Category Uncategorized

The 2024/24 Premier League campaign is a huge one for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as they aim to make it third time lucky and dethrone Manchester City from the summit of the division.

In the two previous campaigns, the Gunners have come within touching distance of ending their extended wait for a top-division title, but they could be helped by the signing of one talent this summer.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino appears to be edging ever closer to a move to North London, with journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that the 28-year-old has already agreed personal terms, with the two sides working on a fee for the former Newcastle United man.

The Sociedad talent could potentially complete Arteta’s midfield trio alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice – a hugely talented heart of the side that could prove to be the difference during the upcoming campaign.

However, the Arsenal boss is still eyeing reinforcements in attacking areas, including one high-profile star who could transform the Gunners’ already potent forward line.

Arsenal should sign £25m talent this summer

Kai Havertz produced an admirable first season at the Emirates in a slightly unnatural centre-forward role, scoring 13 times in his 37 appearances – ending the campaign as the club’s second top scorer behind Bukayo Saka.

However, an out-and-out striker is on the agenda for Arteta this summer, with Lille talisman Jonathan David just one player to be linked with a move to North London during the off-season.

The Canadian, who only has one year left on his current deal in France, scored 19 times in 34 appearances in Ligue 1 last season – with the £25m fee touted a bargain for a player of his quality.

Arteta’s side aren’t the only ones interested in his signature this window, with Chelsea and Spurs also admirers of the 24-year-old.

Whilst he may not strike supporters as an upgrade on their current options, he would be an excellent addition and one that can allow the club to forget about a move for another striker on their shortlist.

Why David could be Arsenal’s answer to Isak

Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak is a player who has constantly been linked with a move to the Emirates this summer, unsurprisingly after his excellent recent goalscoring exploits.

The Swedish international registered scored 21 times in his 30 Premier League appearances during 2023/24, as the Magpies narrowly missed out on a second season of European football.

As a result, the Gunners attempted to test the waters with a move, but Eddie Howe’s side slapped a £100m+ price tag on his head in order to part ways with their star man.

David could prove to be a much cheaper alternative, costing Arsenal four times less, but when comparing him to Isak – who is noted as a similar player, according to FBref – the Lille man bettered the Swede in numerous key areas.

The “mind-blowing” David, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, registered the same amount of combined goals and assists as Isak last season, whilst having a better shot-on-target accuracy rate.

Games played

34

30

Goals + assists

23

23

Shot-on-target accuracy

57%

50%

Pass accuracy

82%

78%

Aerials won

24%

20%

Shots on target per 90

1.5

1.4

He also achieved a better pass completion rate – fitting into Arteta’s philosophy of possession-based play perfectly, allowing for link up with the likes of Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Given the huge difference in fee and similarity in figures produced in their respective leagues last season, David would be an excellent addition for Arsenal – handing them the added cutting edge they’ve been searching for this summer.

He has the ability to become the club’s main talisman, thriving off the service provided from the players around, whilst also potentially handing Arteta’s side the edge in another title battle with Man City.

Arsenal could reach another level with dream £100m Rice & Odegaard partner

The “world-class” talent would be an exceptional signing.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 10, 2024

Leicester City haven't quite been as active in the summer transfer market to date, compared to the other newly promoted outfits in Southampton and Ipswich Town, with just four new faces joining the King Power Stadium ranks.

That doesn't mean the Foxes aren't trying to get more bodies into the building, however, ahead of the Premier League season starting next weekend, with Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool being linked with a switch to Steve Cooper's men amongst other names.

That isn't the only talent Leicester are looking at from the Reds though, with a deal in the works to try and get this promising Liverpool youngster in through the door to strengthen in attack also.

Leicester battling away to sign teenage gem

As per a new report by the Express, Ben Doak has now been given the green light to depart Arne Slot's men in search of first-team football, having been in and around the senior mix under the new Dutch boss this pre-season.

Brentford have entered the race for the electric 18-year-old's services now, knowing he is available for a loan move, with Leicester and Southampton also keen on adding the slick teenager to their respective squads to help in their quests to stay up in the Premier League after promotion.

Leicester could well add another loan player to their roster from a team higher up their new division in the form of David Datro Fofana away from just snapping up Doak, with reports suggesting that the Foxes are leading the race for the fringe Chelsea centre-forward's signature.

This injection of youth could give Leicester something different ahead of some daunting league matches to come, away from the mainstays of Jamie Vardy and Co, with this potential new attacking duo eager to impress if they do both end up donning a Foxes jersey this campaign to follow.

What Doak can offer alongside Fofana

Fofana was a bright spark last campaign for Burnley, even as relegation loomed large for the Clarets, with four goals and one assist mustered up from 15 clashes, including this long-range bullet soaring in against West Ham United.

He could well give Leicester some much-needed depth up top then away from the aforementioned Vardy and Patson Daka, with the East Midlands club having waved goodbye to Kelechi Iheanacho this summer.

Ben Doak: Match Stats during pre-season

Stat

Real Betis

Arsenal

Man United

Minutes played

26

18

25

Goals

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

Shots

0

0

1

Touches

16

8

15

Accurate passes

5/6

3/3

10/11

Successful dribbles

2/2

0/1

0/1

Duels won

4/6

2/5

1/5

Stats by Sofascore

The time could well be right for Doak – who has been dubbed a "huge talent" by journalist Barry Anderson – to spread his wings and experience a formative loan spell, therefore, like Fofana managed at Turf Moor last campaign after joining Chelsea from Molde, with the 18-year-old showing flashes of his excellence this pre-season for the Reds.

In particular, his cameo against Real Betis stands out from the table above, with 100% of his attempted dribbles against the Spanish side successfully completed, alongside only two duels being lost from six registered.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether the 18-year-old can hack the men's game week in, week out away from the odd appearance here or there in friendlies or in cup competitions, but the "explosive" ace – as he was once labelled by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – could excel if given time to adjust to his new surroundings at the King Power.

He would, much like Fofana, give sufficient competition to the likes of Stephy Mavididi – who himself is unproven in the top flight – after a fantastic campaign with the Foxes in the Championship saw him fire home 12 strikes.

Cooper will know that having depth all over the pitch will really give his side an advantage in the battle to beat the drop, especially if injuries start stacking up high towards the latter stages of the gruelling 38-game marathon.

Therefore, even if Fofana and Doak aren't guaranteed starters every game if they do sign, they could play an important role still in survival being achieved and even more if Leicester take being back in the Premier League in their stride.

Related Leicester City in pole position to sign "outstanding" 21-year-old striker

The Foxes are on the hunt for a new number nine.

Posts ByTom Coates Aug 5, 2024

With the possible exception of Will Pucovski, seldom has more expectation accompanied a recent Australian debutant than that experienced by Cameron Green.He had undoubtedly scored the runs to warrant his place at such a young age, cracking comfortably more than 1000 with four sizeable centuries in his most recent 12 Sheffield Shield games. Green also carried the promise of a possibly dominant allrounder having first been chosen by Western Australia as a bowler and scooping plenty of wickets before he was held prisoner by a series of back problems.Add to this the prospect of starting out in the highest of high-profile Test series against India, and there was much for Green to take in, even before he took the batting and bowling creases. What spectators and viewers have seen of Green in the subsequent four matches is a player of enormous promise, undoubtedly, but one still smoothing the rough edges of his game with the bat and even more so with the ball.He has, as Simon Katich observed during his breakout innings of 84 at the SCG, “two gears”, those of stolid defence and then a much more freewheeling and powerful hitting game. The nuances of Test cricket require a range of different gears at many points in between those poles, as aptly demonstrated on the penultimate day of the series.Cameron Green punches down the ground•Getty Images

Green walked out to accompany a settled Steven Smith when Australia had just lost the fourth wicket of the morning session, Matthew Wade glancing into Rishabh Pants gloves and perhaps into history as far as his stop-start Test career is concerned. The Gabba surface, which has rewarded tight bowling throughout the match, had begun to deteriorate further in terms of the widening of existing cracks and the forming of new ones, while Mohammad Siraj was putting in yet another outstanding spell.Perhaps genuflecting to Smith, who with every hour of this series has looked more like his usual Test match self and must now be looking forward to rejoining battle with South Africa three years since the unseemly events of 2018, Green concentrated almost solely on survival through his first 41 balls, managing only six singles in that time. He may also have been run out by his very first ball, edging Washington Sundar towards the covers and being reprieved on his instinctive dash for a single by the fact that the bowler was off-balance in retrieving it.This period underlined that, at this developmental point, Green is still liable to be tied down by good bowling without the ability as yet to find unseen corners of the field in which to escape the strikes with singles or more forcefully turn the scoreboard over with twos. This meant that Smith, playing far more positively, took the major share of responsibility in the early part of their stand to ensure the scoring rate did not dip below three an over with time and the unpromising weather forecast on Australian minds.A view pushed consistently by Greg Chappell down the years and now more widely understood, is the value of getting gifted players into the Australian side early on, the better for them to learn many of the required lessons at the highest possible level and thus mature as quickly as possible without gaining too many bad habits. It was the same philosophy that saw Smith himself make his Test debut for Australia as early as a 21-year-old in 2010 before ironing out the deficiencies in his game rapidly enough to be an international force by the age of 24.So it should follow that, much as Smith has worked his way into this series, Green will be able to evolve in a timely fashion in his Test career. “I certainly feel as though I’ve got better as the series has gone on, just purely out of spending time in the middle that’s for sure,” Smith said.”I think I said after Melbourne the longest I’d spent in the middle was 63 balls or whatever it was, the one-day hundreds that I scored at the SCG, and that was for about 12 months. So certainly been able to spend a good amount of time in the first innings in Sydney playing with really positive intent. That made me feel a lot more comfortable at the crease and able to find some rhythm.”I thought [Green] batted really well. They bowled pretty well to him to be fair, the wicket was starting to do a few things. I reckon there was that one over from Natarajan where he copped a few, that’s where the wicket started to sort of play a few more tricks. I think he got five balls in that over that did probably five different things.”The other half of Green’s game, still taking time to unfold in the wake of back stress fractures, is that of a pace bowler who has the natural gifts of height and trajectory with which to worry most top players should he get all the mechanics into a sound enough order. This much was neatly summarised by Damien Fleming earlier in the Test, with the understanding that a bowler concentrating on technical form and changes to ensure the avoidance of future injuries will always take time to “groove” an action before full fluency returns.”He bowls full and definitely shapes the ball away from the right-hand batsmen,” Fleming said on Seven. “His first Test match in Adelaide, I think it was deliberate for him to bowl short to Virat Kohli. Now since that Test Match, I think he has bowled a fraction short, hasn’t given that red Kookaburra enough time to swing in the air. I think it’s due, isn’t it? Your fourth Test match, get your first Test wicket?”He’s made changes to his action because of stress fractures. He’s come into this series with hundreds of runs in Sheffield Shield so his batting technique is grooved, but unfortunately, he is still trying to groove this bowling action which over time is only going to benefit himself and the Australian cricket team. But, you know, four-over spells in Shield cricket coming into this Test series, I don’t think he has built the confidence in his action yet.”That sort of confidence may be derived from a wicket or two, and this was certainly something Smith had in mind as he looked at some of the widening cracks at the Gabba. “All the boys have been really impressed with him around the group, the way he’s handled everything as a young kid coming into play Test cricket,” Smith said of Green.”I think tomorrow he might actually be quite a handful with the ball, with that extra height and those cracks coming into play, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him firstly take his first wicket in Test cricket, which I know he’s pretty eager to get, but I think he might just be in for a pretty reasonable day.”If Green has not dominated moments of this series in the manner of India’s find Siraj, he has shown enough poise at a young age to suggest that the formative lessons of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be converted into truly influential displays well before he reaches the age at which Smith finally felt at home as a Test cricketer.

Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a "never give up" message on social media after scoring his 907th career goal in Al-Nassr's dramatic win over Al-Shabab.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ronaldo shared inspirational words on Instagram
• Scored his 907th career goal
• Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 2-1 after late drama

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 39-year-old added yet another goal to his incredible tally as his late penalty strike helped Al-Nassr pick up crucial three points against Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. Aymeric Laporte's 69th-minute opener was cancelled out by Ali Alhassan's 90th-minute own goal, however, the Saudi giants won a penalty in the dying moments of the game which allowed Ronaldo to complete his 907th career goal.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Portugal captain, who still seems hungry for goals in the twilight years of his career, had earlier vowed to reach 1,000 goals before retiring. After the Al-Shabab clash, the veteran star took to Instagram to send out a strong four-word message.

• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  On Instagram, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star posted a few photographs from the game and wrote in the caption, "We never give up!!"

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?

  Ronaldo and his team-mates will be back in action on Tuesday as they take on Iran's Esteghlal FC in an AFC Champions League clash.

MatériaMais Notícias

A manhã de terça-feira foi de trabalho para o elenco do Flamengo, no Ninho do Urubu. O técnico Renato Gaúcho comandou mais uma atividade visando o próximo compromisso pelo Brasileirão, contra o Palmeiras neste domingo.

É a reta final da preparação do grupo, que está desfalcado dos atletas a serviço das seleções sul-americanas na disputa das Eliminatórias Sul-Americanas.

RelacionadasFutebol LatinoArrascaeta comemora o seu desempenho no Uruguai parecido com o FlamengoFutebol Latino06/09/2021FlamengoCandidato à presidência do Flamengo aciona Justiça para garantir voto à distância nas eleições de dezembroFlamengo06/09/2021FlamengoGaroto do Ninho é convocado e representará o Flamengo na Seleção Brasileira pela primeira vezFlamengo06/09/2021

Assim como na segunda-feira, o atacante Bruno Henrique fez um trabalho à parte dos demais companheiros. O camisa 27 se recupera de uma lesão muscular na coxa direita, sofrida no último dia 25, e ainda não deve ficar à disposição do Renato Gaúcho contra o Palmeiras, em São Paulo, no dia 12.

Na ausência de Gabigol, Everton Ribeiro, Isla e Arrascaeta, os treinos no Ninho seguem contando com a presenças de vários jovens da base. Saiba quem são!

A partida é válida pela primeira rodada do returno do Campeonato Brasileiro.

انتهت مباراة الإمارات وعمان بالتعادل 1-1، والتي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”.

وأقيمت مباراة الإمارات وعمان في الجولة الثالثة من المجموعة وذلك على أرضية استاد جابر المبارك الصباح بـ مدينة الكويت.

وانطلقت بطولة كأس الخليج “خليجي 26″، في الكويت يوم 21 ديسمبر الجاري، وتستمر حتى 3 يناير المقبل.

وتضم المجموعة الأولى: (الكويت وعمان وقطر والإمارات).

طالع | ترتيب المجموعة الأولى في كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26” بعد انتهاء الجولة الثالثة

وسجل يحيى الغساني هدف الإمارات بالدقيقة 20 بعدما تلقي كرة عرضية من الجبهة اليمني وصلت له داخل منطقة الجزاء حولها مباشرة في المرمى.

بينما أحرز عبد الرحمن المشيفري هدف تعادل عمان في الدقيقة 79 من تصويبة قوية بعد تسلمه الكرة داخل منطقة الجزاء وسددها في الشباك. أهداف مباراة عمان والإمارات اليوم في كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”

وبهذه النتيجة وصل رصيد منتخب عمان للنقطة الخامسة من الفوز في مباراة والتعادل بمواجهتين دون هزائم، محتلاً صدارة المجموعة ليتأهل لنصف نهائي كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”.

بينما يتواجد منتخب الإمارات بالمركز الثالث ولديه نقطتين من التعادل في مباراتين وهزيمة وحيدة.

Pakistan fast bowling coach Waqar Younis has dismissed suggestions that Pakistan would feel compelled to rest some of their fast bowlers due to the short turnaround between the first and the second Test. He said Pakistan hadn’t played Test cricket for five months, which meant the bowlers still had plenty of energy to get through the second Test.”We haven’t decided who we’re going to play at the moment, but we haven’t played any cricket for a long period of time,” Waqar said at a video press conference. “It’s been five months since we last played a Test. I don’t think tiredness is an issue with the team. Yes, it’s very hot here, but it’s going to cool down in the next few days, and I’m sure they’ve got plenty of gas left the tank to tackle this Test and we’ll see how it goes after.”Should Pakistan go with the same bowling attack, it will be a departure from the strategy England employed to excellent results during the series against West Indies. Stuart Broad and Sam Curran missed the first Test, only to come back in for the second with James Anderson and Jofra Archer sitting out. Anderson and Archer then returned for the decider, with the fast bowlers claiming 50 of the 56 West Indies wickets that fell during the series. West Indies, meanwhile, made fewer changes, and fatigue was at times apparent as the series progressed.In the first Test, Pakistan opted for three seamers and two spinners in Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan, though the latter only bowled 11.3 overs across the match. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas shouldered the fast bowling responsibility, and the youth of Naseem – combined with the pace at which the 17-year-old bowls – led to suggestions Pakistan may not want to overwork him. The fast bowling coach admitted Naseem hadn’t bowled as well as they had expected, but backed him to come good.ALSO READ: Misbah-ul-Haq ‘frustrated’ at Pakistan’s lack of fortune on final day“He’s so talented, and he’s so young. He’s still growing, his bones are growing. I don’t think he really bowled as well as we expected in the previous game, but he can really bowl well and take the opposition on at times. Because he’s young and inexperienced, it gets tough sometimes. When he gets fitter, he will bowl more overs and definitely be a force for Pakistan in the next few years.”But when you talk about becoming a great, it’s really difficult to be sure about anyone. Pakistan have produced some really quality fast bowlers in the past few decades, so if he keeps himself fit and strong and keeps bowling, he’s going to get much harder to face.”There’s always room for improvement for the quicks. But if we’d won that Test match, no one would ask questions about it. I don’t think we’ve bowled poorly but because we lost, there will be questions. In the series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, I think the quicks did a wonderful job.”In Australia, which was the first tour for most of the bowlers as well as the management, we struggled. But we’re looking to invest in these players who will be instrumental for Pakistan for a number of years to come.”Waqar sympathised with the under-fire Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, who was heavily criticised for a string of decisions at pivotal moments on the final day as Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes’ partnership inched England closer to victory. Ali, who was given the job only nine months back, has also struggled with the bat of late, particularly in away Test matches, managing just 139 runs in his past 12 innings. Waqar said Ali’s vast experience would tide over across this bad patch, and that the added strains of captaincy could take time to become accustomed to.”Being captain and playing in the top order is not easy. He’s been captain before as well, so he’ll understand that. When you’re in bad form, or have had a bad game, everything gets scrutinised. I’ve been captain myself so I know what he’s going through. You have several more responsibilities, and on top of all that, you have to focus on your batting as well.”Like I said, if we’d won this match, then he’d get a lot more encouragement and confidence. But he’s a seasoned player who has played 80 Tests and scored runs in England before, too. He knows how to come out of these situations and I expect him to deliver in the upcoming two Test matches.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois da vitória do Palmeiras sobre o Fluminense neste sábado (24) pelo Brasileirão, o auxiliar de Abel Ferreira, João Martins, concedeu entrevista coletiva. Perguntado sobre quando o time poderia contar com o lateral Jorge, recém contratado para suprir a ausência de Viña, com a venda encaminhada à Roma, o assistente disse que é preciso aguardar as avaliações dos departamentos do clube sobre a condição do atleta para poder falar sobre isso.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasRaphael Veiga admite cansaço por conta da maratona de jogos e exalta vitória do Palmeiras sobre o FluminensePalmeiras24/07/2021PalmeirasPalmeiras vence a oitava seguida diante do Fluminense, no Allianz, e brinca: ‘Trem das Oito’Palmeiras24/07/2021VídeoVÍDEO: João Martins: ‘Uma coisa que vamos dar ao Dudu é tempo e espaço no Palmeiras’Vídeo24/07/2021

– Mais uma opção. Vai iniciar no começo da semana, processo normal de avaliações clínicas. Vamos ver a condição física do Jorge. Isso demora alguns dias. Ele estava em um clube que não estava disputando nenhuma competição agora. Vamos dar ao tempo que demos a todos. Esperar que esteja em condições para depois falar dele – explicou.

Apesar do triunfo, o Alviverde teve dificuldades contra a equipe carioca e não conseguiu criar muitas oportunidades. Em relação a isso, João atribuiu essa questão à qualidade do adversário e ao desgaste provocado pela intensa maratona de jogos do time nas últimas semanas.

– Não jogamos contra uma equipe qualquer. Oitavas da Libertadores, bem treinada e bons jogadores. Sabíamos que seria um jogo muito difícil. Esse cansaço físico (da sequência) influência a mente e a performance técnica. Sabíamos que não iríamos criar um volume tão alto. Não por demérito nosso ou porque nós não quiséssemos. Porque o adversário também não nos deixa. Não jogamos sozinhos. Conseguimos fazer um gol, sofrer e defender.

Além disso, o português comentou sobre a série de vitórias do Verdão, que chegou à nona consecutiva. Ele destacou a estabilidade e confiança do elenco, mas ressaltou que algumas dificuldades poderão aparecer pelo caminho.

– Estamos estáveis, seguros e confiantes. As vitórias trazem isso. No geral, estamos bem. Não significa que não possa acontecer um percalço. A única coisa que temos que garantir é o equilíbrio e continuar a evoluir – declarou.

Com Abel Ferreira de volta ao comando do Palmeiras, o time volta a campo contra o São Paulo pela décima quarta rodada do Brasileirão. O Choque-Rei está marcado para as 19h (horário oficial de Brasília) deste sábado (31 no Morumbi.

continua após a publicidade

Head coach wants one of his players “to set themselves targets of getting a big hundred” in bid to save Test

Valkerie Baynes26-Jul-2020Series don’t come much tougher than travelling to England to face on-song pace duo Stuart Broad and James Anderson. That was the assessment of Phil Simmons, West Indies’ head coach, after his side were bundled out for 197 in their first innings at Emirates Old Trafford and then went two wickets down early in their second, needing to bat out the rest of the match to retain the Wisden Trophy.”Wherever you go it’s going to be tough, in England’s it’s going to be toughest with two bowlers, one there in 600, one there in 500 wickets and it’s going to make things hard,” Simmons said after play on the third day of the deciding Test, with his side still trailing by 388 runs.”On this wicket, we showed in the first innings of the second Test that… we were doing what was necessary, we were getting scores, we got a few fifties, but you’ve got to carry on, and these guys keep coming and they’re relentless. So I think it’s, it’s one of the most difficult places to bat, especially against these two experienced bowlers.”ALSO READ: Can West Indies keep their eyes on the prize?Broad already has eight wickets for the match, having taken 6 for 31 in West Indies’ first innings before dismissing struggling opener John Campbell and nightwatchman Kemar Roach to put them at 10 for 2 in their second and leave himself on 499 Test wickets.Broad and Anderson started the day with two wickets apiece before Broad’s 4 for 14 in four overs halted West Indies shortly after they had avoided the follow-on. Anderson, playing his 153rd Test, now has 589 scalps to his name.With the ball only six overs old, the duo are likely to feature heavily when play resumes with England seeking eight more wickets to win the match and reclaim the Wisden Trophy after levelling the series with victory in the second Test.Jermaine Blackwood’s 95 in West Indies’ first-Test victory at the Ageas Bowl remains his side’s highest individual score, while No. 3 Shai Hope is yet to pass 25 for the series.Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, unbeaten alongside Hope at the close, made 65 in the first Test and 75 in the second, while Shamarh Brooks made twin scores in the 60s last week. But the need to convert such starts into big innings is now vital if West Indies have any chance of holding out for a draw and retaining the trophy.”Yes, we’re struggling where the runs are concerned, and we’ve struggled since after the second innings of the second Test, but all in all, a lot of work has been done,” Simmons said. “Guys are going to go home on empty but that’s what you want at the end of a series – they’ve given their all, and if all isn’t good enough, you take that, and you work out how you get better.”We haven’t got any centuries in this series so I’m always going to be putting pressure on them to go there. The wicket is still a good wicket to bat on so they have to set themselves targets of getting a big hundred on this wicket. Tomorrow is only the fourth day so we have a lot of time so we’ve got to show that determination to get big scores.”Rain is expected to wipe out much of Monday, which would still leave England time to bowl their opponents out on the final day, but it would also see West Indies needing to resist for a far shorter period.It may also give Shane Dowrich some extra recovery time after he was hit in the face by a Shannon Gabriel delivery which deflected off Dowrich’s wicketkeeping glove.Dowrich has also been struggling with the bat, having made 61 and 20 in the first Test and a pair in the second before he was out for 37 on Sunday, Broad’s last first-innings victim. At this stage he has not looked like needing to call upon a concussion substitute to bat in his place, although Simmons said team medical staff would “see how he wakes up in the morning”.”He was lucky that it came on to the glove first,” Simmons said. “He has a little cut on the lip but no damage to the teeth or anything like that, just a cut and it’s been sealed up by the doctor. So I guess now all he has is a big headache.”Simmons praised fast bowlers Gabriel and Kemar Roach who, along with Jason Holder and spinner Roston Chase have toiled hard through all three Tests.Gabriel, originally in the touring party as a reserve following ankle surgery, has looked particularly tired and stiff at times, often leaving the field for physio treatment and rest, but Simmons defended his team selections, saying all were fit to play.”It’s tough, it’s been tough going into this third back-to-back Test,” Simmons said. “I’m so appreciative and excited for the work that the bowlers have put in, especially the two quicks who played in all three Test matches and have given us everything they have. I’ll always raise a glass for them.”The fast bowlers especially have done a lot of work but I didn’t see any of them faltering in this game. The two fast bowlers did their job.”

Since Mikel Arteta joined Arsenal back in 2019, they have struggled to find a consistent number nine to enhance the side. This may be a surprising statement, given the Gunners are the leading scorers in the Premier League with 85 as per Sofascore, but many believe they are inconsistent in front of goal.

Just this season alone, Arteta has played Gabriel Jesus up front, and more recently, Kai Havertz, who is in superb form. The German has scored 11 goals and has registered six assists, the third-best return of his career.

In the Spaniard’s time as manager at the Emirates Stadium, he has also used the likes of Alexander Laczaette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as Eddie Nketiah, who is still at the club, although has played a sporadic role this season.

However, according to rumours, the Gunners are still looking to land their dream signing at centre-forward, and could well make a move for one of Europe’s deadliest marksmen this summer, who has received comparison to a former Arsenal striker.

Arsenal's striker shortlist

The player in question here is Juventus and Serbia international Dusan Vlahovic. There are reports to suggest that the Gunners are interested in signing the former Fiorentina man this summer.

According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are going to “pounce” should Vlahovic fail to agree a new deal with the Turin side. The Serbian international, who has 13 goals in 25 games for his country, could be available for £55m.

This is certainly a good price from an Arsenal point of view. According to CIES Football Observatory, Vlahovic is currently valued at £68m, meaning he could be attainable for £13m less than his current value.

How Dusan Vlahovic would improve Arsenal

Football analyst Ben Mattinson once compared Vlahovic to former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on social media, discussing a lot of their similar attributes before explaining the Serb is his “preference” for Arsenal to sign. It is certainly easy to stylistically see those comparisons.

Vlahovic has a super ability to score a variety of goals, just as Van Persie did. He has a "killer left foot", as Mattinson put it, with his ball-striking ability particularly sticking out. Ring any bells?

Like the Dutchman, the Juve forward is capable of making clever runs behind an opposition defence, is a great finisher in the box. Also boasting wonderful ability in the air, he is the complete package.

There is an argument to be made that says Vlahovic has not hit the heights expected of him so far in Turin. With that being said, the 40 goals he has scored in 96 games have come at a good rate and during a rebuilding phase for Juve. It is fair to cut him some slack.

This season, Vlahovic is the second-top scorer in Serie A, with 16 goals in 29 games. He is bettered only by Lautaro Martinez, who leads the way with an incredible 23 goals in 30 games for Scudetto-winning Inter.

The 24-year-old has the uncanny ability to make something out of nothing. According to Fbref, he averages 0.61 shot-creating actions that have led to another shot per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 3%, and 0.13 goal-creating actions that have led to a goal per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 13%.

This is certainly helped by the sheer volume of shots he has per 90 minutes. In Serie A this term, he averages 4.34 shots and 1.43 shots on target per 90 minutes, which rank him in the top 3% and 8% respectively.

A key feature of Vlahovic’s game is his link-up play. The Serbian is very strong and can shield the ball from his opponents, able to drop deep and receive the ball with his back to goal, before finding the runs of teammates in behind. Thus, he would surely link up well with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Interestingly, in the campaign when the two players turned 24 in their respective careers, both Vlahiovc and Van Persie have a similar minutes-per-goal ratio. Vlahovic averages one goal every 130 minutes this season in Serie A, whilst the former Netherlands international averaged one goal every 150 minutes in the Premier League in 2007/08. However, it is worth noting Van Persie missed 13 games for club and country that term through injury, and still scored seven goals in just 15 league games.

Vlahovic could well be the man Arsenal target to add extra firepower up front. He has had a superb season and is specifically very similar to a former Gunner’s centre forward in Van Persie.

Should Arteta decide to go ahead and do a deal for him, it could prove to be the signing Arsenal need to give them momentum to win the Premier League.

Related Kai Havertz's incredible form could spell the end for Arsenal's £68m ace

The supremely gifted star could be the biggest loser from the German’s excellent form.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 29, 2024