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Arsenal went on a record-setting winning run of form in the month of October, not conceding a single goal while winning six games in all competitions.

The Gunners’ dominance has been founded on one of the best defences in Premier League history, as David Raya has had to pick the ball out of his net just three times so far this season, a rate that if it continues will see them break Chelsea’s record for goals conceded in a single Premier League season.

Gabriel Magalhães has drawn PFA Player of the Year shouts in recent weeks, while Raya is chasing yet another golden glove and Jurrien Timber is emerging as one of the best right-backs in world football.

What is Chelsea's record and can Arsenal beat it?

Chelsea’s 2004-05 team led by Jose Mourinho conceded just 15 goals in a 38-game Premier League season. Arsenal have so far conceded three times in nine games, which at 0.33 per game would total between 12-13 goals, but it’s not that simple…

The AI supercomputer gave three scenarios for Arsenal’s final total, taking into account fatigue, injuries, game states and the possibility of other teams adapting to their style of play.

It also concluded that fine margins – such as individual errors or controversial decisions – will add up over the course of a season.

Another factor harming their efforts may just be their own brilliance. Arsenal are predicted to win the Premier League by a whopping 13 points, which would mean they have games at the end of the season with little to play for other than this record. For context, Liverpool failed to win all four of their remaining matches after wrapping up the title last season, conceding nine goals in that time.

Best case

13–14 goals

Arsenal sustain current defensive dominance and stay injury-free

Most likely

17–19 goals

Small regression due to fixture congestion and natural variance

Worst case

25–27 goals

Defensive injuries, fatigue, or tactical shifts increase vulnerability slightly

Predicted total: Arsenal will concede 18 goals in the 2025-26 Premier League season

Given the likelihood that Arsenal progress far in several competitions – they are currently fourth in the Champions League table and still alive in both domestic cup competitions – it is likely that fatigue and injuries will affect their ability to keep clean sheets later in the season.

Arsenal’s squad depth has been an issue in recent seasons, falling behind Manchester City in the 2022-23 campaign after they lost William Saliba to injury, but Bukayo Saka has hailed the level of the current group after more than £250million was spent in the summer.

“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” said the England international.

“I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”

Supercomputer predicts every 2025/26 Premier League game and final table

Look away now, Liverpool fans…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 28, 2025

Entering the Dodgers’ postseason run this fall, right-handed ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t have a single complete game on his résumé.

He now has two. And they’ve come in his last two outings, nonetheless.

To follow up his nine-inning gem in Los Angeles’s NLCS win on Oct. 14, Yamamoto dialed up another complete game Saturday night to lead the Dodgers to a 5–1 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the World Series. In nine innings of work, Yamamoto allowed just one run on four hits with eight strikeouts. He only got better as the game went on, striking out the side in the eighth inning and retiring 20 consecutive hitters to end the game.

In four starts this postseason, Yamamoto has logged a 1.57 ERA and 0.73 WHIP with 26 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings. He’s just the second player in MLB history to notch his first two complete games in the playoffs, joining Josh Beckett in 2003.

“He’s pitched in big ball games in Japan. He’s pitched in the [World Baseball Classic]. Players who have the weight of a country on their shoulders, that’s pressure,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Yamamoto after Game 2. “I just feel that part of his DNA is to just perform at a high level in big spots. Control his heart beat and just continue to make pitches. He could’ve went another 30, 40 pitches tonight.”

Yamamoto became the first pitcher to throw a complete game in the World Series since Royals righthander Johnny Cueto in 2015. Only 11 pitchers have done so in a World Series game dating back to 1990, and just six pitchers have gone the distance this century.

Pitchers to throw complete games in the World Series (since 1990)

PLAYER (TEAM)	DATE	STATS	RESULT
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers)	Oct. 25, 2025	9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 8 K	W, 5–1
Johnny Cueto (Royals)	Oct. 28, 2015	9 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K	W, 7–1
Madison Bumgarner (Giants)	Oct. 26, 2014	9 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 8 K	W, 5–0
Cliff Lee (Phillies)	Oct. 28, 2009	9 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 10 K	W, 6–1
Josh Beckett (Marlins)	Oct. 25, 2003	9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 9 K	W, 2–0
Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks)	Oct. 28, 2001	9 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 11 K	W, 4–0
Greg Maddux (Braves)	Oct. 21, 1995	9 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 4 K	W, 3–2
Curt Schilling (Phillies)	Oct. 21, 1993	9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 6 K	W, 2–0
Tom Glavine (Braves)	Oct. 17, 1992	9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 6 K	W, 3–1
Jack Morris (Twins)	Oct. 27, 1991	10 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 8 K	W, 1–0
Dave Stewart (A’s)	Oct. 20, 1990	9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 K	L, 2–1

He’s also the first pitcher to log back-to-back complete games in a single postseason since Diamondbacks ace Curt Schilling in 2001. Schilling actually posted three straight complete games in Arizona’s ‘01 playoff run, going the distance in two games in the NLDS and another in the NLCS.

Pitchers to throw back-to-back complete games in a single postseason (since 1990)

PLAYER (TEAM)	YEAR	STREAK OF CG
Curt Schilling (Diamondbacks)	2001	3
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers)	2025	2
Tom Glavine (Braves)	1992	2
Tim Wakefield (Pirates)	1992	2

If that was Yamamoto’s final start of the year, what a way to go out. But if it wasn’t, and the Dodgers are planning to call his number again later in the World Series, it’s only fair to expect greatness from the 27-year-old ace.

South Africa completed their fourth chase of the tournament, this time with ten wickets in hand

Firdose Moonda17-Oct-2025

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits shared a century-stand for the opening wicket•Getty Images

20-overs-a-sideSouth Africa took a big step towards a World Cup semi-final berth by chasing successfully for the fourth time in the tournament, this time in a rain-reduced encounter in Colombo. They played what was essentially a T20 against Sri Lanka, whose innings was paused for five-and-a-quarter hours, and whose semi-final hopes now hang by a thread. Sri Lanka have two points from two washouts and are winless. For any chance of a final-four spot, they must win their last two games and hope other results go their way.After choosing to bat first, Sri Lanka faced 12 overs before the rain delay and scored 46 for 2. They returned to hit 59 runs in eight overs, losing five wickets in the process. South Africa’s target was adjusted up from Sri Lanka’s final score of 105 for 7 to acknowledge the hosts did not know they would only bat 20 overs for 60% of their innings.Similarly South Africa’s bowling plans were scuppered by the revised playing conditions. Both senior seamers – Marizanne Kapp and Masabata Klaas – were bowled out in the first 12 overs as the reduction only allowed for bowlers to deliver a maximum of four overs each. They had also included two offspinners – Sune Luus, returning from a hip flexor strain, and Nondumiso Shangase – but neither ended up bowling.Instead, it was left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, dealing with a wet ball, who took 3 for 30 and limited Sri Lanka after the resumption. Unlike in their previous two matches against India and Bangladesh, South Africa were barely troubled in the chase. Laura Wolvaardt scored a second half-century at this event and Tazmin Brits supported her with a fifty of her own as South Africa cruised to a win with 5.1 overs to spare. Their net run-rate, though, remains negative after their opening defeat to England.South Africa may not have thought it would be that easy, when hours earlier, Sri Lanka – fresh from topping 250 against New Zealand – decided to go again by batting first in home conditions. But South Africa had an ace, Klaas, who threatened from the get-go when she beat Vishmi Gunaratne first with an outswinger and then an inswinger. In the next over, Gunaratne was completing a single off Kapp when a throw came into the non-striker’s end and struck her on the inside of her left knee. Going down in pain, she received treatment on-field and was stretchered off later. No serious damage was done as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed she would bat again later in the innings.Athapaththu was on three of 12 balls at the time and only got her next runs six deliveries later when she hit Kapp inside-out over point for four. Just as she found her touch, South Africa also discovered theirs. Klaas bowled Hasini Perera, who played down the wrong line, with a beauty that shaped away. Then Kapp found Harshita Samarawickrama’s edge but the chance fell short of Chloe Tryon at slip. Klaas then snared the big fish when Athapaththu was given out lbw as she lunged forward to an inswinger. Athpaththu thought the impact was outside the line and reviewed but stayed out on umpires call. Sri Lanka were 37 for 2 after 10 overs.Only two more overs were possible before the drizzle became too heavy and the players were taken off the field. They remained off for five hours and 14 minutes, during which time it rained heavily, eased off and eventually Sri Lanka’s excellent groundstaff got conditions ready for a restart.Mlaba restarted proceedings and was dispatched for six first ball by Kavisha Dilhari, in an over that cost 10. Sri Lanka’s intent was clear when, in the next over, Samarawickrama tried to slog Nadine de Klerk but got a leading edge to mid-off, where Klaas could not hold on. De Klerk was rewarded later in the over when Dilhari handed a catch to Wolvaardt at cover.Nonkululeko Mlaba finished with three wickets•Getty Images

It became two in two for Sri Lanka as Mlaba removed Samarawickrama at the start of her next over, with Wolvaardt doing the catching again. That brought Gunaratne back to the crease and she finished the over by hitting Mlaba down the ground for four. Gunaratne was in excellent touch and hit Chloe Tryon through point, and Mlaba for back-to-back fours to keep pressure on South Africa.Nilakshika de Silva took on de Klerk but South Africa pulled things back in the last two overs. De Klerk’s fourth over cost just three runs and Mlaba picked up two wickets and conceded four to take her to second on the tournament wicket-takers’ list. De Silva, trying to get as many as possible, picked out deep midwicket and Gunaratne edged behind to give 18-year old wicketkeeper Karabo Meso her first World Cup catch.Wolvaardt and Brits, who had not had the best tournament as an opening pair thus far, then took complete control. They posted their highest opening stand of this World Cup and dealt well with the early swing Malki Madara generated. Wolvaardt kept one that was destined for the stumps out and then advanced down the track to hit her over mid-on.It took Brits, coming off back to back ducks, some time before she brought out a big shot. But when she did, it was huge. Coming down the track, she sent Inoka Ranaweera back over her head for six. South Africa’s fifty came up in the eighth over as Brits was nearly run out at the non-striker’s end with Wolvaardt pushing for two. Wolvaardt went on to give Brits the best view in the house as she creamed a cover drive off Athapaththu and asserted her authority on the game.Brits survived an lbw review on 20 when Dilhari tossed one up. Dilhari’s night got worse from there when South Africa took 18 runs off her third over including four fours. Wolvaardt reached fifty off the second one, when she hit Dilhari leg-side, then Brits scored two of her own to enter the 40s. She finished things off quickly and got to fifty when she ended the game with a six over midwicket.

Everton are reportedly pushing hard to complete the signing of Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sanchez, but there is more Premier League interest in him, too.

The 22-year-old is an exciting young talent who has already won an Olympic gold medal with Spain, winning a total of four caps for his country and hoping to be a part of their 2026 World Cup squad.

Juanlu emerged as a target for Wolves during the summer transfer window, with talks opening at one point and a move to Molineux potentially looking on the cards.

In the end, he rejected their advances, however, and decided to remain at Sevilla for the time being, continuing to be an influential player for the Spanish giants this season.

Juanlu has made 10 La Liga appearances in 2025/26 to date, assisting once in the competition, but it looks as though his long-term future may lie away from the club, with Everton seemingly in the mix to acquire his signature.

Everton applying "strong pressure" to sign Juanlu

According to Diario de Sevilla [via Sport Witness], Everton are putting “strong pressure” on to sign Juanlu from Sevilla, with Crystal Palace also in the same boat.

Sevilla’s financial issues could see them forced into selling the wide man, with as much as £17.6m possibly needed to prise him away from Spain.

Juanlu looks like such a shrewd target for Everton, with the Spain international possessing the versatility to add so much depth to David Moyes’ squad, being able to thrive on the wing and even in midfield alongside his natural right-back role.

Still only 22, his best years are ahead of him, with former manager Xavier Garcia Pimienta heaping praise on his qualities as a player in the past.

“He has played as an inside midfielder [before], we were short on space in midfield due to Saul’s [Niguez] suspension and [Albert Sambi] Lokonga’s injury. I spoke to him, I knew he could do well in that position. Juanlu has an incredible present and a better future.”

Aston Villa's move to sign James Garner amid new update on Everton future

The Villans have come forward to sign a new midfielder, with his future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium up in the air.

ByDominic Lund Nov 17, 2025

The lure of Palace may be big, given their status as reigning FA Cup holders, but Everton are enjoying life in their sparkly new stadium, with Jack Grealish a big-name loan signing, and Juanlu will hopefully see them as the more exciting proposition.

Everton enter race to sign £88m South American "machine" with Newcastle

Aggression is captain’s watchword as he takes lessons of 2022 and drills them back at England

Matt Roller07-Oct-2024It was not a mirage in Multan, but an overdue end to a four-year drought. Shan Masood has talked a good game in his first year as Pakistan captain but after five defeats out of five – in which his career average remained below 30 – he came into this series knowing that, unless he delivered with the bat, his position would be seen as untenable.This was as compelling a response as Masood could have wished for. When he hit 156 in Manchester in August 2020, he looked to have finally cracked Test cricket: it was his third successive hundred, albeit spread across an eight-month period. But in his 27 innings since then, he had not managed a single score above 60.Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Masood’s 151 was that he paid as much attention to ‘how’ as ‘how many’. Once a dour, shotless player who would crawl along at a strike rate of 40, Masood showed his team exactly how he wants them to bat by putting England’s seamers under pressure and targeting the young offspinner Shoaib Bashir.It would have been very different but for a review. Masood looked rushed by the extra pace during Brydon Carse’s first spell on Test debut, and had just edged him for four to reach 16 when he was given out lbw. But he was right to question Kumar Dharmasena’s on-field decision, with Hawk-Eye confirming the ball had pitched outside leg stump.The Pakistan captaincy is a role about more than just leading a cricket team. Its incumbents are also expected to act as spokesmen, musing at length about the state of the game – and the country. Masood’s views have been cited so many times that he should be charging royalties, and last week he gave a press conference previewing this series that lasted the best part of an hour.By his own admission, Masood had his eyes opened when England toured Pakistan two years ago and has taken inspiration from their attacking approach. He played in the third Test of that series after running the drinks in the first two, and describing England on Sunday as “pioneers” whose style “has had an effect on the world”.It has certainly had an effect on Masood, as he demonstrated with his calculated takedown of Bashir. Masood picked the ball after a convincing lbw shout as his opportunity to attack in Bashir’s second over, charging down to hack him through midwicket before using his feet again to the subsequent delivery, and launching him back over his head.A couple of skips down the pitch were enough to throw Bashir off his length, and Masood pulled his drag-down for four in the following over, then launched him over extra cover. It posed a problem for Ollie Pope, who could not rely on spin at both ends and found himself chasing the game while Masood and Abdullah Shafique piled on 253 for the second wicket.Related

• Shafique: 'How well you take your opportunity matters'

• Jeetan Patel: England's 'high-end toil' keeps them in contention in first Test

• The good news for Pakistan? England have problems. The bad news? Pakistan have bigger ones

• Shakeel: Pakistan planning to use England's aggressive game plan against them

• Dysfunctional build-up masks the challenge as England return to Pakistan

Masood explained that he saw Bashir’s introduction as an opportunity after Pakistan had seen off Chris Woakes’ threat with the new ball, on a pitch which offered very little for bowlers after some early movement. “If you can get the spinners away, you change the way they bowl,” he said. “On a first-day wicket, when you’ve had a good start, that’s when you have to cash in.”He expressly targeted a “mammoth partnership” early in his stand with Shafique. “The way we played, the way we put some scoreboard pressure on them, the way we kept running hard and made sure that we scored at 4.5-5 [per over] – that’s an important thing. If we would have just set up shop and tried to defend our way through the day, I don’t think we would have had 328 on the board.”Masood survived occasional sketchy moments off Gus Atkinson, including a top-edged pull that went just over the long-leg fielder and a gloved short ball that dropped short of Jamie Smith. But he was otherwise assured on his way to three figures, cruising along at a rapid rate: his hundred, reached off 102 balls, was Pakistan’s fastest in a decade.”From 30, still to 100, I was trying not to give anything away,” Masood said. “I’ve been very guilty of getting to those 30s, 40s and 50s and not carrying on. Today, I had that responsibility. When I played that pull shot off Atkinson, I had my heart in my mouth: I said, ‘Nothing [else] before 100.'”He flagged in the sapping heat of the afternoon, offering a half-chance to Pope at point on 133 and seizing up with cramp on 146 after reverse-sweeping Jack Leach for four. His dismissal – chipping a low chance back to Leach – was a tame end to a fine innings which spanned four-and-a-half hours, and was the second-highest of Masood’s Test career.It is not difficult to imagine the world in which Masood played no part in this Test. Five consecutive defeats at the start of his tenure could easily have led to him losing his job, or an overhaul in selection. But with a short turnaround from Bangladesh’s recent tour, the PCB defied their reputation for instability with a policy of continuity.The first day of a Test tour is unlike any other, in that it presents the opportunity to set the tone for what follows. Masood reflected as much with his positivity, which took the pressure off himself and put it on England’s bowlers. It couldn’t quite match England’s 506 for 4 in Rawalpindi two years ago, but Pakistan’s 328 for 4 laid the foundation for the series.

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