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While he has made some mistakes, Mikel Arteta has got an awful lot right during his time in the Arsenal dugout.

The Spaniard has overseen a complete overhaul of the squad, instilled a new philosophy, and turned them from a fallen giant into serial challengers for both the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, there were plenty of moments early on in his managerial career when it felt like he was hanging onto the job by his fingertips, including a period in which Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe practically saved him.

Since then, the former has established himself as the club’s talisman, while the latter has fallen away and been sold to Fulham. Interestingly, there is a player in Arteta’s current squad who once felt like the next Saka but could now be closer to becoming the next Smith Rowe.

How Smith Rowe and Saka save Arteta

Even though the club were coming off their 14th FA Cup triumph, the start of the 20/21 season was nothing short of disastrous for Arsenal.

The North Londoners actually won their two opening games, against Fulham and West Ham United and even picked up a third win of the campaign in their fourth match.

However, the losses started coming thick and fast, and from the 8th of November to Boxing Day, the team didn’t win a single league game.

So, when Chelsea rocked up at the Emirates on Boxing Day, Arteta decided to roll the dice and start Smith Rowe in the ten, a decision that instantly paid off as the Gunners came out 3-1 winners and the youngster provided the assist for Saka’s goal.

From that point, results started to improve, and the two Hale Enders were crucial to that, with the midfielder racking up a tally of four goals and seven assists and the winger doing even better with seven goals and seven assists.

The duo continued to impress the following season, with Smith Rowe producing 13 goal involvements and the mercurial number seven producing 19.

However, a combination of injuries and the squad being strengthened around him saw the Croydon-born gem slowly lose his place in the side over the next two seasons.

Finally, after making just 14 appearances in the 22/23 season and then 19 the year after that, the Hale Ender was sold to Fulham for around £34m, while Saka went on to become arguably the team’s best player.

Interestingly, or perhaps unfortunately, there is currently a potential star in the making in Arteta’s squad today who at one point looked destined to follow in Saka’s footsteps, but might now be more likely to become the next Smith Rowe.

The Arsenal gem who could become the next Smith Rowe

It would be fair to say that, as seasons go, last year wasn’t a particularly enjoyable one for Arsenal fans.

Chalkboard

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

The club looked miles off in the title race and were beset with injuries to key players, only this time they didn’t have the squad depth they do today.

However, there were at least a few bright spots from the campaign, notably the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri.

The youngster had long been a prospect fans were excited about; he became the youngest player in the Premier League, after all.

Yet, it was the injuries to Martin Odegaard and specifically Saka that meant he ended up getting far more first-team minutes than supporters were expecting, and to say he made the most of the opportunity would be an understatement.

Appearances

37

Minutes

1378′

Goals

9

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.27′

For example, the often “unplayable” dynamo, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, scored nine goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, totalling 1378 minutes.

In other words, the Hale End phenom averaged a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes, which helps to justify Joe Cole’s claim that “he’s the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.”

It was these numbers, plus the moments of brilliance on the ball and his time out wide, that led many to see him as someone who could and probably would follow in the steps of Saka and become a key part of the squad in the coming years.

However, fast-forward to today, and it would be fair to describe his situation as more akin to Smith Rowe’s in his final seasons at the club.

For example, as things stand, the teenager has made just ten appearances for the first team, totalling 427 minutes.

Moreover, he’s started just three games all season, two of which came in the League Cup and another in the club’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague.

Worryingly, the Enfield-born gem has also only scored one goal and, like the Croydon-born star before him, has seen fresh competition arrive in the shape of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

Appearances

10

Minutes

427′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.1

Minutes per Goal Involvement

427′

However, it is still early in the season, and while it’s clear that the manager isn’t as keen to pick the Hale Ender as he was last year, there is still plenty of time for things to change.

Therefore, so long as Nwaneri does get more game time across the rest of the campaign, he could still follow in Saka’s footsteps, but if he doesn’t, he could be another Smith Rowe.

Their new Ozil: Arsenal ramp up move to sign £88m "generational talent"

The incredible talent could be a real game-changer for Arsenal and become Arteta’s own Mesut Ozil.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes 6 days ago

Baseball, like all sports, puts a premium on instinct. The consensus best fielders in the game are the ones who can make difficult plays look effortless.

Sometimes, however, instinctual self-preservation turns into something more. Take a play in the sixth inning of the Houston Astros' game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

With one out in the top half of the inning and a runner on first, Astros right fielder Cam Smith sent a screaming liner directly toward the head of Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde. Fedde, ducking, threw out his glove to catch the ball—and immediately rose to double off the runner at first.

The play earned Fedde a standing ovation from fans and left a shocked Smith with his head in his hands.

Fedde departed at the inning's conclusion having given up six hits, three walks and an earned run while striking out five. His most significant contribution to an offensively challenged night for St. Louis, however, might've been his glove heroics here.

Kasey Aldridge claims four wickets as Northants’ meagre total is overhauled

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Aug-2025Somerset 240 for 2 (Vaughan 109*, Lammonby 83) beat Northamptonshire 238 (Robinson 69, Aldridge 4-54) by eight wickets Archie Vaughan’s maiden List A century paved the way for Somerset to cruise into the knock-out stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a thumping eight-wicket Group B victory over Northamptonshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The visitors posted a moderate 238 all out after winning the toss, Tim Robinson top-scoring with 69, while James Sales contributed 45 and Justin Broad 38. Kasey Aldridge claimed four for 54.One run was added to the Somerset target because the game was 8.5 overs old when reduced to 47 per side by an early shower. It mattered little as the hosts raced to 240 for two to win with 4.3 overs to spare, Vaughan leading the way with an unbeaten 109, off 122 balls, and sharing a first wicket stand of 168 with Tom Lammonby, who made 83.The Steelbacks were never able to gain much momentum to their innings on a good batting track. They had progressed to 31 in the seventh over when Ricardo Vasconcelos miscued a pull shot off Jake Ball and skyed a catch to wicketkeeper James Rew.Rain interrupted play at 39 for one. The resumption saw Ravi Bopara depart for nine with the total on 50, pulling a delivery from Ben Green to deep mid-wicket where Fin Hill took a good catch diving to his left.Robinson was dropped on ten by Ball at mid-on off Aldridge as he and opener Sales added 53 for the third wicket before the latter was run out by a direct hit from Archie Vaughan at the bowler’s end, attempting a quick single to mid-on off Lammonby.Robinson hit the first six of the game in moving to a half-century off 50 balls. He celebrated with two more maximums before perishing with the score on 163, Hill taking another catch at deep mid-wicket off Aldridge, tossing the ball in the air as his foot crossed the boundary before neatly collecting it again inside the rope.It proved a turning point as the innings fell away, three of the wickets falling to Aldridge, with only Broad and Stuart van der Merwe, who made 27, offering much resistance. Both hit two fours and a six, but their efforts failed to significantly improve a well below par score.There was decent pace in the pitch and Lammonby and Vaughan were soon peppering the ropes with sweetly-timed strokes. They raised 50 in eight overs, each smacking 5 fours, as the hosts went for a swift kill.Lammonby has excelled with bat and ball in the competition. He reached fifty with a crunching back-foot shot through the leg side for four off Bopara, his ninth boundary in facing 53 deliveries. The century partnership soon followed off 17.4 overs.Vaughan looked equally comfortable in reaching his half-century off 60 balls, with six fours. The pattern continued in depressing fashion for the Steelbacks as the stand reached 150 in the 29th over. At 156, it became Somerset’s highest ever List A opening partnership against Northamptonshire, beating the 155 put together by current club chief executive Jamie Cox and Marcus Trescothick at Northampton in 2001.With 13 more runs added, Lammonby finally made an error, driving a diving return catch to van der Merwe, the sixth bowler called upon by the Steelbacks. He had faced 96 balls and extended his boundary count to 12.With victory almost assured, Lewis Goldsworthy struck the first six of the innings. He fell for 26 to a catch at mid-wicket off Dominic Leech, but Vaughan went past his previous highest List A score of 95, made against Yorkshire this season, and reached three figures with a pulled four followed by a single off Leech.The 19-year-old son of former England Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan celebrated with a clenched fist. He had faced 110 balls and hit 12 fours.

Los Angeles Dodgers star slugger Freddie Freeman hit his fourth home run in as many games on Tuesday night in the Bronx, continuing his hot streak as the Dodgers tried to sweep the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Freemnan's first inning two-run blast put the Dodgers up early, but the Yankees responded with three home runs of their own, including a third-inning grand slam from shortstop Anthony Volpe. The offensive explosion from New York helped the Bronx Bombers take Game 4 and avoid the sweep, but that doesn't mean the Yankees aren't marveling at what Freeman is doing in the middle of the Dodgers' lineup.

Yankees star reliever Luke Weaver had one adjective to describe the unbelievable hot streak from Freeman in the postgame aftermath of Game 4.

"My first thought is this guy is superhuman," Weaver said to the media contingent following Game 4. "This guy is doing something that … we've seen for years, right? He's a pretty good big league player. And you're just sitting there just kinda marveling at the fact of what he's doing. You've gotta give him all the respect and appreciation for what he's doing in the biggest stage."

The Yankees will look to keep their season, and longshot hopes of a World Series title alive when they take the field for Game 5 in New York on Wednesday night.

Beth Mead and Alessia Russo took centre stage on Sunday as Arsenal looked much more like themselves in a comfortable and convincing 4-1 win at Leicester. Despite being crowned European champions back in May, the Gunners have struggled at the start of this new season, unable to use that continental triumph as a springboard for a Women's Super League title challenge. This win, though, was a sign that the tide is turning, with it certainly the most impressive of the three on the bounce they have now registered.

One of Arsenal's most notable issues in recent times has been the inability to really kill games off once they take the lead and, in that sense, this was a really encouraging day out as goals from Russo and Stina Blackstenius, either side of an own goal from Sari Kees, allowed the Gunners to race into a 3-0 lead before half time. Renee Slegers' side were positive, looked confident and showcased the sort of ruthlessness that is going to be vital if they are to mount a serious charge for a first WSL title since 2019.

That Arsenal were able to play at this level given the list of absentees was notable, too. Olivia Smith and Frida Maanum both sustained injuries on international duty, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross were missing due to illness and Emily Fox could only make the bench, having played in the United States on Wednesday night. It meant a first league start for Laia Codina in over a year; just a second start of the season, in all competitions, for Blackstenius; and a place at right-back for the left-footed Taylor Hinds, fresh off an England debut in midweek.

But that enforced reshuffle proved to be anything but a negative as Arsenal breezed to a well-needed victory, as a clinical strike from Russo, an own goal from the England striker's teasing cross and two great finishes from Blackstenius saw off Leicester with ease, despite Noemie Mouchon's late consolation. Was it a performance of title contenders? It's perhaps hard to say so, given this was a game many expected Slegers' side to win and the fact there were a few decent opportunities that a better team than Leicester would not have wasted. However, it was certainly a good tune-up for the Gunners ahead of next week's clash with Chelsea, where those credentials will really be put to the test. 

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the King Power Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

  Had a couple of iffy moments in possession but was confident claiming crosses and stood tall in a big one-v-one chance for Leicester, even if Mouchon should've done better with her effort.

  Taylor Hinds (7/10):

  Looked settled and assured throughout, despite starting at right-back and switching to left-back on the hour. Her pass in behind for Russo kickstarted the move for the second goal.

  Laia Codina (6/10):

  A solid performance on her first league start since October of last year, and first start in all competitions since February. Won all four of her aerial duels.

  Steph Catley (6/10):

  Like Codina, she was good on the ball and won most of her duels. 

  Katie McCabe (6/10):

  Strong in her duels and good on the ball, delivering some teasing crosses.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Kim Little (7/10):

  Tidy in possession and excellent in her defensive work, winning nine of her 11 ground duels.

  Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

  Created more chances than any other player, showcasing her quality on the ball, though did also have some sloppy moments in possession, including one which gave Leicester their biggest opportunity of the game.

  Alessia Russo (8/10):

  Somehow seemed to get more service in this deeper role than she often has as a No.9. Broke the deadlock with a clinical strike and created the second with a teasing cross.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Beth Mead (8/10):

  After a couple of really good performances for England during the international break, she continued that momentum here with an excellent display at both ends of the pitch.

  Stina Blackstenius (8/10):

  Was full of running and on the end of a fair few chances as a result of her good movement, ending the day with two goals and an assist. Could've had a hat-trick, or better, had she been more clinical, too.

  Caitlin Foord (6/10):

  Perfect in possession, completing all 16 of her passes, and created a couple of opportunities. Was lively when involved, just didn't see tons of the ball.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Chloe Kelly (6/10):

  Still looks a little bit off her full fitness in terms of sharpness but, despite that, created a couple of chances after being introduced on the hour.

  Emily Fox (6/10):

  Slotted in at right-back just fine for the final half an hour as the game winded down.

  Victoria Pelova (5/10):

  Couldn't really get involved enough to make a significant impact on the game.

  Jenna Nighswonger (N/A):

  Made her first appearance of the season in the closing stages, having been surprisingly unable to get any game time until this point.

  Katie Reid (N/A):

  A late introduction when Little limped off with a knock.

  Renee Slegers (6/10):

  Hand was forced for most of her team selection, given the absentees, but she adapted well to put out a side capable of running riot. Some questions about her subs, with it a surprise to see her introduce Fox at all given this felt a great opportunity to rest a player who is almost ever-present, but it was good to see Nighswonger finally involved.

Kishan replaces Kyle Verreynne, who will travel to Zimbabwe for national duty

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-2025Ishan Kishan has signed a short-term deal with Nottinghamshire to play two County Championship fixtures this season. Kishan will replace Kyle Verreynne, who will be away on national duty as South Africa travel to Zimbabwe for a two-Test series later this month.Kishan is known for his limited-overs game, but has 3447 first-class runs in 58 games including 17 half-centuries and eight hundreds. The wicketkeeper-batter also has 118 catches and 11 stumpings.He will be eligible for selection against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge on June 22 and Somerset in Taunton on June 29 and is looking forward to experiencing county cricket for the first time.Related

Khaleel Ahmed signs up with Essex for County Championship and One-Day Cup

Tilak Varma signs a short-term deal with Hampshire

Ruturaj Gaikwad to join Yorkshire for Championship, One-Day Cup

“I’m feeling very excited to get my first taste of playing county cricket in England, and it will be a great chance to showcase my skills,” Kishan said. “I want to make sure I am the best cricketer I can be, and playing in English conditions will really help me to learn new skills.”Trent Bridge is such a famous ground that is well-known in India and around the world, and I am really excited that I will be playing there.”Kishan’s desire to “move his red-ball game forward” caught the eyes of Nottinghamshire head coach Peter Moores. “We want players to be themselves and to bring their own game,” Moores said, “and something that especially excites me about Ishan is how keen he is to be involved in county cricket.”He brings proven quality in his ball-striking as a hard-hitting middle-order batter, and he’s keen to move his red-ball game forward, which I’m sure will make him hungry to perform.”Kishan will join a handful of other Indian players in the Championship, with Tilak Varma signing a short-term deal with Hampshire, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will join Yorkshire for the second half of the summer and Yuzvendra Chahal is due to return to Northamptonshire later this month.With four wins in seven games, Nottinghamshire currently sit on top of Division One of the County Championship.

يخطط نادي ريال مدريد الإسباني للتعاقد مع أحد لاعبي فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، بعدما حسم صفقة ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد في السوق الصيفي.

ويسعى ريال مدريد لتعزيز صفوفه بصفقات جديدة، من أجل العودة للمنافسة على الألقاب تحت قيادة مديره الفني تشابي ألونسو.

وسبق وأبرم ريال مدريد صفقةً التعاقد مع ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد في وقتٍ سابق من هذا العام، وقد وقع اللاعب على عقد لمدة ست سنوات.

وبحسب ما ذكرت “فور فور تو” نقلاً عن موقع “Caught Offside”، يُراقب ريال مدريد لاعب خط وسط ليفربول أليكسيس ماك أليستر.

اقرأ أيضًا | ماركا: فليك يستبعد مشاركة ثنائي برشلونة أمام ريال مدريد

ويذكر التقرير أن التفاوض خلال انتقالات يناير مستبعد، وستكون صفقة صيفية حال نجح الناديان في التوصل إلى اتفاق لانتقال ماك أليستر لريال مدريد.

ويقدر ليفربول قيمة ماك أليستر ولن يُباع بثمن قليل، لكن سيسمح له بالرحيل إذا تلقى عرضًا مناسبًا من ريال مدريد. 

من جانبه سبق وصرح ماك أليستر في وقت سابق بأنه يرحب باللعب في إسبانيا وقال: “إنها دولة أحبها كثيرًا، وقد زرتها عدة مرات، والأهم من ذلك، بسبب لغتها وثقافتها، فهي تشبه الأرجنتين كثيرًا، أرغب بالتأكيد في اللعب في إسبانيا يومًا ما، لكنني الآن مرتاح جدًا في ليفربول، ولا أفكر فيما قد يحدث في المستقبل”.

He has recovered from a lower back injury that kept him out of action since December 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2025Akash Deep is set to join Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) squad on Wednesday and is likely to be available for the game against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday.Akash had picked up a back injury during the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and has not played a game since December 2024.He is yet to debut for LSG and last played in T20s in the 2024 IPL, where he represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru in one match, against MI at the Wankhede Stadium. In all, he’s played eight games for RCB since 2022 and has picked up seven wickets.Related

Mayank Yadav's recovery set back by new toe injury

Pant 'still figuring out a lot of things for the team'

Akash’s inclusion will boost LSG’s bowling line-up which has been hit by injuries. Mayank Yadav’s recovery from a lumbar stress injury was compounded by a toe injury and Mohsin Khan has been ruled out of IPL 2025 after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last December. LSG have Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan in their fast-bowling ranks and had included Prince Yadav in the first two games. LSG have won only one out of their first three games in IPL 2025.Akash has picked up 49 wickets from 42 T20s and was bought by LSG in the mega auction ahead of this season for INR 8 crores.

Both touring sides will play two Tests against Zimbabwe each, and take part in a T20I tri-series

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2025Zimbabwe will host South Africa and New Zealand for two-Test series and also a T20I triangular series between June 28 and August 11. In what Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) managing director Givemore Makoni called “the biggest international home season we have had in years”, Zimbabwe would be playing Test cricket against South Africa for the first time since December 2017 (and hosting them for the first time after August 2014) and against New Zealand after August 2016, when New Zealand had toured Zimbabwe.The season starts with the Test series against South Africa, with both matches taking place in Bulawayo, from June 28 and July 6.This will be followed by the T20I tri-series. The teams play each other twice in the league stage, running from July 14 to July 24, with the top-two teams facing off in the final on July 26. The whole series will be played in Harare.Related

In green Arundel, Zimbabwe quietly help neighbours SA tune up for their biggest Test

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe hope for fresh start in Test cricket

In-transition Bangladesh face Zimbabwe test in rainy Sylhet

'I can make an impact' – Taylor eyes international comeback

Bangladesh to host Zimbabwe for two Tests in April

Then on to the New Zealand Tests, again in Bulawayo, from July 30 and August 7.”This is the biggest international home season we have had in years, and it is an incredible opportunity for our players to test themselves against two of the world’s cricketing powerhouses,” Makoni said in a statement. “Hosting South Africa and New Zealand for both Test cricket and an exciting T20I tri-series is a fantastic development for the growth of the game in Zimbabwe.”We are looking forward to welcoming the teams and putting on a great spectacle for our passionate cricket fans.”Zimbabwe last hosted a T20I tri-nation series in July 2018, featuring Australia and Pakistan, when Pakistan emerged victorious.Zimbabwe vs South Africa Test series1st Test: June 28 to July 2
2nd Test: July 6 to July 10<
T20I tri-seriesJuly 14: Zimbabwe vs South Africa
July 16: New Zealand vs South Africa
July 18: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand
July 20: Zimbabwe vs South Africa
July 22: New Zealand vs South Africa
July 24: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand
July 26: Final
Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Test series1st Test: July 30 to August 3
2nd Test: August 7 to August 11

Despite a 3-2 win over D.C. United that strengthened Inter Miami’s playoff position, head coach Javier Mascherano admitted that defensive lapses remain a key area to improve. The Argentine stressed the need to maintain composure when falling behind and to correct mistakes in transitions as the Herons enter the decisive stretch of the MLS season.

Defense a concern heading into Playoffs

In their last four matches, Miami has conceded nine goals and owns one of the worst defenses in the Eastern Conference. Among the top seven teams that currently qualify directly for the playoffs, Mascherano’s side is at the bottom with 46 goals conceded.

“It’s something I’m both concerned about and focused on," he stressed in his postgame comments. "We have to identify each game’s demands. Except for the PSG match, the team has generally defended well. In the Leagues Cup, apart from the final, we defended well too. These are moments. My biggest concern is when we fall behind, we lose our heads, lose our shape. In this league, we cannot afford that. 

"That’s what we need to work on in these last six matches. Details will be the key for this team to keep progressing – it’s my responsibility to convince the players of that.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTransition mistakes at fault

Mascherano refused to blame his defenders, instead highlighting errors in transitions as the main cause of the goals conceded.

“We conceded two goals, more because of transitions than defensive structure," he said. "They try to draw the opponent in to play long balls, and with players like Christian Benteke, who has great qualities, we wanted to disrupt that first launch. Clearly, today, some mistakes, some turnovers, cost us a lot."

Benteke scored the first goal off a diving header to tie the match, while Jacob Murrell scored D.C.'s second goal in the dying seconds off a transition play. 

"D.C. United may be in last place, but they hadn’t lost in four matches, and you could feel their presence," Mascherano explained. "Sometimes, facing a team with nothing to lose makes them dangerous. At times we suffered, but in the second half the subs came in well, even though we conceded again off another loss of possession.”

Getty Images SportMessi by the numbers

Lionel Messi has 30 goals and 12 assists in 37 matches this year. Already the MLS Golden Boot leader with 22 goals – one more than Sam Surridge – the Argentine has now reached 882 career goals in 1,123 appearances across club and country.

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The victory strengthens Inter Miami’s playoff hopes, moving them to fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 52 points and three games in hand. Messi is now the MLS top scorer with 22 goals in 21 matches. The Herons will visit the Big Apple next Wednesday to face NYCFC in MLS action.