorkshire outfit, underperforming his xG by roughly two goals.

With the team’s struggles in front of goal in mind, supporters may be thinking about what the club could do to solve the issue, whether that is through promoting academy talent, making signings in January, or recalling players from their loans.

One star who is currently shining out on loan away from Elland Road is centre-forward Joe Gelhardt, but he looks set to remain at Hull City until at least the end of the season.

Why Joe Gelhardt will not be returning to Leeds United in January

HullLive recently reported that the English striker is expected to remain with the Championship club until next summer, despite the Whites having the option to recall him in January.

The report claimed that Leeds do not have any plans to recall Gelhardt from his loan because they feel that he is in the best place to develop as a player at Hull, who are interested in a deal to sign him permanently next summer.

This shows that Daniel Farke and his coaching staff do not believe that the 23-year-old marksman is the answer to their current problems in the Premier League, or else they would be planning to bring him back to Thorp Arch to bolster the squad for the second half of the season.

The Leeds loanee has plundered seven goals and two assists in 13 Championship starts for the Tigers so far this season, per FotMob, which is why there may have been some supporters wondering if the club would look to recall him.

Stat

Gelhardt

Percentile rank vs STs

xG

4.59

Top 4%

xG on target

5.98

Top 3%

Goals

7

Top 2%

xA

2.48

Top 7%

Assists

2

Top 20%

Chances created

13

Top 24%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Gelhardt has finished his chances at an incredibly efficient rate, outperforming his xG by just over two goals, but Leeds have reportedly decided that he is not the answer for them in the Premier League.

This means that Farke will have to look elsewhere to solve his team’s goalscoring woes, and he should forget about Gelhardt to unleash a young star from the academy.

Leeds' Gelhardt replacement

17-year-old centre-forward Harry Gray made his first-team debut for the Whites against Stoke City in the Championship last season, but he has yet to make an appearance in the Premier League in the current campaign.

Derby County, Swansea City, Charlton Athletic, and Hull City are four Championship sides reportedly chasing a deal to sign the teenage marksman on loan for the second half of the season when the January transfer window opens for business.

Leeds, though, should reject their advances and, instead, look to unleash Gray in the first-team with the hope that he can provide the goalscoring touch that has eluded their current options up front.

The England youth international, who was hailed as a “powerful” player by Como scout Ben Mattinson, has been in fantastic form for the club’s academy in the 2025/26 campaign, with his most notable moment being his hat-trick against Scunthorpe in the National League Cup in September.

On top of that hat-trick, Gray has also scored five goals in six Premier League 2 games and two goals in two EFL Trophy matches, per Transfermarkt, which means that the teenage forward has racked up ten goals in all competitions this season.

The 17-year-old talent had the chance to play against a League Two first-team, Accrington Stanley, in the EFL Trophy before the international break, and showed that he can make an impact against senior opposition.

Vs Accrington

Harry Gray

Sofascore rating

8.6

Shots

3

Shots on target

3

Goals

2

Pass accuracy

71%

Fouls won

3

Ground duels won

4/8

Aerial duels won

2/7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Gray did struggle with the aerial duels in the game, understandably as a 17-year-old against first-team centre-backs, but he did hold his own in physical contests on the deck and scored two goals in the game.

This suggests that he is ready to compete against experienced defenders, even if battling for aerial balls is not his strength, which is why Farke should look to reward him with a chance to impress in the Premier League this season.

The impressive teenager has done all that he can do to impress the head coach with his performances this season. He has scored goals at an exceptional rate in every competition for the U21s, showing that he can be ruthless in front of goal and find the back of the net on a regular basis.

As aforementioned, Leeds have not taken enough of their chances in the Premier League so far this season, which is why they need a lethal marksman who can make the most of the opportunities that are being created.

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With this in mind, Farke must unleash Gray in the first-team to see if he can make the step up, whilst Gelhardt is left to see out the rest of the season with Hull.

استكمل الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة استعداداته لمباراة تشيلسي المقبلة في دوري أبطال أوروبا، بعدما انتهى من مباراته السابقة أمام أتلتيك بلباو في الدوري الإسباني.

وحقق برشلونة فوزًا كبيرًا على نظيره أتلتيك بلباو بثلاثية نظيفة في المباراة التي جمعتهما أمس، السبت، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وكانت مباراة برشلونة أمس أمام بلباو الأولى للفريق الكتالوني على ملعب “سبوتيفاي كامب نو” بعدما تم غلقه لتجديده.

ويستعد برشلونة لمواجهة تشيلسي مساء يوم الثلاثاء المقبل على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج”، في المباراة التي ستجمعهما ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ووفقًا لصحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، فإن الحصة التدريبية اليوم شهدت عودة ماركوس راشفورد لكن في نفس الوقت لم يعُد نجم خط الوسط بيدري.

قاد هانسي فليك حصة تدريبية صباح الأحد، شارك فيها راشفورد، الذي عاد يوم الأربعاء من فترة التوقف الدولي لكنه لم يتمكن من التدريب يومي الخميس والجمعة بسبب الحمى.

اقرأ أيضًا | حكم مباراة برشلونة وتشيلسي في دوري أبطال أوروبا

كما تم استبعاد الدولي الإنجليزي من تشكيل الفريق لمباراة الأمس ضد أتلتيك بلباو على ملعب كامب نو الجديد ومع ذلك، عاد إلى المجموعة اليوم، وسيكون جاهزًا تمامًا لمباراة تشيلسي.

من ناحية أخرى، لا تزال عودة بيدري موضع شك كبير وكما ألمح فليك في المؤتمر الصحفي يوم الجمعة أنه من غير المرجح أن يكون بيدري متاحًا لمباراة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ومع ذلك، لم يُغلق الباب تمامًا لأنه إذا لم يكن متاحًا لمباراة ستامفورد بريدج، فإن جميع المؤشرات تؤكد أنه سيكون جاهزًا لمباراة ألافيس المقبلة في الدوري.

سيستأنف برشلونة تدريباته غدًا الاثنين في مدينة خوان جامبر الرياضية قبل التوجه إلى لندن ظهرًا وقد استخدم هانز فليك نفس أسلوب التدريب في مباراته الأخيرة في دوري أبطال أوروبا ضد كلوب بروج.

وسيشهد المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة تشيلسي في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا المقبلة حضور الدولي البرازيلي رافينها بجانب المدرب الألماني.

The Jupiter Hammerheads are the single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. On Tuesday they began a six-game homestand against the Dunedin Blue Jays and it did not go well. The Blue Jays won 19-5 and it was even uglier than the final score suggests.

The Hammerheads pitchers combined to give up just nine hits, but walked 22 batters, which is apparently a minor league record.

They issued six bases-loaded walks and hit three batters, with one of those HBP's coming with the bases loaded for another run. They also threw three wild pitches, with one of them allowing a run to score.

The home team's announcer could barely take it.

"This is only my fifth season," he said. "And I’ve been in baseball a little under a decade because of my college days. I’ve never written so many RBI walks in a book before. This is, listen, I know that I’m supposed to be optimistic about our team here, but I mean, come on guys. I could go out there. Let me loosen up my shoulder. I’ll go help things out. Because you’ve gotta put it over the plate. You’ve gotta give your defense a shot. They’ve not been given a shot all game."

With five games remaining in this early season series it can only get better.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have a secret weapon when it comes to recruiting the best free agents: Shohei Ohtani's beloved dog Decoy.

During an appearance on the podcast on Monday, Los Angeles star Freddie Freeman revealed that Ohtani's dog was present during meetings between then-amateur international free agent Roki Sasaki and Dodgers players.

"Mookie [Betts], me, Tommy Edman, Will Smith and Shohei were the guys that were there," Freeman said. "And Shohei was with him the whole time. Shohei brought his dog. Roki likes dogs too."

And as Freeman amusingly indicates, it was a calculated decision to have Decoy, a Dutch Kooikerhondje, tag along for the meetings.

"We knew what we were doing," Freeman said with a laugh.

Freeman went on to explain that, while the meetings may have helped sell the Dodgers to Sasaki, they weren't intended to be recruiting pitches, at least in a traditional sense.

"But it was mostly like … We just kind of hung around in a circle. And it wasn't about like, 'Hey come to the Dodgers.' It kind of speaks for itself. It's just more of showing him how the culture is between us guys that are already on the team. And showing him that he will be comfortable if he came to us."

Sasaki inked a minor league contract, which included a $6.5 million signing bonus, with the Dodgers in January. And while the prospect of joining a star-studded roster that just won a World Series undoubtedly appealed to Sasaki, it also likely didn't hurt that the Dodgers' culture is also one welcoming to players' dogs.

As of February, Sasaki's dog had not yet met Decoy. But judging by the quick friendship struck up between Decoy and fellow pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dog this spring, it's likely only a matter of time until Sasaki's dog joins the mix.

New Zealand could not face any overs of their chase after Sri Lanka scored 80 in the final ten overs, reaching their second-highest total at a World Cup

Madushka Balasuriya14-Oct-2025

Nilakshika Silva blitzed through the death overs•ICC/Getty Images

No result Nilakshika Silva struck the fastest fifty at this World Cup to boost a flagging Sri Lankan innings, after it looked like they were in danger of squandering their best start with the bat all tournament. It proved to be in vain, as rain washed out the game after the completion of the first innings. The result leaves them and New Zealand sharing one point apiece.Silva’s knock perfectly complemented a half-century from Chamari Athapaththu and meant that, having opted to bat first in Colombo, Sri Lanka managed to post a very competitive 258 for 6.There were also meaningful contributions from Vishmi Gunaratne and Hasini Perera, but it was Silva’s timely intervention that meant Sri Lanka managed 80 runs in the final 10 overs – a significant uptick for a side that has averaged a scoring rate under five during that period. In the end, she ended with 55 off 28, including seven boundaries and the solitary six of the innings.Sophie Devine was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets – including the prize scalp of Athapaththu – but also proved expensive, going for 54 in her nine overs. There were also wickets for Bree Illing – who had replaced Lea Tahuhu in the XI – and Rosemary Mair.New Zealand were let down by their fielding, with several chances being missed out on over the course of the Lankan innings. The first miss was inside the first powerplay, where Athapaththu got a faint nick through to the keeper when on 12, but one that was not picked up by either the umpire or any of the New Zealand fielders, aside from keeper Izzy Gaze, who made a lone appeal. With the Lankan skipper going on to score a 20th W-ODI fifty, it proved to be a rather costly error in judgment.Vishmi Gunaratne and Chamari Athapaththu gave Sri Lanka a strong start•AFP/Getty ImagesSri Lanka’s innings was boosted by a host of similar missed chances and fortunate reprieves.Gunaratne was on a pained 19 off 45 when she was trapped lbw by Amelia Kerr, but with six seconds left on the clock she was convinced by Athapaththu to take the review. As it transpired, there was a just the smallest murmur on Ultra Edge to indicate that there had been some bat on the ball.Gunaratne received further lifelines across her innings. Amelia first got only fingertips on a low drive back from Gunaratne, which burst through her hands. Suzie Bates spilled a gilt-edged chance at mid-on a short while after that, also off Amelia.That period of fortune for Sri Lanka culminated with Athapaththu shanking one to deep point to hole you, but Sri Lanka kept ticking along thanks to lady luck. Several times, direct hit opportunities went begging as Sri Lanka sought tight singles, while the New Zealand outfielders were guilty of some costly misfields.Gaze, meanwhile, missed a stumping opportunity as well as a tough caught-behind chance, while Perera was fortunate not to be given lbw when she missed a pull on a Mair slower delivery. It struck her in the midriff, but replays showed the delivery was so slow that it would have dipped on to the stumps. No review was taken despite an appeal.Despite these fortunate instances, Sri Lanka’s batting was perhaps more conservative than usual, likely owing to their poor record through this tournament. Here they lost just two wickets leading up to the 40th but their scoring rate was still under five an over. By the time they felt safe enough to up the ante, they lost three wickets in the span of a couple of overs.From 183 for 2 they found themselves 198 for 5, but despite the fall of wickets, Silva was unbowed as she singlehandedly raised the rate of scoring, culminating in a trio of boundaries in a 16-run final over as Sri Lanka head to the break with the momentum. In the end, the rain made sure of an unsatisfactory conclusion.

Fabrizio Romano says that Arsenal are eyeing up a potential “bargain” move for one player in a strikingly similar move to one of Mikel Arteta’s current stars.

Arsenal host Brentford in the Premier League after Chelsea draw

The Gunners’ remarkable unbeaten run in all competitions, which stretches all the way back to August, continued with a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Chelsea on Sunday.

Arsenal are now 17 games without a loss since tasting their only defeat of the campaign against Liverpool at Anfield, and given their plethora of attacking injuries already this season, it is testament to the north Londoners’ incredible solidity.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal recovered from conceding Trevoh Chalobah’s near-post header shortly after halftime, with Mikel Merino leveling proceedings just before the hour mark when he nodded home Bukayo Saka’s excellent delivery.

The Spanish midfielder, who’s excelled in a makeshift striker role, continues his very impressive calendar year and is now up to 20 goals in 2025.

However, despite playing almost an hour with ten men, Enzo Maresca’s Blues defended resolutely, limiting Arsenal to just eight shots – their lowest total in any Premier League fixture this season.

Arsenal were also without both of their first-choice centre-backs, William Saliba and Gabriel, for only the second time in their last 162 matches.

Saliba suffered a training ground injury in the build up to Chelsea, meaning Arteta was forced to partner summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie for the first time in west London.

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Unfortunately for Arteta, Saliba remains an injury doubt for their clash against Brentford on Wednesday, but the manager says he is just days away from returning in better news.

Arsenal are seeking to extend their perfect six-game winning streak across all competitions at the Emirates, against a Bees side who are seriously struggling for away form with just one win on the road all season.

Away from the pitch, sporting director Andrea Berta continues plans to bolster Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal eyeing 'bargain' move for Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza

Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, who’s already been compared to Sergio Busquets and Pedri, is seriously interesting Berta and co as a potential rising star in La Liga.

The 20-year-old is widely reported to be a target for Arsenal, and Romano has shared his own update on the matter — confirming their links.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano says that Berta is eyeing a ‘bargain’ Arsenal move for Mendoza, and it would represent a pretty similar deal to Mosquera.

The latter has justified every penny of his £13 million transfer fee from Valencia so far, with Mendoza coming as another potentially unmissable opportunity considering his £17.5 million release clause.

Mendoza helped Elche secure promotion back to La Liga last term and has impressed with 11 appearances and two goals in all competitions so far this term.

Arteta is believed to be personally keen on the player too, so this could be one to watch for 2026.

Arsenal have made a blistering start to this season, and the theme of their success continues to be squad depth.

On Wednesday night, it was substitutes that made all the difference, as the Gunners beat Bayern Munich 3-1 in the Champions League.

Riccardo Calafiori set up Noni Madueke to score the go-ahead goal, before Gabriel Martinelli raced around Manuel Neuer to stroke home the clincher soon after, all three doing so off the bench.

In recent seasons, most notably last year, Arsenal’s title hopes have been derailed by injuries, simply not possession-requisite deputies, in terms of quality, quantity and sometimes both, to cope with key absentees.

Well, this time round, numerous key figures have been or are currently still sidelined, and this has not hampered the Gunners one bit, so do Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta now have their eyes set on further new recruits in January?

Arsenal target a new attacker

Those who thought Mikel Merino up front had been confined to the past were very much mistaken, the Spaniard forced back into the emergency centre-forward role because, well, in recent weeks there haven’t been any other options.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres remain sidelined, Martin Ødegaard, Madueke and Martinelli have all made their returns this week, but Leandro Trossard is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge after suffering a knock against Bayern, the severity of which is not yet known.

So, could Arteta request the arrival of a new attacker in January?

Well, according to reports in Spain, Arsenal are interested in signing Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund, with Manchester United also in the race to secure his signature.

They add that die Schwarzgelben value the German international at £75m, but could be under pressure to sell, considering that his contract expires in 2027, hence why there is ‘intensifying’ interest from the two Premier League giants.

So, could he become the 13th German to feature for Arsenal, following in the footsteps of Jens Lehmann, Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil, Bernd Leno, Lukas Podolski and others?

What Karim Adeyemi​​​​​​​ would bring to Arsenal

After beginning his senior career at RB Salzburg, Adeyemi joined Dortmund in the summer of 2022 for €38m (around £33m), scoring 31 goals and registering 22 assists for the club to date.

Analyst Ben Mattinson praises his “electric pace” and labels him a “transitional monster”, which is possibly best demonstrated by this goal he scored in the Champions League against Graham Potter’s Chelsea at the Westfalenstadion​​​​​​​.

Meantime, according to the Bundesliga, he is one of the fastest players in the division’s history, reaching a top speed of 22.77 miles per hour, which would result in an £80 fine if he ran that fast up Holloway Road parallel to the Emirates.

He is very much a key player at Dortmund, as the table below documents.

Goals

5

2nd

Assists

3

2nd

Shots

31

2nd

Key passes

12

3rd

Shot-creating actions

39

2nd

Goal-creating actions

7

2nd

Big chances created

4

2nd

Attempted take-ons

54

1st

Successful take-ons

24

1st

Progressive carries

35

1st

Top speed

32.2 km/h

1st

Touches in box

65

1st

Average rating

7.31

2nd

The table underlines Adeyemi’s importance to Dortmund.

Only Serhou Guirassy has scored more goals, with wing-back Julian Ryerson the only player boasting better creative numbers, but Adeyemi is currently combining the two.

The attacker also leads the way at die Schwarzgelben for all the dribbling statistics as well as top speed, registering the most touches of any Dortmund player in the opposition penalty area.

This emphasises how he is currently able to combine all the things that make both Madueke and Bukayo Saka elite – the two players noted as among the five most stylistically and statistically similar players to Adeyemi among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref.

Madueke is a direct dribbler who is a major goal-threat, underlined by the fact that he ranked third in the Premier League last season for progressive carries and fifth when it came to touches in the attacking penalty box.

Saka meantime is the creator in chief, registering more shot-creating actions and big chances created than any other Arsenal player so far this season, despite a spell on the sidelines due to injury.

Well, right now, Adeyemi is able to combine all of these qualities into one, seemingly fulfilling his full potential at the age of 23, suggesting he would be an excellent addition to Arteta’s team and could be the man to fire them to that elusive first Premier League title since 2002.

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O atacante Deyverson está fora da partida entre Grêmio e Cuiabá, deste sábado, pela segunda rodada do Brasileirão. O jogador foi barrado por “motivos disciplinares” e sequer embarcou com a delegação para Porto Alegre.

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Deyverson retornou à capital mato-grossense ainda nesta quinta-feira (18), enquanto a equipe seguiu de Goiânia para o Rio Grande do Sul, após a derrota para o Vila Nova, na semifinal da Copa Verde.

Em nota oficial do Cuiabá, o presidente Cristiano Dresch afirmou que o clube precisa de “jogadores comprometidos”. Confira abaixo.

Nesse momento precisamos de jogadores comprometidos com o clube, independente de estarem participando ou não efetivamente dos jogos.

Com oito gols em 17 jogos, Deyverson é o artilheiro do Cuiabá ao lado de Isidro Pitta. Além disso, o atacante deu sete assistências.

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Ryan Reynolds fired a hilarious message to Wrexham star George Thomason after an epic goal against Bristol City. The Red Dragons struck twice and kept yet another clean sheet as they swept aside play-off contenders Bristol, sealing a 2-0 win. Nathan Broadhead’s sumptuous curling effort and Thomason’s wicked corner, which was officially recorded as a Radek Vitek own goal, bookended a performance full of discipline.

A stunning opener sets the tone

The result extended Wrexham’s unbeaten league run to seven matches and lifted them to 10th place in the Championship table, just two points shy of the play-off spots. After an unimpressive performance in their previous outing against Ipswich, Wrexham made sure they were pushing for the opener right from the first whistle, and the reward came after just 16 minutes. Captain James McClean and Thomason combined crisply down the left flank, releasing Broadhead in space. The Welshman opened up his body and bent a curler into the top corner from 25 yards to draw first blood. Bristol City thought they had equalised shortly before half-time, when Ross McCrorie tapped in after Arthur Okonkwo parried Mehmeti’s deflected shot. But the celebrations were cut short as the referee had spotted a foul on Okonkwo by Emil Riis.

AdvertisementReynolds jokes on social media

In the second half came the moment that sent Reynolds into comedic delight. Thomason’s corner curled wickedly toward the far post, striking the woodwork before bouncing off Vitek and into the net. The midfielder wheeled away as though he had scored it, understandably so, but the record books will credit the goalkeeper. Reynolds took to Instagram with footage oft he goal and added the words: "Wow George Thomason. None of my balls have ever done this."

Instagram

Getty Images SportThomason’s influence grows and so does his confidence

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson also spoke about the goal after the match: "I haven't seen [the goal] back but I think George was really good tonight and I'm so pleased for him because as everybody knows, he came in, got his injury and now he's really shown himself at this level and produced lots of good performances. I felt he typified what we needed tonight. He was industrious in his play but he played with real quality and composure in possession as well."

Since joining Wrexham, Thomason has yet to taste defeat in any of his eight Championship appearances. However, he is not too bothered by the feat. 

"I'm trying not to keep that on my mind. But it's not a bad record to keep, so long may it continue," Thomason said.

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Parkinson preaches calm with Wrexham

Parkinson, though pleased, moved quickly to temper expectations, not least because Wrexham have made a habit of oscillating wildly between brilliance and turbulence since returning to the second tier. To reinforce his point, the Wrexham manager referenced none other than Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

"I think it's a case of making sure we don't get carried away," the Wrexham boss explained. "I spoke to the lads before the game, I was listening to Virgil van Dijk's interview after the Nottingham Forest defeat and he was speaking about how Liverpool have got to win the first and second balls, be competitive, got to work as a team and how they've got to get their way back with the basics in football. So that's the champions of England talking like that.

"We're not going to get carried away, it's now concentration levels on picking the right team for the weekend, start doing our homework on Blackburn and get ready for another terrific atmosphere here on Saturday."