Arsenal are starting to look like a team with just one thing on their mind: Premier League glory.

Mikel Arteta's side have won their last four games by a staggering margin of 16-2.

What finishing problem?

Arsenal's Previous Four Games
Date	Competition	Opponent	Result
January 20th	Premier League	Crystal Palace	5-0 Win
January 30th	Premier League	Nottingham Forest	2-1 Win
February 3rd	Premier League	Liverpool	3-1 Win
February 12th	Premier League	West Ham United	6-0 Win
All Stats via Sky Sports

Their 6-0 win over West Ham United on Sunday was the pièce de résistance of their recent run, with every player on the pitch putting in a serious shift and helping the club record their biggest away win in Premier League history.

However, one man who started against the Hammers shouldn't start away at Burnley this afternoon, but it's not just down to his performance.

Jakub Kiwior's game vs West Ham in numbers

The player in question is Polish international Jakub Kiwior, who came into the lineup at left-back on the back of Oleksandr Zinchenko's recent injury.

The former Spezia man, who joined the club following a £20m transfer last January, played the full 90 minutes against the Irons and, despite a couple of shakey moments very early on, left fans impressed with a generally stable defensive display featuring a few nice passing moves.

The Standard's Simon Colling was reasonably impressed with the showing and gave the then-23-year-old a 6/10 on the day, describing his overall impression as 'solid.'

His numbers on the day reflect this assessment, as he registered an expected assists figure of 0.29, made five clearances, two tackles, one interception, and made one key pass.

Jakub Kiwior's game vs West Ham
Minutes	93
Expected Assists	0.29
Clearances	5
Interceptions	1
Tackles	2
Key Passes	1
Ground Duels (won)	7 (2)
Aerial Duels (won)	3 (1)
Dribbled Passed	2
All Stats via Sofascore

However, he was dribbled past twice, won just one of his three aerial duels and, even worse, won just two of his seven ground duels.

Ultimately, Colling's assessment that Kiwior was 'solid' is accurate, but with Zinchenko's return date still unknown and several challenging games to come, Arteta should look to bring in an all-round more reliable player in his place for the game today, Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Why Takehiro Tomiyasu must start against Burnley

So, the first thing to say is that Tomiyasu missed the game at the London Stadium through a minor injury of his own. Still, with it being widely reported that he should be fine for this game, and that his absence on Sunday was more of a precaution, it looks like he'll have a part to play later today – hopefully from the start.

The first argument for starting the Japanese international at left-back ahead of his Polish teammate is that he has far more experience playing as a full-back. In all, the 25-year-old has played 17 games as a left back for the Gunners and 46 as a right-back, whereas Kiwior has played just 11 times as a left-back and never on the opposite flank while in north London.

Takehiro Tomiyasu vs Jakub Kiwior at left-back (for Arsenal)
Player	Tomiyasu	Kiwior
Appearances	17	11
Starts	10	9
Wins	12	6
Games Against 'Big Six' Teams	5	2
Goals Conceded	15	12
Points Per Game	2.29	1.82
All Stats via Transfermarkt

The second argument is simply how the pair have fared in their games at left-back and who they have been up against. For example, the former Bologna star has played and won against Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City on the left – he even helped set up Gabriel Martinelli's winner against City.

In comparison, the "quality" Kiwior, as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has faced primarily weaker opposition, with his second-half cameo against Liverpool earlier this month as his only experience against a 'big six' side at left-back.

Furthermore, when the "superb" Tomiyasu, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, played the full 90 against the Anfield side at home last season, he managed to keep Mohamed Salah 'tucked away' according to Squawka's Ben Green, who gave the defender an 8/10 for his performance.

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Ultimately, Kiwior may feel a little hard done by if he loses his spot this afternoon. Yet, with Zinchenko's injury potentially keeping him out of the side for some time, Arteta will want to have a more reliable and defensively astute player ready for some of the mammoth games to come in the title run-in.

Trent Alexander-Arnold passionately defended an under-fire Harry Kane ahead of England's Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.

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Kane under scrutiny for his formHas looked sluggish in front of goalAlexander-Arnold hailed him as the "best finisher"WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite scoring two goals in the tournament, Kane's overall impact has been questioned. The Bayern Munich striker has been far from sharp in front of goal which has allowed his critics to doubt his form and efficiency – with some even suggesting that he should be axed from the starting line-up.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

However, Alexander-Arnold, unwavering in his praise for Kane, labelled him as the "best finisher" he has ever come across. He also highlighted Kane's remarkable record of 65 international goals, the highest in English history, to underscore his importance to the Three Lions squad.

WHAT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID

While speaking to reporters, Alexander-Arnold said: "Anyone who is facing England would like to see Harry Kane not playing. I think we are talking about England’s record goalscorer so that is as big as anything you can say about him. You just know he is a threat. Anything in and around the box, you need to be on red alert. He can finish it from any angle. I always say he is the best finisher I have seen or played with. He can find the back of the net from anywhere. He can drop down and build play up and his hold-up play is incredible, too. All round, a fantastic player.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

As England prepares to face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Dortmund, Kane will come up against a familiar face in Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold’s team-mate at Liverpool. However, he admitted that there is little he can do to help Kane and Co. exploit Van Dijk's weaknesses, as the Dutch defender is formidable at his job.

"The quality he has got, I think anyone who has watched him play, at club level or for his national team, will say how good a player he is, so he has not got many weaknesses," he said.

"I don’t know that I can be of much help to our attacking players but we have got to get past him and get past them to reach a final.”

Malinga returns to take back captaincy as Sri Lanka name full-strength squad for three T20Is in Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2019Batsmen Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Oshada Fernando have been retained in Sri Lanka’s full-strength squad for the T20I tour of Australia.Sri Lanka T20I squad

Lasith Malinga (capt.), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha

Unsurprisingly, Lasith Malinga returned to captain the team, while the likes of Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dickwella – who had also sat out the Pakistan tour – reclaimed their places as well.Malinga is guaranteed a place in the XI, but although they are in the squad, the two Kusals may not be able to take back their old spots, given the newer players’ good performances in those positions in Pakistan.ALSO READ: ‘How can you say this is a B team? We beat the No. 1 team’ – GunathilakaThe attack, meanwhile, was largely unchanged from that which had appeared in Lahore. Wristspinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Lakshan Sandakan will provide the spin options, while Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Isuru Udana and Lahiru Kumara will be the frontline seamers, along with Malinga.There was no place for allrounder Lahiru Madushanka or wicketkeeper-batsmen Minod Bhanuka and Sadeera Samarawickrama, but allrounders Shehan Jayasuriya and Dasun Shanaka, who had led the team to the whitewash in Pakistan, were both in the squad.Oshada and Rajapaksa made it to the Australia tour on the back of having provided Sri Lanka’s two best innings in Pakistan. Rajapaksa had struck 77 off 48 balls in the second T20 in Lahore, before Oshada made 78 not out off 48 on debut, in the next match. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka, who had hit Sri Lanka’s other half-century of the series was also picked.The first of the three T20Is in the series is set to be played in Adelaide, on October 27, before the action moves to Brisbane and then Melbourne.

Alec Stewart is understood to have withdrawn from the race to become England’s head coach, with Gary Kirsten now favourite to be appointed.Stewart, the director of cricket at Surrey, was shortlisted for the role and asked to an interview this week. But it is understood that he notified the ECB over the weekend that he was no longer available for the position. It is believed he cited family reasons and a reluctance to embrace the touring lifestyle that is an unavoidable part of the job description.Stewart has also always insisted he is happy in his position at Surrey where he remains one of the most respected figures in the English game.Stewart’s withdrawal would appear to have left the path clear for Kirsten or possibly Graham Ford, currently head coach of Ireland, to fill Trevor Bayliss’ shoes.While Kirsten told ESPNcricinfo in June that he would not be interested in a role coaching England in all formats of the game, his circumstances have changed a little. He has been sacked from his job at RCB in the IPL and is understood to have been given some assurances that he would not necessarily be expected to travel with the England team at all times.Both Kirsten, who led India to the 2011 World Cup and South Africa to No. 1 in the Test rankings, and Ford, who has had roles with Kent and Surrey in county cricket, have outstanding coaching records.There may be some discomfort at the ECB, however, that both men are South African. Having appointed no English coaches to senior roles in the men’s teams for The Hundred, the withdrawal of Stewart means the England coach will once again be an appointment from overseas.

Cristiano Ronaldo repeated his tried and trusted "reality" message after his Portugal sided inched past Slovenia on penalties at the Euros.

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• Ronaldo misses penalty against Slovenia
• Portugal reach Euros last eight after shootout
• Veteran sends out 'reality' message

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo's blushes were saved by Portugal after they beat Slovenia in a penalty shootout after his spotkick in normal time was saved. The 39-year-old scored when it came to penalties after the game ended goalless after 120 minutes, and after breathing a huge sigh of relief, the Al-Nassr ace has taken to social media to try and get his feelings across.

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• WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

  The former Real Madrid star posted a photo of therapist Phil Stutz' 'Three Aspects of Reality'. They are: pain, uncertainty, and constant work. Ronaldo has repeatedly posted this message on Instagram in recent years, including after Portugal's World Cup exit in 2022 and their trophyless season with Al-Nassr this term.

  Instagram

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After two impressive wins in the Euros, Portugal have struggled in most recent games. First, they lost 2-0 to Georgia in the final game of the group stages and then squeezed past Slovenia in the last-16. He and his team-mates will have to improve if they want to beat France in the last eight.

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• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo's Portugal team take on the country they beat in the 2016 Euros final, France, on Friday night at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. The winner will play either Spain or tournament hosts Germany in the semi-finals.

With the title race in the Scottish Premiership looking the closest it has in years and Rangers still involved in domestic and European cup competitions, Philippe Clement has been handed some good news ahead of the run in.

Latest Rangers injury news

Perhaps a testament to the job Clement is doing in Glasgow is the success Rangers have enjoyed in spite of an ever-growing list of injuries.

Wow: “Magnificent” Rangers ace now “very keen” to pen new Ibrox deal

It could be done in March.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 4, 2024

The big blow this week for the Ibrox faithful has been the news of Oscar Cortes' injury. The winger on loan from Lens limped off during last week's win over Kilmarnock and required surgery on what is thought to be a severe muscle issue. With the return date for the Colombian unknown, it is unlikely he will be on the pitch anytime soon.

Cortes' setback adds to a growing list of absentees at Ibrox. Todd Cantwell's hamstring injury saw him miss a number of games, although the Englishman now looks set to return this month. Cantwell currently occupies the treatment tables at Rangers along side a number of first team players including Kieran Dowell, Danilo, Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland.

Whilst it may appear all doom and gloom on the injury front at Ibrox, this week has seen some promising news in the recovery of Abdallah Sima, who last appeared for Rangers on the 2nd of January.

Edgar delivers positive Sima update

Speaking on the Heart & Hand podcast, host and ex-Rangers media partner David Edgar delivered some important news on Sima's injury. Edgar claimed that “Abdallah Sima’s recovery from his injury is going well,” adding that he "would expect to see him this season".

Whilst Edgar is optimistic that the Senegalese international will be back soon, he is not privy to exactly when the Ibrox faithful will see their man back on the pitch. Conceding that the precise timeline is unknown, Edgar says “I don’t think you can really put a time or a date on it at the moment because his recovery is going really well and they’re very pleased with it".

Sima had suffered the injury back in January while on international duty at this year's Africa Cup of Nations. Requiring surgery on his knee it was expected that the striker would be out of action for a minimum of two to three months.

With his recovery seemingly ahead of schedule, the 22-year-old will have a vital role to play as Rangers attempt to defend their narrow two-point lead over Celtic going into the business end of the season. Sima's stats for this season have seen the striker produce fifteen goals, a tally he will be desperate to increase when he returns.

With an Old Firm derby penciled in for the 7th April, Clement will be eager to have his striker back for the game that could play a major role in who lifts the title this year.

It feels as if Arsenal are on the precipice of something very special this season, and while much of the attention is on the incredible Premier League title race, European glory is a very real possibility.

Mikel Arteta's side are potentially just 90 minutes away from reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010, but they'll have to beat Porto to do so.

The Gunners have looked unreal in recent weeks, and while there will be a temptation to leave the team as similar to the one that won on Saturday as possible, Arteta should make one key change in a bid to replicate a famous 5-0 win over the Portuguese outfit all the way back in March 2010.

GK – Manuel Almunia

RB – Bacary Sagna

CB – Sol Campbell

CB – Thomas Vermaelen

LB – Gael Clichy

CM – Abou Diaby

CM – Alex Song

CAM – Samir Nasri

RM – Tomas Rosicky

LM – Andrey Arshavin

ST – Nicklas Bendtner

Jakub Kiwior's game vs Brentford in numbers

The player who should be taken out of the team tonight is Poland international Jakub Kiwior.

Now, it might sound harsh given his recent performances in the league, and in all honesty, it is, but while he shone against the likes of Burnley, Newcastle United, and Sheffield United – registering a goal involvement in each match – he was underwhelming against the Bees.

This sentiment was shared by 90min's Sean Walsh, who awarded the 24-year-old a 6/10 on the night, writing that while the Tychy-born pro 'defended well enough,' he 'didn't provide enough in the final third when Arsenal needed more quality down the left.'

The former Spezia man's statistics backs up Walsh's assessment. In his 79 minutes of action, he registered an expected assists figure of just 0.04, lost possession 14 times, maintained a passing accuracy of only 77%, played one key pass, was accurate in one of his four long balls, and misplaced two of his three crosses.

Minutes

79'

Expected Assists

0.04

Lost Possession

49

Accurate Passes

37/48 (77%)

Key Passes

1

Long Balls (Accurate)

4 (1)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

However, perhaps the most telling moment was his substitution. In the 79th minute, with Arsenal still searching for a win, Arteta opted to bring on Oleksander Zinchenko in his place, which could serve as a hint of what's to come on Tuesday night.

Why Oleksandr Zinchenko should start

Yes, Kiwior's replacement on Saturday should be the man to start in his place at the Emirates against Porto.

Zinchenko hasn't started a game since the victory over Liverpool on February 4th. However, his substitute appearance against the Bees and Arteta's confirmation on Monday that he, among others, will be fit enough to start against Porto should reduce concerns about his fitness.

The main reason the former Manchester City ace should start over his inform teammate is his ability to influence the attacking phase of play, given Arsenal's need for two goals or more.

This superiority is exemplified by the pair's underlying numbers this season, as in most, if not all, attacking metrics, the "silky" Ukrainian, as journalist Sam Dean described him, comes out ahead.

Expected Assists

0.11

0.09

Progressive Passes

12.3

5.45

Progressive Carries

2.25

0.45

Progressive Passes Received

3.38

1.48

Passing Accuracy

87.8%

84.6%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.44

1.14

Tackles Won

1.69

1.36

Successful Take-Ons

0.44

0.11

Ball Recoveries

5.38

3.18

He produces far more progressive passes and carries, maintains better passing accuracy, produces far more shot-creating actions, is more successful in his dribbles, and even wins more tackles and recovers more balls, suggesting his defensive fragilities might not be as prevalent as some believe.

Ultimately, it is harsh on Kiwior to take him out of the team off the back of some great performances, but with the situation demanding Arsenal attack Porto, Arteta is better off starting the more offensive of the pair.

Chalkboard

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

Right-hander will stay in New Zealand after the T20 series for the two red-ball tour matches while Denly recovers from his ankle ligament injury

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2019Jonny Bairstow has been recalled to the England Test squad for the two-Test series in New Zealand as cover for the injured Joe Denly.Bairstow is currently with the England T20 squad and played the first two T20 internationals of the five-match series before being left out of the third game. He will stay in New Zealand with the Test squad for the two warm-up games, while Denly tries to recover from the ankle ligament injury that ruled him out of the T20 series.Denly is set to miss the first red-ball warm-up game which starts on Tuesday in Whangarei but is hopeful of being fit to play in the second three-day tour game that begins next Friday.Bairstow was dropped from England’s new-look Test squad after a disappointing Ashes series where he averaged 23.77 with a solitary half-century.England’s chief selector Ed Smith challenged Bairstow to come back from the axing as a stronger Test match player.The majority of England’s Test squad arrived in New Zealand this week and will travel to Whangarei on Monday with those that were involved in the T20 series following the 5th T20I at Eden Park on Sunday.England Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow (injury cover)

MatériaMais Notícias

Com elenco reduzido, o Santos vem desde a temporada passada, quando foi proibido de contratar, utilizando jogadores da base. Isso fez com que muitos Meninos da Vila começassem sua carreira no profissional com antecedência, sem um contrato firme e longo com o clube.

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Recentemente, o Peixe perdeu os zagueiros Robson Bambu (Athletico-PR), Gustavo Henrique (Flamengo), o atacante Yuri Alberto, para o Internacional, o meia Giovanni, de 18 anos, para o Ajax, da Holanda, e ainda negocia a renovação do atacante titular, Kaio Jorge.

Porém, o Santos ainda luta para manter duas outras grandes promessas: Gabriel Pirani e Sandry. Segundo apuração do Diário do Peixe, a indecisão e a demora pelas respostas da parte do Santos fizeram com que o estafe dos jogadores recuassem.

Gabriel Pirani

O jogador esteve próximo de um acordo. O estafe do atleta preparou uma proposta de renovação, porém, após duas semanas, o Peixe não respondeu, o que fez seus representantes recuaram. Pirani assumiu a vaga de titular ainda com Ariel Holan, permaneceu com o técnico Marcelo Fernandes e, agora, com Fernando Diniz. Com as boas atuações, o jogador chamou atenção do mercado internacional. O contrato com o Alvinegro da Vila vai até 31 de dezembro de 2022

Sandry

Outra negociação que caminhava bem e paralisou é do volante Sandry. O jogador rompeu o ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho direito durante treino do Santos e precisou passar por cirurgia. A previsão de retorno do jogador é para outubro ou novembro. Com isso, o Santos, até o momento, preferiu esperar a volta do jogador para falar sobre o assunto. Sandry pode assinar um pré-contrato quando faltar 6 meses para o término do vínculo com o Santos, que vai até julho de 2022.

Além deles, o Santos ainda tem negociações com Lucas Bragas, Cadu e Jhonnathan.

It was a mediocre send-off, but USWNT boss Emma Hayes will have learned plenty as the real games inch closer

With the final whistle on Monday night, playtime officially ended. The time for adjusting or experimenting is now over. The Olympics have effectively arrived, and the U.S. women's national team is marching right on towards them.

Well, maybe not marching. It could be argued that they're limping a bit after two tough games: a cagey 1-0 win over Mexico and a frustrating 0-0 draw with Costa Rica. In an ideal world, these would be games where the USWNT would love to build confidence by running up the score. Not this time.

Instead, new coach Emma Hayes got some good insight and information. She changed things around a little bit while continuing to get this team adjusted to her style of management. Despite the looming tournament, this USWNT is still very much a work in progress. The Hayes era has only just gotten started.

It's clear that there are some kinks to work out, and the question is now this: can they get worked out over the next few weeks? This is still an imperfect, but supremely talented, USWNT group; can it be one that goes for gold?

We'll find out in a few weeks, but these send-off matches showed that there's still so much work to do. There isn't much time left to do it, though. France is calling, and the USWNT will be there soon enough.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the USWNT's friendlies…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Sophia Smith

She got the only goal of the weekend, so that's enough to put Smith on the winner list.

The attacker's second-half finish against Mexico was fantastic, an example of what she can do with confidence. Against Costa Rica, she had her moments, too, although it felt like the ball was always just a yard away from where she needed it to be.

Her chemistry with her attacking teammates is easy to see, even if the goals are a bit dry for that unit now. Even so, Smith should feel pretty good heading to France with this lone goal in her back pocket as she'll look to bag plenty more at the Olympics this summer.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Rose Lavelle

Tough to see Rose Lavelle sitting out this close to the Olympics. Lavelle was a last-minute pull from the starting XI on Tuesday night, with what the USWNT called "leg tightness."

Lavelle was limited on minutes at the 2023 Women's World Cup, and the midfield missed her creativity and vision. In the USWNT's final friendly before the Paris Olympics, it was clear the midfield was missing Lavelle's involvement once again. With Lavelle, the USWNT have more chances, and, although Korbin Albert got pulled into the action, there were little to no chances to show for it.

The hope is that the leg tightness is managed, and Lavelle will be in good form for the USWNT's first group stage match.

GettyWINNER: Jaedyn Shaw

In some ways, she's both a winner and a loser here. Shaw didn't play nearly as much as many would have wanted her to, but her absence will only further cries for her to play a big role this summer.

Shaw was a substitute in both matches, with Hayes opting to use her as a bench option for the time being. That could very well change, particularly if the U.S. continues to struggle scoring goals. That's because Shaw, at her core, is a difference-maker, and it's easy to see.

The youngster brings life to this U.S. team whenever she's on the field. She's been doing it since her debut and, even in her cameos this week, you saw flashes of that fact. Will the U.S. use her as a supersub in France? Can they afford to? Ultimately, the answer might be no as this team looks better with Shaw on the field.

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Patrick McDermottLOSER: Audi Field

As if the humidity wasn't enough to be felt from all over, the field also didn't appear to be doing any favors either.

Although USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said the temperatures were "perfect conditions" ahead of the Olympics, the turf appeared beat up and patchy.

This field is familiar to USWNT star forward Trinity Rodman, who's NWSL team the Washington Spirit play at Audi Field for all home games. The ball carried throughout the game with decent pace, despite the sticky and humid weather. Audi Field first opened its doors in 2018, and we think it's safe to say it doesn't hold 100+ degree weather too well.