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Clayton Kershaw pitched five-innings of one-run ball on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals to collect his first victory of the 2025 campaign and perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers hurler was fired up a bit by a choice made by the home team before he ever stepped on the rubber.

Fans settling into their seats for the afternoon affair were treated to a highlight of former Cardinals slugger Matt Adams taking the future Hall of Fame lefty deep for a three-run home run back in the 2014 postseason. Kershaw apparently didn't much care for that.

"I think it's a little Bush League, but I don't expect anything less from these guys so it's no worries," he told reporters postgame.

Surrendering the home run to Adams 11 years ago led to yet another surprising and early elimination for the Dodgers and added to the narrative that Kershaw could not perform up to his incredibly high standard in October. It's obviously a lowlight for him and not something they'll be re-showing when he is welcomed into Cooperstown.

At the same time, he's had just a bit of success since then and exorcized most of, if not all, those demons. And the Adams home run is certainly something that happened. Showing a clip of it while most interested parties are too busy with their heads down in a nacho bite or filling out their scorecards doesn't seem like an egregious act.

But inspiration can be found in interesting places and Kershaw channeled it into a stellar performance.

Bosch scored an unbeaten 30 and picked up two wickets but was unable to deny Pakistan a comfortable win

Danyal Rasool01-Nov-2025

Finally, Pakistan’s crowd got what they wanted. Babar Azam struck an imperious 68 off 47 balls to take charge of a flagging Pakistani chase of 140, helping them ultimately cruise to the finish line with four wickets and one over to spare. It was his 37th T20I half-century overall, and his first since May 2024, helping Pakistan seal the series 2-1 against South Africa.The game appeared far from certain despite a relatively modest chase after Saim Ayub holed out softly for a six-ball duck. Corbin Bosch was Pakistan’s usual tormentor with a tight pair of overs, with George Linde also typically miserly as the visitors began to squeeze. Sahibzada Farhan and Salman Agha both struggled for touch early, and by the eighth over, the asking rate was beginning to approach eight.Babar, however, found a way to keep easing the pressure, recording nine fours through the innings, including three with the sweep. Busy running between the wickets in the interim turned the partnership with Agha into an ultimately match-winning one. The pair fell just short of the finish line within five runs of each other but by then, they had put together 76 in 52 balls.It promised to be much more straightforward when Shaheen Shah Afridi burst through the defences of Quinton de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in an electric first over. South Africa rebuilt with a workmanlike rearguard from Reeza Hendricks, supported by cameos from Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferriera. Faheem Ashraf struck through the middle to leave them wobbling at 95 for 7, but Bosch chipped in with an unbeaten 30 off 23 to leave himself, as well as his team-mates, something to bowl at. Babar ensured it would not quite be enough.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Shaheen’s opening over maniaThat Shaheen will pick up a wicket in his opening over is almost so regular as to be mundane. But how about two, and possibly three?Utilising the swing that vaporises within a few overs of the innings, Shaheen got one to nip back into de Kock, whose tentative push only saw him deflect it off the inside edge onto his stumps. Shaheen would soon turn a successful opening over into an epic. Pretorius clipped one off the pads first up, only to pick out short fine leg perfectly, with debutant Usman Tariq completing a straightforward catch.And still the drama wouldn’t end. A lovely delivery two balls later cut Dewald Brevis in half, seaming back in and crashing into his knee. Shaheen wouldn’t appeal, and the umpire didn’t need one, raising his finger immediately. It was only on review that DRS, somewhat surprisingly, showed it bouncing well over and denied the left-arm quick a third wicket in an incredible start that set the tone for Pakistan; they would keep South Africa to 22 in the powerplay, their third-lowest in T20I history.South Africa target NawazMohammad Nawaz has enjoyed some of the form of his career since he was reintroduced into the T20I side earlier this year. On Saturday, his introduction to the attack right after the powerplay came at a position of strength. But Brevis, who showed sparks of his devastating ability in the middle overs of the first T20I, smacked him over the sightscreen off his third ball, signing off the over with another one over midwicket.Nawaz did snare Matthew Breetzke in his second over, but when he came back for his third, South African captain Ferreira was primed. Two sixes and a four saw him blown out of the attack for good as the visitors began to get their innings on track. The five overs immediately after the powerplay produced 55, with Nawaz’s three leaking 38. It laid the foundations for a defendable total.Usman Tariq took two wickets on debut•Getty Images

Babar bedlam at GaddafiThroughout this series, crowds in Islamabad and Lahore have cheered when the fall of a wicket brought Babar in to bat, and streamed out of grounds the moment he got out. In the decider, at the Gaddafi, there was no ungluing them from their seats. Ayub fell early, whipping the crowd into an excitement as Babar ambled up to the crease. Pakistan’s supporters have deluded themselves for a while now, thinking this might just be the innings that brings him back to his stratospheric height, often in vain. He began inconspicuously enough; it wasn’t until the ninth ball that he found his first boundary.Babar began to do things differently. He swept – you read that right – Linde over fine leg for his third boundary, and the glimpses of an innings began to sketch themselves into existence. Farhan, and later Agha, struggled to make much of a dent in the strike rate, and so, in the sort of chase Babar is generally built for, he took control.Time and again, he would punish South Africa for missing their lines and found sumptuous timing along the way. Like the top of a ketchup bottle finally being unscrewed, he denuded the match of its jeopardy with three successive boundaries off Ottniel Baartman, the third bringing up a 36-ball half-century.Bosch had kept Pakistan to just six runs in his first two overs, but Babar caressed him for a boundary over mid-on before lashing one past cover for four more. A crowd that tends to clear out upon Babar’s dismissal was rooted as he got each of his 68 runs, only clearing out after a rare, poorly placed jab found deep square leg.

Manchester United’s work in the transfer market over the last couple of months has been hugely directed towards the central midfield department to bolster the options at Ruben Amorim’s disposal.

Other areas of the pitch have previously been improved by the hierarchy, with the attacking department transformed during the summer transfer window.

Over £200m was spent on new talent in the final third, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko tasked with leading the Red Devils up the Premier League table in 2025/26.

A new goalkeeper was also firmly on the agenda, but Senne Lammens’ arrival from Royal Antwerp has ended the need for added reinforcements between the sticks.

As a result, the midfield department remains the last one that needs work conducting to it, which has seen various players being touted with a move to Old Trafford in January.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January

Elliot Anderson has been United’s most talked-about target over the last couple of days, with the Englishman firmly in their sights ahead of the January window.

The 23-year-old has starred for Nottingham Forest over the last couple of months, even becoming a full England international as a result of his tremendous rise to stardom.

However, Amorim’s side have been quoted a fee in the region of £100m for his signature at present, but it’s unclear if the hierarchy would be willing to pay such a fee in the winter window.

He’s not the only player in their sights at present, with Portuguese international Ruben Neves a player they’re considering, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that the Red Devils have already made an approach to Al Hilal over a deal for the 28-year-old, who wants to return to the Premier League after previously playing for Wolves.

It also states that Newcastle United are also in the race for his signature, but the player hasn’t currently given his preference over which team he would want to join this winter.

How Ruben Neves compares to Elliot Anderson

Given his displays in the Premier League this season, many United fans will have Anderson as their top target this January – especially after his display against them earlier this month.

The 23-year-old featured for the entire contest at the City Ground, creating three chances and completing 100% of the dribbles he attempted – subsequently showcasing his talents in possession.

Without the ball, he was just as impressive, as seen by his 100% tackle success rate and 14 recoveries made – with the latter the highest of any player on the pitch.

He’s featured in every minute of the Premier League campaign for the Reds to date, undoubtedly being one of their key men, with the £100m price tag reflecting his importance to Sean Dyche’s men.

The Red Devils will have to match such a few to prise him away, but the hierarchy will no doubt be targeting other alternatives to try and improve the midfield department.

Neves is just one player who is on their radar, with the 28-year-old potentially offering a more experienced and cheaper option for Amorim’s current squad.

He made 177 appearances for Wolves before his switch to join Al Hilal, but could be available for as little as £20m this summer, with the player himself open to a return to England.

His stats from the Saudi Pro League this season showcase his talents, certainly backing up the praise he’s received from one analyst in the last few years.

Neves has completed 91% of the passes he’s attempted, subsequently creating 1.4 chances per 90 – which has led Raj Chohan to label him as “the most underrated player in world football”.

Ruben Neves – stats in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

8

Goals scored

3

Passes completed

91%

Chances created

1.4

Touches per game

97

Times dispossessed

0

Duels won

59%

Recoveries made

5.1

Stats via FotMob

The former Wolves star has also averaged 97 touches per 90 this season, whilst being dispossessed zero times in his eight league appearances this campaign – further showcasing his talents in possession.

Without the ball, Neves has been just as impressive in recent months, subsequently winning 59% of his duels per 90, whilst also making 5.1 recoveries per 90 at present.

His box-to-box nature could allow Amorim’s men to finally end their pursuit for a new number six, which could see Anderson sounded out until the summer at least.

Neves’ Portuguese compatriot Bruno Fernandes is already one of the starting midfielders in the squad, with the pair able to take the club to the next level if they can replicate their success at international level.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Nov 20, 2025

And just like that, after only five months and 13 league games at the Southampton helm, the Will Still experiment at St. Mary’s is over.

There was so much hype surrounding Still’s appointment after he had made quite the name for himself in France when spearheading a 17-game unbeaten run in charge of Stade Reims.

But, with only two Championship wins under his belt from those games mentioned, it did feel like only a matter of time before the underwhelming 33-year-old was put out of his misery.

It will be intriguing to see who the Saints turn to next as they attempt to get out of their second-tier slump and rise back into the promotion reckoning, with interim boss Tonda Eckert even in with an outside shout, having masterminded a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night.

Latest on Southampton's manager search

Indeed, Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas has already confirmed that Eckert will lead Southampton out again on Saturday as crisis-stricken Sheffield Wednesday come to St. Mary’s, as the club continues to weigh up whether he’s a viable candidate for the full-time job.

If he were to guide the Saints to another league win, he would surely be in the conversation. But, there are various other names also being linked to the ongoing EFL opening.

Reports have suggested that EFL veteran Tony Mowbray could be in the running, alongside ex-Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, with the Saints’ sporting director Johannes Spor also casting his net out to Germany, on the hunt for a successful replacement for Still.

Sky Sports has even boldly suggested that former Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana would be interested in becoming the next head coach, with Lallana assisting Eckert for the time being during his temporary duties.

The same report does state that it is an unlikely option at this moment in time, owing to Lallana’s complete lack of experience as a head coach.

But, it could well be deemed an inspired choice from left-field, all the same, with the second-tier side perhaps gaining their own Frank Lampard-style figure in the process, who continues to take the Championship by storm with Coventry City.

Southampton's own Lampard appointment

Once upon a time, Lampard was in much the same position as Lallana, as he tried to navigate a coaching career post a glittering playing career from midfield.

While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Lampard during his managerial career to date, with tricky spells at both Everton and Chelsea, he has been largely a hit in the Championship, as evidenced by him steering the Sky Blues to the top of the EFL’s elite division right now.

Lampard’s record as manager

Stat

Championship

Premier League

Games managed

94

104

Wins

46

38

Draws

23

21

Losses

25

45

Goals scored

157

145

Goals conceded

108

153

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Off the back of his “fantastic” stint at the CBS Arena to date – as journalist Sam Cunningham has labelled it – Lampard has managed to collect 46 victories from 94 second-tier games, with Lallana now wanting to kickstart his own EFL managerial journey, to try and follow in the ex-Chelsea icon’s footsteps.

After all, Lallana would no doubt command the same respect Lampard clearly holds, with the former St. Mary’s playing icon going on to bag a hefty 60 goals and collect a weighty 47 assists while on the South Coast.

He would surely want to make his own Saints side as entertaining to watch as Lampard’s rampant Sky Blues, therefore.

Moreover, Lallana will be hungry to be a success as a main manager, having played under some of the best in the managerial game in the form of Jurgen Klopp and Roberto De Zerbi, alongside also working closely with Lee Carsley in the England U21 set-up.

Russell Martin also gave a glowing assessment of the 34-year-old when he was still manager at St. Mary’s, with the recently sacked Rangers boss lauding Lallana as a “brilliant” voice to have around the dressing room. He’s also been hailed in the past as “very intelligent” by De Zerbi.

Southampton will know that they need to get this managerial appointment spot on, having been on the receiving end of a litany of blunders in recent years, with Nathan Jones and Ivan Juric also going down as failures, as an outside-of-the-box appointment, such as Lallana, is possibly eyed up.

After all, as a Saints player, the one-time Premier League title winner would once score 11 goals and collect ten assists in league action, to seal promotion to the big time. Can he repeat the same magic as a rookie replacement for Still?

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Posts ByJames O'Reilly Nov 6, 2025

England Under-19s were made to toil on the opening day of the first Youth Test

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay12-Jul-2025India Under-19s were on top after day one of their unofficial Test match against England Under-19s at Beckenham, reaching 450 for 7 at stumps.The day was dominated by two huge partnerships: Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra put on 173 for the second wicket, with Mhatre cashing in after being dropped twice to make 102 and Malhotra hitting 67.Abhigyan Kundu then hit 90 and Rahul Kumar 85 in an even bigger stand of 179 for the fifth.Alex Green, Archie Vaughan and Jack Home all took two wickets apiece, but England were left to rue four dropped catches.India won the toss and chose to bat, but there was a major disappointment for the crowd when the 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi was out for just 14. He’d effortlessly glided the first delivery of the morning for four, lifting James Minto over the slip cordon, but then flashed at Green and was caught by Ralphie Albert at deep third.Malhotra eased to 50 soon afterwards when he took two from Vaughan and Mhatre reached his hundred in style by striding down the wicket to the same bowler and hitting him for four over long off.Vaughan then had Mhatre brilliantly caught on the boundary by Singh, who nearly collided with Albert and held on one-handed as he hit the ground.Malhotra went seven balls later, when Green conjured a late away swinger that was caught behind. Vaughan then got Maulyarajsinh Chavda for 11, edging to Flintoff at first slip.If three quick wickets seemed to have put England back in the game, Kundu and Kumar reasserted India’s dominance. Kumar raced to 50 off just 43 balls and it was 289 for four at tea.Kundu brought up his half-century when he drove Albert for four but Home got both set batters out in the 67th over. Kundu cut him to Vaughan at point when he was 10 shy of three figures and Kumar then edged him to the wicket-keeper Tom Rew.This drastically slowed the run rate and Albert then had Mohamed Enaan lbw for 23. Home should have had a third wicket when Henil Patel, edged him to second slip, but Flintoff couldn’t hold a slip-high catch. In the next over Green was thwarted when Denly put down RS Ambrish at first and eight overs were left unbowled when the 6.30 pm cut off was reached, adding to the authentic Test-match feel.Mhatre was luckier. He was dropped by Rocky Flintoff when he was on six, after he got a thick edge to Minto and he reached 50 with an edged four through the vacant third slip area, again off Minto.He was dropped again, this time when he was on 66, by Jaydn Denly, who was at first slip when Mhatre edged Denly’s Kent team mate Ekansh Singh.

Danny Murphy has revealed why he thinks Leeds United “will” get relegated, despite the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and named Daniel Farke’s “biggest problem”.

Leeds four clear of the drop after impressive start

Undoubtedly, Leeds’ number one goal this season will be to avoid relegation from the Premier League, and they have certainly made an impressive start to the season, collecting seven points from their opening five games.

Consequently, the Whites are now four points clear of the drop at this early stage of the season, after picking up what could be a vital result come May, defeating a struggling Wolves side 3-1 at Molineux.

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Leeds United could now have their best signing since Ao Tanaka in this fantastic ace.

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The Peacocks’ summer signings were responsible for turning the game on its head, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelling out Ladislav Krejci’s opening goal, before Anton Stach and Noah Okafor got in on the act to secure all three points.

Although Farke’s side have made a solid start to the campaign, Murphy has since claimed he still believes they will get relegated, saying: “I still think Leeds and Burnley will go.

“I think the biggest problem for Burnley and Leeds is firepower. I agree with what we talked about earlier. I think all the newly promoted sides doing well is great for the Premier League.

“I’d like to see them all stay up, actually. But I don’t think it’ll be the case. Burnley struggled in front of goal. Leeds had only scored one, and that was a penalty, until Wolves kept giving them goals the other day. I like Leeds. Calvert-Lewin is a handful; that’s a great goal he got.”

Leeds' summer signings could lead them to safety

After making a poor start to life at Leeds, missing four big chances in the EFL Cup defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, Calvert-Lewin got off the mark against Wolves, and the 28-year-old’s top-flight experience could be key to their survival.

The former Everton man is vastly experienced in the Premier League, scoring 58 goals in the competition, and BBC Leeds’ Adam Pope was left very impressed with his all-round performance against Wolves, saying: “His attitude and confidence said ‘even if I don’t score, I’ll be fine’. His performance was fantastic from everywhere and having players like that in your team who know the Premier League makes such a difference.

“It’s not just the fact he scored, it was his overall play. His hang-time, winning headers, winning free-kicks.”

The Englishman is not the only new signing that has caught the eye in the early stages of the season either, with Stach receiving an 8.4 SofaScore rating against Wolves, the highest figure of any player.

It is understandable that Murphy thinks the Whites will go down, given that none of the promoted teams have managed to stay up across the past two seasons, but Farke has clearly recruited well in the summer transfer window, and Leeds have a fighting chance.

The last couple of weeks for Chelsea have been topsy-turvy to say the least, with the last couple of outings falling way below the standards of manager Enzo Maresca.

Expectations were heightened after the summer recruitment, which saw just shy of £300m of new talent making the move to Stamford Bridge during the off-season.

However, in the first six outings, the Blues have been victorious twice, with their last win coming way back at the end of August with a 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham.

The Italian will no doubt want to correct such a slump, which has seen his side lose both of their last two Premier League outings to both Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Such attempts haven’t been aided by the side’s disciplinary record in recent outings, with the side collecting two red cards in each of the last two matches in England’s top-flight.

Trevoh Chalobah's worrying start to 2025/26 for Chelsea

After Robert Sanchez’s dismissal against Manchester United last week, centre-back Trevoh Chalobah became the second Chelsea player in as many matches to be sent for an early bath.

The centre-back started his eighth consecutive game of the 2025/26 campaign, but once again failed to deliver – even before his straight red card against Fabian Hurzeler’s side.

The England international was adjudged to have slipped Diego Gomez whilst the attacker was through on goal, leading to a VAR intervention

and his subsequent dismissal.

However, up until he left the field after 53 minutes, he struggled to have the desired effect, failing to win any of the duels he entered whilst also failing to make a single tackle.

The 26-year-old certainly cost the side the three points in West London, with the Blues still struggling with finding their best partnership at the heart of the backline.

As a result, the club may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart – with the former first team member reaching the next level in his career after leaving the club.

The former Chelsea star who’s now better than Chalobah

Given the sheer volume of players turned over at Chelsea over the last couple of years, it’s no surprise that players who have been offloaded have managed to star elsewhere.

Since Todd Boehly arrived back in May 2022, the Blues have spent upwards of £1.4b on new additions to help them rise up the Premier League table in the near future.

However, in an attempt to strengthen, players have also had to make way to help balance the books and lessen the risk of being hit with any punishment for breaking PSR rules.

In the summer of 2024, numerous players were sacrificed by new boss Maresca, one of whom was centre-back Malang Sarr, who departed on a free transfer to join French side Lens.

He originally joined on a free transfer from Nice back in the summer of 2020, arriving with a lot of hype given his four-year stint in the first team in Ligue 1.

However, injuries and lack of faith from the manager saw him rapidly fall down the pecking order, subsequently making just 21 appearances for the Blues.

As a result, the 26-year-old would return to his homeland, with Sarr resurrecting his once promising career with Lens over the last couple of seasons.

He’s featured in every minute of the league campaign in 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to outperform current first-team star Chalobah in the process.

Games played

5

Minutes played

450

Pass accuracy

88%

Tackles won

1.8

Duels won

68%

Aerials won

65%

Interceptions made

2.4

Recoveries made

4.4

Sarr, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has won more tackles per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels – offering a more dominant option to Maresca had he been kept on the books.

The Frenchman has also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, arguably offering a more rounded ball-playing option – something which is vital in the Italian’s current system.

To top off his dominance over the England international, he’s also made more clearances and interceptions per 90 – further showcasing his incredible talents out of possession.

Such numbers highlight the superb rise Sarr has endured over the last few years, with his move to Lens undoubtedly being a success after his failure at Stamford Bridge.

The decision to allow him to depart now appears to be a questionable one, with the Blues’ loss now the French side’s gain given his tremendous form over recent times.

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1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 27, 2025

It was Delhi Capitals’ second over-rate offence in IPL 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-20258:27

‘Pant should look to play straight instead of going for outrageous shots’

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant has been fined after his team was found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during their defeat against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Sunday.Pant was fined INR 24 lakhs because it was DC’s second over-rate offence in IPL 2025, while the rest of the playing XI including the Impact Player will be fined “either INR 6 lakhs or 25% of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser,” according to the tournament’s code of conduct.LSG had chosen to bowl first on a hot afternoon in Mumbai. They conceded 215 for 7 in 20 overs and lost the chase by 54 runs after being dismissed for 161. It was a tough game for Pant, who was dismissed for 4 of 2 balls, extending his poor run this season: he’s scored only 110 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 98.21.Related

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LSG remained on ten points after suffering their fifth defeat in ten games, while MI rose to second temporarily on 12 points after recording their fifth successive victory.Along with Pant, Shubman Gill (GT), Axar Patel (DC), Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals – RR), Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru – RCB), Riyan Parag (RR) and Hardik Pandya (MI) have also been penalised for slow over-rate offences so far this season. Unlike last year, however, the IPL has done away with bans for captains for repeat over-rate offences and will only levy demerit points and fines, in addition to in-game penalties.LSG’s next three games are against Punjab Kings (May 4), RCB (May 9) and GT (May 14), while MI play RR (May 1), GT (May 6) and PBKS (May 11).

Emmanuel Petit has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to take inspiration from Luis Enrique's attacking approach at Paris Saint-Germain, claiming the Gunners' football has become too cautious. The Arsenal legend believes his former club should adopt a more direct and dynamic style, similar to the one that has transformed Les Parisiens over the last year.

• Club legend believes Arsenal don't play exciting football

  Petit reckons Arsenal’s current approach under Arteta has become overly reliant on possession and set pieces. He praised PSG's evolution under Enrique, highlighting their switch from sterile control to fast, forward-thinking football. He suggested Arsenal need to embrace a similar attacking intent if they want to take the next step.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Petit wants Arteta to make Arsenal more like PSG

  Speaking to the , Petit said: "Paris Saint-Germain, they look strong. Again, they started against Atalanta, and beat them 4-0 with some players injured. It's like they were following exactly what they've done for the last six months of the last season. They've been brilliant. The way they play, I love it.”

  He continued: "They control the ball, they control the position of the ball, but they play straight forward, you know. They play fast football. This is something I want to see with Arsenal. Possession is good, but if you don't play forward football, possession can be boring. Give me the ball, I give you the ball, give me the ball, I give you the ball.”

  Petit concluded by pointing to PSG’s turnaround as a lesson for Arteta: "That was the problem with Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain for months. Nobody could understand what he wanted to do. And it changed. He played more direct football and all of a sudden it changed completely."

• AFP
  

  Arsenal have failed in three straight Premier League title races

  Arteta has brought stability and consistency to Arsenal, but questions remain over the team’s attacking spark and whether they can win silverware. The Gunners have been criticised for cautious play and dependence on set pieces. Their inability to win a single Premier League despite being in three straight title races has underlined their failure to get over the line.

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• Next up for Arsenal: Olympiacos in the Champions League

  Arsenal return to Champions League action this Wednesday against Olympiacos, aiming to build on their solid start to the season. However, Arteta will face increasing scrutiny if performances remain uninspiring despite positive results.

Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi and Chethana Vimukthi are the three uncapped players in the 16-member squad

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2025

Sri Lanka have left out left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera and seam-bowling allrounder Ama Kanchana for their upcoming New Zealand tour comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.Apart from them, batter Hasini Perera and 16-year-old left-arm wristspinner Shashini Gambini are also missing from the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka’s last international assignment.There are several young additions to the squad. Manudi Nanayakkara and Rashmika Sewwandi, who turned out for Sri Lanka in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, have been called up. While it’s a maiden call-up for Nanayakkara, Sewandi was picked for the home T20Is against West Indies last year but did not get a game.Chethana Vimukthi, 23, is the other uncapped player in the squad, while Imesha Dulani and Kaushini Nuthyangana have five caps each and Sachini Nisanla has just 19.Sri Lanka will retain a familiar top order in their captain Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne, who despite being just 19 has already played 18 ODIs and 47 T20Is.Athapaththu is currently playing in the WPL in India where she is part of UP Warriorz. The tournament is scheduled to run until March 15.Sri Lanka’s squad will leave for New Zealand on February 22. They are scheduled to play two warm-up games in Lincoln, on February 27 and 28, before the ODI series starts in Napier on March 4. The other two ODIs will be played in Nelson on March 7 and 9. The teams will then go to Christchurch for the first two T20Is on March 14 and 16, and finish the tour in Dunedin on March 18.Sri Lanka Women squad for New Zealand ODIs and T20IsChamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Manudi Nanayakkara, Imesha Dulani, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani, Sachini Nisansala, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Inoshi Priyadarshini, Sugandika Kumari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Chethana Vimukthi