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Arsenal seemingly had all the tools in place to truly challenge Manchester City in the coming season, but one recent injury has thrown that into doubt…

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

The acquisitions of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and David Raya bolstered key areas for sporting director Edu Gaspar and manager Mikel Arteta, however, it was his capture of Jurrien Timber that arguably stood out given the versatility and immense quality he promised.

His presence would have allowed for numerous different defensive combinations at the back, where he could slot into right-back, centre-back, and invert should he be needed. Therefore, to see him suffer an ACL injury in his first league start marks a hammer blow for both the player and his club.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Perhaps now they could seek to secure a cut-price alternative to filling in during his lengthy absence, with reports continuing to link them with a swoop for Kyle Walker-Peters, who was valued at around £40m in 2022.

Whilst versatile in a different way to the Dutchman, he too could provide that key creativity from deep that allows them to maintain their system despite enduring such a key absentee.

With just two years left on his £20k-per-week deal, there certainly could be a deal to be made.

Who has played for both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur?

The main talking point regarding this potential swoop would be the fact that the 27-year-old would be re-joining another north London club, having left Tottenham Hotspur for Southampton back in 2020.

Having spent seven years with the Lilywhites, he featured just 24 times for them and forever felt like a backup option.

However, since moving to St Mary's, it seems like his career has been revived.

Although he struggled last term, as his side slumped to relegation, the 2021/22 campaign offers a fairer evaluation of his talents. His 6.85 average rating marked a solid return, buoyed by his 81% pass accuracy, 1.8 tackles and 0.8 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

His quality in possession is further emphasised when compared to other full-backs across Europe, as he ranks in the top 11% for progressive carries per 90, and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

It is therefore no surprise to see him lauded, as his former boss Ruben Selles noted:

"I think Kyle is an extraordinary player. His ability in positions, but also to understand the system we are playing has big value for us. Kyle has been really good in the Premier League for the last four to five years."

Walker-Peters could not be the only man to have featured for both north London rivals, with key names such as William Gallas, Emmanuel Adebayor, and perhaps most notoriously, Sol Campbell.

The hulking centre-back moved directly from Spurs to the Gunners in his controversial 2001 move but was immediately vindicated given the success his arrival brought.

He went on to feature 211 times for Arsenal, spearheading their two Premier League title victories among other countless domestic honours.

Such was his importance, TheScore offered the following review on the 48-year-old after placing him as the 11th-best player of Arsene Wenger's reign:

"Sol Campbell is the epitome of an athletic centre-back, whose robust frame and barrel chest hid the fact that he was sublime on the ball."

Should Walker-Peters enjoy similar success, allowing Arteta to continue as if Timber were still fit, then perhaps he might also be the catalyst that helps this team claim the elite honours. It would also mark an intelligent acquisition once again from Edu, showcasing his superior planning in the event of tragedy.

He would stride into the Emirates as a hero for snubbing their rivals, and offer that key experience and versatility that they are set to miss for many months as the 22-year-old fights for fitness.

Gujarat completed their third straight win from as many games after they thumped Haryana by 238 runs in Valsad. They needed less than 10 overs on the final morning after Haryana added only 28 runs to their overnight score of 94 for 7. Seventeen-year-old left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai picked up his second five-wicket haul in only his second first-class game and finished with a match-haul of eight wickets. Veteran legspinner Piyush Chawla, meanwhile, claimed his 23rd five-for to go with his four wickets in the first innings.Overnight batsman Harshal Patel was the first to be dismissed in the morning by Desai, following which Sanjay Pahal (41), the top-scorer for Haryana, was bowled by Chawla. Chawla then wrapped up things in his next over by having the last man Ashish Hooda caught behind. While Gujarat are on top of Group B with 19 points, Haryana are at the bottom after having lost all their three games.Kerala needed only 8.5 overs on the final morning to brush aside Jammu & Kashmir by 158 runs and collect their third win from four games in Thiruvananthapuram. With 18 points, they are now second-placed behind Gujarat having played one extra game. Debutant right-arm spinner KC Akshay picked up all the three wickets to fall on the morning to claim his maiden five-wicket haul. Akshay, 21, ended up with a match haul of9 for 58.Resuming on 56 for 7, J&K lost their first wicket in the third over of the day after Asif Khan was cleaned up by Akshay. The remaining batsmen put up little resistance, as they were bowled out for 79. Only three batsmen got into the double digits. J&K are just one rung above bottom-placed Haryana in the standings. Sanju Samson was named man-of-the-match for his century in the first innings.Saurashtra beat Jharkhand by six wickets to register their third win on the trot. Chasing 59, Saurashtra lost the opportunity to score seven points as they lost a few early wickets, but eventually completed it without much trouble. That meant they now have 20 points and have leapfrogged Kerala and Gujarat to the top of the table.Resuming on 139 for 1 after being made to follow-on, Jharkhand lost Nazim Siddiqui, in the ninth over for 75. Sumit Kumar, who made 108, and Saurabh Tiwary put on 77 runs before the latter was bowled by left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja. Six overs later, Dharmendrasinh removed Sumit to leave Jharkhand on 259 for 4. Ishank Jaggi (35) and Ishan Kishan (34) added 56 runs before the floodgates opened, with Jharkhand slipping from 315 for 5 to 341 all out. Dharmendrasinh finished with four wickets.

Leicester City kick off their 2023/24 Championship campaign with a game against Coventry City at the King Power on Sunday and supporters could see a number of fresh faces in action.

Who have Leicester City signed this summer?

The Foxes have reacted to their relegation from the Premier League by making five new signings to refresh the squad during the summer transfer window.

Enzo Maresca, who replaced interim head coach Dean Smith, has brought in Harry Winks, Stephy Mavididi, Conor Coady, and Mads Hermasen on permanent deals, whilst central defender Callum Doyle has arrived on loan from Manchester City.

These additions have been funded by the sales of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, who have returned to the top-flight with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United respectively.

This means that the Foxes have lost their two top scorers from last season as the departed pair – who both hit double figures in the Premier League – were the only players with more than five strikes to their name.

Maresca could now add some much-needed firepower to partner Mavididi in attack by securing a swoop to sign reported transfer target Joel Piroe from Swansea, who have valued the centre-forward at around £15m.

How good is Joel Piroe?

The Dutch marksman is a proven Championship goalscorer who could be the focal point of the head coach's forward line and a dream ace for the ex-Arsenal winger to play alongside.

Mavididi is a wide forward who has the potential to be an excellent scorer for the Foxes and he could be lethal alongside Piroe this season if the club can bring the Swans star to the King Power.

The English wizard only found the back of the net four times in 26 Ligue 1 games last season but that came after the 25-year-old gem produced 17 goals in the French top-flight across the previous two campaigns combined.

None of Leicester's current players, now that Maddison and Barnes have moved on, scored more than five league goals last term and Mavididi, who registered at least eight in two of his three years with Montpellier, could be Maresca's outstanding goalscoring option out wide if he rediscovers his best form.

Piroe, meanwhile, is coming off the back of two sublime seasons in the Championship with Swansea and could be the Foxes' main man for goals if he can translate his performances over to the King Power.

The 24-year-old dynamo, who was once hailed as a "danger man" by journalist Josh Bunting, scored 19 times in 43 league outings last season, which came after 22 in 45 during the previous term.

This means that the £15m-rated sensation has scored at least 14 more goals than any current Leicester player managed in the 2022/23 campaign in both of the last two years.

Piroe could, therefore, be a phenomenal signing for Maresca as his statistics indicate that he has the quality to be the club's top-scorer this season in the Championship, as the prolific Dutchman has proven himself to be a clinical finisher at this level.

The current Swans star and Mavididi could be a lethal pairing at the top end of the pitch if they click together as they are both capable of being terrific scorers for their respective positions and could strike fear into opposition defences week-in-week-out.

Tottenham Hotspur have now held talks with Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki's representatives over a potential summer move to the Premier League, but they may face competition for his signature from Chelsea, according to a report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham have already made a number of attacking signings this summer, bringing in the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Manor Solomon. However, manager Ange Postecoglou is still keen to bolster his squad even further, recently saying:

“We’re working with the players we’ve got at the moment and I’m really happy with the way they are all working hard.

“But we’ve obviously still got time in the transfer window and we’re still looking to do some business.”

On Saturday night, Spurs were linked with a shock move for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, as the French club are now considering a sale, however, that move does not seem very likely, given that he will surely be keen to play Champions League football.

Postecoglou is tasked with finding a potential replacement for Harry Kane, amid the uncertainty over the striker's future, with reports from Germany recently detailing his wife and family have been spotted in Germany inquiring about houses and schools.

The Lilywhites have therefore made an approach for Fiorentina striker Arthur Cabral, although the report also claims they have several other names on the list of potential replacements for their talisman.

Tottenham are also seemingly still keen on another attacking midfielder, with Football Transfers recently reporting they have held talks with the representatives of Cherki in London.

The 19-year-old is said to be regarded as one of French football's hottest prospects, and he has been attracting the attention of some top Premier League clubs, with Chelsea also holding talks over a summer move.

As a result of their financial problems, Lyon would be open to selling the youngster, but only for the right price, having already knocked back an offer from Chelsea. The Blues are ready to make an offer of €40m (£35m) for the Lyon star, so Tottenham may have to move swiftly if they are to win the race for his signature.

What position does Rayan Cherki play?

The Frenchman is capable of playing in several attacking positions, including on both wings, and he has occasionally played as a striker, however, he has predominantly featured in an advanced midfield role throughout his career so far.

Lauded as a "difference-maker" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the starlet ranks in the 84th percentile for assists per 90 in the past year, showcasing his creative flair, while he also places in the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions.

The Lyon-born attacker is still very young, but he has already established himself as a key first-team player with his current club, having made 34 Ligue 1 appearances last season, following up the 2021-22 campaign in which he made 27 outings.

As such, the indication is that Cherki would be able to push the likes of Maddison, Kulusevski and Heung-min Son for a starting spot from the get-go, and he could be a very good acquisition for Tottenham.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga will face a disciplinary inquiry from Sri Lanka Cricket for “repeated breach” of the terms of his contract

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2017

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga will face a disciplinary inquiry from Sri Lanka Cricket for “repeated breach” of the terms of his contract.The inquiry was precipitated by Malinga’s response to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, who had alleged Sri Lanka’s poor fielding standards were owed to players’ inadequate fitness – in particular their “big bellies”. Malinga had not taken direct aim at Jayasekara in a stinging response, but nevertheless had implied in an interview that the sports minister was no more than an armchair critic, and had not played cricket at a sufficiently high level for his criticism to be taken seriously.A release from SLC said the fast bowler had twice acted in “contravention of the terms of agreement,” which bar him from making any statements to the media without the prior consent of the board’s Chief Executive Officer.SLC said it had decided to take disciplinary action after Malinga’s first violation around June 19, before a subsequent breach around June 21 prompted the board’s executive committee to expedite the inquiry, which will be conducted by a three-member panel. The findings of the hearing will be forwarded to the executive committee for disciplinary action.SLC also called an emergency meeting on Tuesday to address several issues, which include the resignation of coach Graham Ford, interim appointment of a head coach, and the inquiry against Malinga.

سخر جاري نيفيل، أسطورة مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، من لاعب مانشستر سيتي إيرلينج هالاند، بسبب فرصته الضائعة أمام آرسنال خلال مباراة الفريقين.

آرسنال حل ضيفًا على مانشستر سيتي مساء اليوم وانتهت المباراة بالتعادل السلبي، ليمنحا ليفربول الصدارة، مع بقاء الجانرز ثانيًا والسيتيزين في المركز الثالث.

طالع أيضًا.. جوارديولا يعلق على إصابة آكي أمام آرسنال ويراوغ بشأن فرص ليفربول في التتويج باللقب

إيرلينج هالاند حصل على الكرة أمام المرمى في الدقيقة 83، لكنه لم يتمكن من التسجيل، ومرت بطريقة غريبة بعدما فشل في السيطرة عليها.

جاري نيفيل علق أثناء تحليله للمباراة في تصريح مقتضب لشبكة “سكاي” البريطانية: “هالاند ظهر في هذه الكرة وكأنه لم يلعب كرة القدم أبدًا”.

سخرية جاري نيفيل تأتي في ظل تراجع هالاند تهديفيًا، وعدم تشكيل خطورة على مرمى آرسنال، في ظل الرقابة الصارمة من الثنائي ويليام ساليبا وجابرييل ماجالايس.

Arsenal fans finally returned to the Premier League’s top four last season after six years outside of England’s elite. They pulled up the chair to the big table once again under Mikel Arteta, next to some familiar faces and some pulling up a seat for the first time.

That’s where the Gunners are out. And they deserve credit for that. They took Manchester City all the way in the title race, that cannot be disputed. What Arsenal are not, however, is in a position to be negotiating for Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, with all due respect.

One season back in the Champions League pulls up a chair to England’s elite, not Europe’s, where the North London club have never won that specific trophy. That’s without even speaking about the financial ramifications, too.

This hasn’t stopped some Arsenal fans from getting ahead of themselves, however.

What’s the latest on Kylian Mbappe?

Strap yourselves in, because the Mbappe transfer saga is set to go around the rollercoaster of the transfer window yet again this summer, with the Frenchman refusing to sign a new deal at PSG, making him a free agent next summer.

The forward has reiterated his desire to see out his contract at the French club, who would like to cash in on the player they initially splashed out a reported £166m for back in 2017. According to Fabrizio Romano, unless Mbappe signs a new deal, he will be on the market this summer.

Leading the way for his signature, as has always seemingly been the case, is Real Madrid, according to Romano, as the Spanish giants wait and see if they’ll be forced to wait a year for his services, or pick the World Cup winner up for a hefty price in the coming months.

Still, a report by FootballTransfers recently linked the Gunners with what would be an outrageous move for the Frenchman, claiming that Mikel Arteta might look to try and land him for free in 2024. While sporting director Edu Gaspar has even responded to some of the wild claims on Instagram too.

AFTV make outrageous Mbappe claim

Speaking on AFTV main man Robbie Lyle seemed to be reading an awful lot into all these recent rumours too.

Indeed, he said: “Is it too far-fetched to say that Arsenal could make a move for Kylian Mbappe. They’ve got a lot of money, Arsenal, they’ve got the wage bill right down at the club.

“If they have a good run in the Champions League and a good run in the league, they’ll have additional funds, they’ll be more attractive again to a player like Mbappe.

“His number one destination’s always been Real Madrid, but what I’m talking about, could Arsenal be in the conversation for a player like Kylian Mbappe come next season?”

It’s fair to say that Premier League fans have disagreed with the claim, too, taking to Twitter to react:

Glasgow Rangers are seemingly edging closer to completing a move for midfielder Jose Cifuentes as Michael Beale’s summer recruitment spree shows no sign of slowing down.

What’s the latest on Jose Cifuentes to Rangers?

The LAFC player looked set to be arriving at Ibrox a few weeks ago, with Fabrizio Romano telling GIVEMESPORT that “the conversation is ongoing with his agents” and that a move looked imminent, with just a fee to arrange between the clubs due to his contract not expiring until December and Beale wanting to sign him this summer.

However, a clearer timeline has emerged, with Ecuadorian source Mr Offsider claiming (via Rangers News) that the Gers will be able to secure Cifuentes’ signature following Ecuador’s final international fixture during this break on 21st June. Beale will therefore be hopeful that a deal will be reached before the month is out.

Could Jose Cifuentes improve Rangers?

Considering his performances for LAFC recently, the 24-year-old would certainly give the Ibrox midfield a boost, especially in an attacking sense.

During the 2022 MLS season, he notched seven goals and grabbed a further six assists from the heart of the midfield while also creating 11 big chances, making 1.3 key passes per game and succeeding with 1.5 of his attempted dribbles each game, showcasing his attacking capabilities. This is something Rangers could certainly do with, especially with a lack of goals coming from their central midfield options last term.

John Lundstram, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin scored eight goals between them during the entirety of the 2022/23 season, underlining just how much Beale requires a player who could push forward often and generate plenty of chances.

He could also form a solid midfield partnership with Raskin, as the Belgian can utilise his defensive capabilities in order to give Cifuentes plenty of freedom, knowing that he is doing the dirty work behind him.

Since arriving in January, Raskin was so impressive in the middle of the park that he ranked third in the squad for tackles per game (1.8) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.9), and his tenacious nature would be the perfect foil for the Ecuadorian.

Raskin’s key strengths are dribbling and tackling according to WhoScored, while Cifuentes could benefit from his passing ability as the duo would be able to link together well while dictating play for the Ibrox side during matches.

WhoScored also regards dribbling as a strength, and this could give Beale an extra attacking option from deep, while knowing that the space vacated by his movement will be covered by the Belgian could lead to an exciting partnership.

Lauded as being “very dynamic” by LAFC assistant manager Marc Dos Santos, the 5 foot 8 midfielder has shone in America, and the next step is surely to feature in the Champions League, with Rangers being the perfect team in order to continue his journey with.

Arsenal continue to be linked with the Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan as speculation remains over his future with the Premier League champions.

Will Gundogan leave Man City?

The Gunners were frustratingly pipped to the Premier League title by City in a season that offered a lot of encouragement for Mikel Arteta's men.

Having missed out on their first league title in almost 20 years, this summer will offer Arteta and Edu Gaspar an exciting prospect to make a real statement.

Pep Guardiola's men ended up taking the title by just five points as they ended the campaign on 89 points.

Over their two games against the eventual champions, Arsenal conceded six points having lost both home and away to City.

With this in mind, the summer transfer window could be crucial if Arsenal are to turn the tide in the Premier League and dethrone City over the coming years.

And one player who has been linked with a potential move from the Etihad to the Emirates is Gundogan as his contract enters its final weeks.

Indeed, David Ornstein has suggested the Gunners are going to make an attempt to sign the German who has recently gotten his hands on the treble at City.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, presenter Terry Flewers has been left excited by the prospect of the 32-year-old potentially joining the Gunners:

"Yes, he's older. On Twitter, there is like an obsession with 'buy young'. It's not how real football works; you need that mix that, balance and that blend."

"This rumour of Arsenal is just not going away. Let's be honest. It's not going away."

"Arsenal are saying they're interested and they want to be kept informed. I believe that is Arsenal playing this down. They just don't want to be seen as losing out on targets.

"I believe Arsenal are going to offer him a big deal. I believe Arsenal are also going to try hard to sign this player. David Ornstein doesn't report on deals that don't really hold any order or any credence."

How much does Ilkay Gundogan earn?

It has been a season to remember for Gundogan who has not only captained City but played a huge role in some of the goals he has scored along the way to their historic treble.

The German has featured in a staggering 51 games for City this season where he has been able to return 11 goals and seven assists across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

His displays have seen him receive a lot of praise this season with The Guardian's Will Unwin labelling him a "genius" following their victory at Goodison Park.

Gundogan is currently believed to be earning in the region of £140k-per-week at City currently but reports would suggest the champions are looking to offer him a new deal.

Having seen Arsenal improve dramatically last season on the back of the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, City will surely be keen to do everything they can to avoid potentially losing yet another star to the Gunners.

Especially after the season which Gundogan has enjoyed at City.

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Kyle Abbott took a six-wicket haul to skittle the hosts for 161 and seal South Africa’s third consecutive series win in Australia

The Report by Brydon Coverdale15-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKyle Abbott started the damage on day four•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesTake a bow, Kyle Abbott. Take a bow, Kagiso Rabada. Take a bow, Faf du Plessis and the entire South Africa squad. A month ago, this team arrived in Australia without its captain and best batsman, AB de Villiers, who is at home injured. They lost their best bowler, Dale Steyn, to a serious injury barely a day into the campaign. And yet they have not only beaten Australia in the series, they have crushed them. Humiliated them.When this series schedule was announced, South Africa were worried that it might be decided by a pink-ball, day-night Test in Adelaide. They need not have feared. In Hobart, they have destroyed Australia by an innings and 80 runs to follow their hefty victory in Perth, and thus have secured a third consecutive series win in Australia. This was a total annihilation, Australia failing even to take the Test to lunch on day four – with a whole day having been lost to rain.Australia faced only 558 deliveries in this Test, their fourth-lowest tally in a home Test loss, and their lowest since Don Bradman’s debut match in 1928. In the first innings they collapsed for 85; at stumps on day three it seemed like they might have found some fight, having reached 2 for 121. But they were about to fold again. From the moment Usman Khawaja edged Abbott behind for 64, Australia lost 8 for 32 in less than 20 overs.Australia have now lost their past five Tests and their past five ODIs. There will be recriminations and there will be consequences. It was hard to imagine Australia slipping further after the Perth Test, but when they travelled to Hobart they were in every way heading south. There are nine days until the Adelaide Test, and Australia will need every one of them. It is entirely possible significant changes will have been made by the next Test.On the fourth morning, Australia’s batsmen were completely unable to handle the swing, seam and bounce of Abbott and Rabada. In the first innings it was Vernon Philander who claimed a five-wicket haul, but in the second Abbott collected 6 for 77 and Rabada took 4 for 34. The fast bowlers have all stepped up in the most magnificent way since Steyn left the field in Perth with a serious shoulder injury.They bowled so tightly on day four that Australia added only 40 to their overnight total in 24.1 overs. Philander might not have taken a wicket, but the pressure he built should not be underestimated. Philander bowled 30 dot balls on the fourth morning before Australia finally got a run off him. Steven Smith took 40 minutes to score his first runs of the day. When the wickets started to come, with Khawaja the first to go on 64, they came quickly.Adam Voges was next, and it is now difficult to imagine him retaining his place for the Adelaide Test. In his past five Tests – against Sri Lanka and South Africa – he has averaged 14.8. In the five before that – against West Indies and New Zealand – he averaged 342. Forget chocolates to boiled lollies, he has gone from chocolates to Brussels sprouts. Here, a confused attempted leave lobbed off his gloves to slip off Abbott.The debutant Callum Ferguson also fell trying to leave the ball. In his case, it was a lack of bounce that caused the problem, as he tried to sway under what he thought was a Rabada bouncer, but which stayed lower, clipped his gloves and flew away to slip. Ferguson had made 1, and it was a miserable way to end his first Test, having been run out by a direct hit in the first innings for 3.If a lack of bounce did for Ferguson, Peter Nevill was brought undone by extra bounce, caught at slip when he fended a fierce Rabada bouncer on 6. Two balls later Rabada had Joe Mennie lbw for a duck, and any hope of late Australian resistance disappeared when Smith fell for 31 in Rabada’s next over, caught behind to a ball that moved away just slightly.Then it was just a matter of time. Mitchell Starc edged behind off Abbott and the result was confirmed when Nathan Lyon lobbed a catch to mid-on to give Abbott a six-wicket haul, and nine for the match. Australia had lost inside seven sessions of play, and South Africa had their third straight series win in Australia. And given their changing team, it is hard to imagine any has been sweeter than this.