Everton spent a lot of time spinning their wheels with Farhad Moshiri at the head of the table, but David Moyes is working well within the Friedkin Group’s parameters, and there’s a new sense of belief on the blue half of Merseyside.

There’s no question the Blues have improved since the Scotsman’s exciting return, almost 12 years after closing the door on his dynasty and succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, but more is needed to hit that elusive next level: contending for a seat at the European table.

While there may be an acceptance that the Toffees need external solutions, there’s one player plying their trade elsewhere who’s guaranteed a shot in Moyes’ squad next season, given that they are contracted to the Hill Dickinson Stadium already.

Indeed, Harrison Armstrong’s loan spell with Preston North End is drawing many plaudits, suggesting he is destined for success in the Premier League.

Why Harrison Armstrong is Everton's future

Armstrong, 18, has been at Everton since he was five years old. He is young and raw, but the talent has been clear from the get-go, with Sean Dyche featuring him three times in the league last season.

This season, the athletic, progressive centre-midfielder racked up two assists for Everton as they beat Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup second round, ahead of his season-long switch to Preston in the Championship.

He’s making good progress in the second tier. The 18-year-old was praised for a statement showing against Sheffield United recently, winning six of eight contested ground duels and completing both of his dribbles.

There was much to like on loan at Derby County last year, but Armstrong has evolved and developed since the summer, and that bodes well for his future in the Premier League.

Preston fans are certain Armstrong “will play for England one day”, and Everton must ensure they keep him on the books and help nurture him to the fore.

And the same must be applied to one of the youngster’s Toffees teammates, a rising star who might even be a bigger talent.

Everton have a bigger talent than Armstrong

This summer, Moyes oversaw sweeping changes as Everton moved house. Among the most high-profile and exciting deals was the £42m signing of Tyler Dibling from Southampton, the teenage talent having broken out on the south coast last term.

The 19-year-old only scored four goals and provided three assists across all competitions last season, but Southampton were in a dire state and he was a shining light throughout, blending pace and power and potency down the flank.

This season, Dibling has featured only four times in the Premier League, hooked at half time during his only start, the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

It’s been a slow start, but he’s immensely talented and has the potential to outstrip all his teammates in Moyes’ system.

With a natural ease when carrying the ball that will only develop over the coming years, Dibling is also positionally dynamic and has effortless balance.

Output and effectiveness are two facets he needs to keep working on, but there’s no question that Everton have a gem on their hands, potentially an even bigger talent than someone like Armstrong.

Mateus Fernandes

4

3.64

Ryan Manning

1

2.80

Yukinari Sugawara

1

2.46

Kyle Walker-Peters

2

2.30

Tyler Dibling

0

1.46

Despite entering the professional scene for the first time, despite trying to find success as a creator in a, frankly, dismal Saints side, Dibling showcased his quality, backing up the claims of his former youth coach Andy Goldie that he is a “world-class talent”.

Given Everton paid a hefty figure for the teenager’s services, and that he has a full Premier League campaign under his belt, it’s certainly not unjust to suggest that Dibling is a bigger talent than Armstrong, who may be thriving at Deepdale but has even further to climb if he wishes to successfully wedge his way into Moyes’ plans.

In any case, this all serves as an exciting nod toward the future for the Merseysiders.

Everton's £45k-p/w talent is now giving "Pienaar 2.0 vibes" under Moyes

Everton have already hit the jackpot on this talented first-teamer.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have now stepped up their interest in signing Real Madrid star Federico Valverde, and a swap deal involving Erling Haaland could be on the cards in the future.

Man City are looking to sign a new midfielder, with Rodri continuing to struggle on the injury front in the opening few months of the 2025-26 campaign, missing three of the last four matches in the Premier League due to a hamstring issue.

Surprisingly, it has now emerged that City could now be willing to use Rodri as a makeweight in negotiations to sign Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, who could be in line to become their club record signing, surpassing the £100m spent on Jack Grealish.

Nico Gonzalez impressed when slotting into the central midfield in the victory against Liverpool prior to the international break, scoring the second goal in the 3-0 rout, but the Blues have now joined the race for a more established top-level central midfielder…

Man City stepping up interest in signing Federico Valverde

According to a report from Spain, Man City are now stepping up their interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Valverde, with Pep driving the move, having identified the 27-year-old as one of his top targets in the middle of the park.

The City boss is determined to bring in a new central midfielder, while the Spanish giants want to sign Haaland, and it is believed Guardiola’s side would be willing to consider a swap deal for the Norwegian, with the Uruguayan being used as a makeweight.

Otherwise, the La Liga side have no plans to let the Montevideo-born star leave, meaning it could be difficult for the Blues to get a deal over the line, and missing out would be disappointing, given the level of his performances over the past year.

Federico Valverde’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

66.18 (87th percentile)

Pass completion %

89.7% (89th percentile)

Assists

0.19 (84th percentile)

Interceptions

1.44 (87th percentile)

The 71-time Uruguay international is vastly experienced at the highest level, having made 69 appearances in the Champions League, and he has even been lauded as “world-class” by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

As such, Man City should definitely try and get a deal done, but if the only way to sign Valverde is as part of a Haaland swap deal, then a move should be avoided, given that the striker is currently in the form of his life.

The 25-year-old, who has been named among the best strikers in the world, has already scored 14 Premier League goals this season, six more than any other player in the top flight, and simply cannot be allowed to leave if City are to stand any chance of reclaiming the title.

Erling Haaland has been ranked in the top five of the 2026 Ballon d'Or Power Rankings Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings

Who will be lifting the individual honour in 2026?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2025

He thumped 60 off 22 balls as Afghanistan seek victory for a place in Super Fours

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2025

Sri Lanka dominated proceedings for 18 out of 20 overs, but in those two overs, Afghanistan and Mohammad Nabi grabbed the momentum, and indeed the upper hand, as Afghanistan tore into Sri Lanka – primarily Dunith Wellalage – to score a whopping 49 runs off the final two overs and end on 169 for 8.Nabi ended on an incredible 60 off 22 balls, run out off the final delivery of the innings, as he saved his best for last against Wellalage, who had earlier dropped Nabi when he was on 6.For context, Wellalage, a left-arm spinner, was left to bowl the final over after Maheesh Theekshana had been left out of the XI, and the seamers had been bowled out earlier in the innings. That gamble seemed to have paid off for large parts of this innings, as Nuwan Thushara picked up figures of 4 for 18, while Chameera was unlucky to go for 50 runs in his four.Dasun Shanaka, the nominal fifth bowler, had gone for 29 runs, but picked up a wicket, while Wanindu Hasaranga had gone wicketless but was miserly in giving away just 18. But none of that accounted for leaving Wellalage against Nabi, a specialist spin hitter, at the last.Wellage attempted to bowl quick and flat, but he was no match as ball after ball was sent into the stands – over long-off and cow corner, time and time and time and time and time again. It was a brutal display of hitting, and one that a player as young as Wellalage will do well to try and put out of his mind sooner rather than later.But for Afghanistan, it was just what they needed in a must-win game.

Selection dilemmas, fitness concerns, and an unsettled XI – both teams begin their T20 World Cup buildup with more questions than answers

Alan Gardner09-Sep-2025Big picture: World Cup planning gets serious (sort of)And so we reach the final staging post of the England Men’s home international summer. Notwithstanding a beano to Ireland next week, which might be even more weather-challenged than three T20Is against South Africa in the UK in September.Harry Brook is the last man standing, the white-ball captain having played all of England’s 15 games across formats for the season. Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith were due to join him for the last hurrah, before England’s management had a change of heart during the ODIs and opted to give both players a rest. But Brook will have to wait for an opportunity to put his feet up, as he sits out the Ireland trip.Staying on the treadmill is tough enough, never mind keeping track of priorities. This series ought to figure more prominently than the ODIs that preceded it, since there is a T20 World Cup on the horizon – it’s over there, in India and Sri Lanka early next year, just peeking out from behind the Ashes. But England will make do and mend without a first-choice XI in any of their six games over the next 11 days, intent only on getting to the finish line. After which, there’ll be a few weeks off, then back to the grind for a white-ball tour of New Zealand followed by – hello again! – the Ashes in Australia.Related

South Africa beat England and the rain to leave Cardiff 1-0 up

Ferreira relishes 'heater' role as Invincibles' six-hitter-in-chief

Bethell, Root tons, Archer four-for see England hand out record thrashing

Jofra Archer: 'There was an ooh or an aah every single over'

McCullum: England must 'find ways to deal with' packed schedule

Brendon McCullum admitted after the third and final ODI, which England won in record-breaking fashion despite already conceding the series, that they were still getting to grips with easing their multi-format players through a punishing schedule. Throw in the ever-increasing demands of the franchise T20 circuit – and for some of the players involved here, the SA20 auction is the biggest event happening this week – and the balancing act only gets harder.(South Africa’s solution to fixture pile-up has been to programme an entire home season without a Test – although they still have upcoming red-ball commitments in Pakistan and India. Wherever you look, the stresses and strains are apparent.)This will be South Africa’s third T20I engagement in recent months, having toured Australia and Zimbabwe, where they played a tri-series with New Zealand – though some hotchpotch selection means they only won three games (two of them against Zimbabwe) out of eight. They were expecting to welcome back David Miller against England, after allowing him to play the Hundred as a precursor; but a hamstring strain sustained in Northern Superchargers purple means he will instead miss the entire series.There are also question marks over the fitness of Kagiso Rabada, after he sat out the ODI legs in Australia and England with ankle inflammation. Shukri Conrad has said previously that South Africa would be taking a “conservative approach” with Rabada, with T20Is currently higher up the pecking order.All of which means there is an air of uncertainty over proceedings, which are due to commence in Cardiff on Wednesday evening (weather permitting). England will expect a sterner test than that provided by West Indies earlier in the summer, as Brook began his tenure with a 6-0 sweep across formats. South Africa, finalists at the last World Cup, look to be further ahead with their planning – even if it is only three months since Heinrich Klaasen’s sudden retirement left a big hole to fill in their middle order.Both sides will be looking for answers. Don’t be surprised if the series only throws up more questions.Form guideEngland WWWLL (last five T20Is, most recent first)
South Africa LWLLLIn the spotlight: Sam Curran and Dewald BrevisIs the Bazball revolution big enough to include Sam Curran? We may be about to find out. Having seemingly been cast as someone who did not “fit the mould” of what McCullum was after with the Test side, he slipped down the pecking order in white-ball cricket, too, last playing in the Caribbean at the back end of 2024. That was under the guidance of an interim coach in Marcus Trescothick, so this will be Curran’s first chance to impress McCullum, who took charge across formats at the start of the year. If he can continue his good form from the Hundred and T20 Blast, and Make Things Happen in the manner of his first coming in international cricket, he could soon offer a solution to some of England’s ODI problems, too.Sam Curran was back in the England set-up•Getty ImagesIt is now more than three years since Dewald Brevis, South Africa’s “Baby AB”, burst into public consciousness by earning an IPL deal before having even played a first-class game. But until June of this year, his only mark on international cricket were innings of 5 and 0 in two T20Is against Australia back in 2023. A fifty on Test debut in Zimbabwe augured well, but the full range of his abilities shone through in remote Darwin last month as he smoked South Africa’s highest T20 international score – 125 not out off 56 balls – and second-fastest hundred, in only his ninth innings. That innings, no doubt, contributed to Brevis being the No. 1 draw at Tuesday’s SA20 auction, where he went past his captain, Aiden Markram, as the tournament’s most-expensive ever signing at R16.5 million (US$940,000). The spotlight won’t be going elsewhere for a while.Team news: Miller ruled out of seriesEngland named their team a day in advance, with Jos Buttler moving back up to open in the absences of Smith and Duckett. He is reunited with Phil Salt, who missed the West Indies series on paternity leave. Tom Banton and Will Jacks, both T20 openers by trade, are carded down at Nos. 6 and 7, with Curran a place above. He will be one of three pace-bowling options, alongside Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer, with four spinners – Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid – also at Brook’s disposal.England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Sam Curran, 6 Tom Banton, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Liam Dawson, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil RashidSouth Africa have opted not to call up a replacement for Miller, whose absence is likely to open up a spot for Donovan Ferreira – Oval Invincibles’ “heater” – to play just his seventh T20I and first since December. Keshav Maharaj returns as the frontline spin option after missing the two previous series, while Marco Jansen is set for his first appearance since the World Test Championship final in June after suffering thumb surgery. If Rabada is being kept in cotton wool, then 19-year-old quick Kwena Maphaka is primed to take his place.South Africa: (Possible) 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Ryan Rickleton (wk), 3 Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Donovan Ferreira, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi NgidiPitch and conditions: Seamers bang it inCardiff can be a tough place to bowl spin, because of the short straight boundaries – and will prove a challenge if England stick to their World Cup-orientated strategy of packing in the slow-bowling options. The surface was green a day out, but is expected to get a trim. However, a forecast for steady rain through the next 24 hours, and potentially on into the evening, might render such concerns moot.Stats and trivia South Africa have won four of their last five T20Is against England, which includes victories at the 2021 and 2024 World Cups and a 2-1 bilateral series success in 2022. The trip three years ago saw South Africa win comfortably in Cardiff, by 58 runs – although only four members of that side (Stubbs, Maharaj, Rabada and Ngidi) are involved this time around. Brook led England to a 3-0 whitewash of West Indies in his first outing as T20I captain. In all T20, he has captained 23 times – with England, Yorkshire and Northern Superchargers – and been victorious in 15 for a win/loss ratio of 2.50. Barring washouts, Brook will win his 50th T20I cap in the third game of the series at Trent Bridge.Quotes”We’ve got to make sure we do what we do as a team. We’re not too concerned about putting a statement out for others to see. It’s for our own selves, making sure we are true to our own selves cricket wise – batting, bowling, fielding – and letting our cricket do the rest. Hopefully we can put a show on.”
“They are always a good team. Expecting it to be a really good challenge for us. They’ve won heaps of white-ball tournaments and were the trendsetters at one stage. Looking forward to facing them and the strengths that they bring to the table, and seeing where we are as a team against really good opposition.”

Manchester United have been known to make numerous big-money additions over the years, but many of which have fallen way below the levels expected of them by the fanbase.

Antony has arguably been their biggest disaster during the last five years, with the Brazilian unable to match the pressures brought by his £86m transfer fee.

The 25-year-old was able to rack up a total of 96 appearances for the Red Devils over a two-and-a-half-year period, only scoring on 12 occasions – with only five of which coming in the Premier League.

As a result of his lack of impact at Old Trafford, he was subsequently shipped off to Real Betis for just £21m last summer – resulting in the hierarchy taking a £65m loss on his signature.

However, it appears as though INEOS have failed to learn from previous mistakes in the market, as seen by their big-money transfer to land one player during the summer window.

How Benjamin Sesko compares to other PL strikers in 2025/26

After a dismal 2024/25, Ruben Amorim’s men were handed a significant chance of redemption this campaign after the hierarchy handed the manager £200m worth of funds to utilise in the market.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were just two of the additions made by the hierarchy in an attempt to bolster the options available in the final third of the pitch.

Both have made an immediate impact to life at Old Trafford, already scoring a combined six goals between them – subsequently sitting in seventh place going into the third international break of the season.

The former of the duo even won the division’s Player of the Month award, further showcasing how impressive he’s been since his own big-money switch to join the Red Devils.

However, Benjamin Sesko has struggled to match the pair in such an aspect, with the Slovenian international unable to produce the goods as yet after his £74m switch from RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old was tasked with the responsibility of spearheading the frontline, but his tally of just two goals in his 11 league appearances showcases his inability to impress in England’s top-flight.

He’s only managed to complete 64% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with such a tally ranking him within the bottom 10% of all players in the division at present.

Sesko’s lack of passing ability has often restricted Amorim’s side from reaching the next level, often struggling to provide the focal point and target man they have craved.

Other figures, such as 0.2 successful dribbles per 90 and 3.6 touches in the opposition box per 90, further demonstrate his lack of positive impact in attacking areas – undoubtedly contributing to his measly goal tally.

Both tallies rank him in the 25th percentile of other attackers in the division, meaning 75% of players in the same position have produced better numbers in the same department.

Forget Sesko: This is INEOS' biggest waste of money

United’s inability to land any top-level attackers has been apparent over the last couple of seasons, with Amorim unable to get the best out of the options at his disposal in 2024/25.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund were the two centre-forwards on the books prior to the 40-year-old’s arrival, but neither failed to nail down the number nine position as their own.

The latter of the duo subsequently left during the recent transfer window to make room for the big-money addition of Sesko – but it appears that he could also suffer the same fate.

At just 22, he has plenty of time of turnaround his fortunes around at the Theatre of Dreams, but he will certainly need to find some form amid his recent lack of impact.

However, he’s not alone in struggling at present, with midfielder Manuel Ugarte another player who could be on borrowed time after his own disappointing spell in England.

The Uruguayan joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2024 from PSG for a reported £42m, but such a transfer now looks to be one of INEOS’ worst signings in recent years.

His transfer generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but he’s failed to deliver, as seen by his recent drop down Amorim’s pecking order in 2025/26.

Ugarte now finds himself behind 33-year-old Casemiro in the United squad, with the former PSG star often an unreliable figure and unable to produce the goods when called upon.

His latest showing off the bench against Spurs highlights his recent decline at Old Trafford, as the side conceded two goals after being brought on to replace the aforementioned Brazilian.

The 24-year-old’s underlying stats from this season further showcase his dismal performances in and out of possession, with his pass accuracy of 84% – which ranks him in the 33rd percentile of midfielders in the league.

Ugarte has also created just 0.3 chances per 90 and achieved an expected assist tally of just 0.01 per 90 – the lowest in the United squad.

On that evidence, it was no surprise that one United content creator suggested that he looked “so anxious” on the ball and was “frightened to death of passing forwards”.

The latter of his two aforementioned stats also ranks him in the 5th percentile of any midfielder in the Premier League – showcasing his lack of skill in possession.

However, he was mainly brought to the club for his ability to break up the play, but that part of his game has also been satisfactory at best over the last few months.

Ugarte has only made 0.7 interceptions per 90 and has only completed 2.1 tackles per game – which further highlights the decline he’s enduring since Amorim’s arrival.

There’s little disputing that Sesko has struggled to make an impact of late, but it’s to be expected from such a young talent who has made a leap of faith to further his career in a completely new country.

As for Ugarte, he’s already had over a year to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, but ultimately, it’s evident that he’s no longer a player who should be a key member of the first-team squad.

£50m for his signature has been nothing short of a waste of money, with INEOS desperately needing to remember such a deal during the upcoming January window.

Perfect for Sesko: Man Utd open talks to sign £100m star in club-record move

Manchester United are set to make a mammoth offer for one talent in the January transfer window.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 11, 2025

The Seattle Mariners lost to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, but it wasn't due to a lack of effort from outfielder Victor Robles.

In the bottom of the ninth inning the Mariners and Giants were tied, 4-4. With one out and a man on first, Patrick Bailey hit a long, high fly ball to right field that slowly drifted into foul territory as it soared through the air. Underneath it, Robles broke into a dead sprint in a desperate effort to make the catch—and boy, did he ever.

Robles managed to catch the ball, but slammed into the low wall in right field of Oracle Park. He flew over the railing and bent as he hit the net.

Remarkably Robles maintained control of the ball throughout, but was clearly shaken up afterwards. It's a strong catch of the year candidate, even if Robles is definitely going to feel it in the morning.

A truly ludicrous effort. Unfortunately it sort of backfired for the Mariners. Robles being in pain after making the grab allowed Luis Matos to tag up from first base to reach second; he would score on a single in the next at-bat.

Still. What an epic catch.

The Yankees turned the baseball world upside down over the weekend when they crushed 13 home runs in two games against the Milwaukee Brewers. The display of power wasn't the biggest takeaway, however. Instead, it was the new torpedo bats some of their hitters used that now has everyone talking about what could be one of the biggest changes the sport has ever seen.

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers is using one of those new bats, with his being labeled a bowling pin style. He made a good point while talking with ESPN's Jeff Passan, saying pitchers have new weapons each season, so why can't hitters?

"There's new pitches getting invented every year," said Jeffers, who went 1-for-8 in the first three games of the season. "We're just swinging the same broomstick we've swung for the last 100 years."

He added: "The bat is such a unique tool. You look at the history of the game, and they used to swing telephone poles. Now you try to optimize it, and it feels like some branches are starting to fall for us on the hitting side of things."

The rule book states this about bats: "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." These new bats have just moved more wood down slightly below the barrel.

So if you can make legal tweaks to a bat, like players and teams are starting to do, it seems like there shouldn't be a problem with making sure these things remain legal.

We'll have to wait and see if that remains to be true, or if pitchers won't have to worry about these bats anymore.

Mikel Arteta is now driving Arsenal’s move to sign Scott McTominay, with the manager of the belief the Scot would be the perfect addition to his midfield, and Napoli’s asking price has been revealed.

Arteta is already blessed with a wide array of options in central midfield, having signed Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi in the summer, while Declan Rice also continues to impress, receiving plaudits from Gary Neville after the recent 4-1 North London derby victory.

Neville said: “The only player you would be worried about losing for a period of time would be Declan Rice because you cannot replace that,”

“That is your Roy Keane, that is your Rodri, the player that holds you together. There is only one of them.”

However, despite strengthening considerably in the summer, the Gunners have struggled injury-wise this season, with Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus being ruled out against Tottenham Hotspur, meaning Mikel Merino had to lead the line.

As such, it could be a wise idea to bring in another central midfielder in the transfer window, and Arteta is personally a fan of a Serie A star…

Arteta driving Arsenal move for Scott McTominay

According to a report from Spain, Arteta believes McTominay could be the ideal addition to his midfield, with Arsenal closely monitoring the Napoli star’s performances over the past few months.

The Spanish manager rates the Scotland international highly due to his ability and press forward, and there are signs that a deal could be possible, though Andrea Berta will have to stump up £60m.

The 28-year-old is under contract until 2029, meaning Napoli are in a strong negotiating position at present, but interest from elsewhere is growing, with Manchester United also joining the race to re-sign their former player.

The Napoli star has certainly taken his career to new heights since leaving Old Trafford, with football writer Mark Carruthers praising him for the part he played in the Serie A side winning the title last season.

The former Man United man displayed his attacking quality as Napoli went on to win the league, picking up 12 goals and six assists in 34 Serie A outings, and he recently scored a remarkable bicycle kick as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to qualify for the World Cup.

It may be difficult for McTominay to force his way into the Arsenal starting XI ahead of Rice and Zubimendi, but he would certainly provide Arteta with fantastic depth in the middle of the park.

Scott McTominay has been named as one of the best midfielders in the world

The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

5

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 20, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta suggests the Gunners could be without a key player until 2026 after a pre-Chelsea injury update.

Arsenal set for Premier League six-pointer against Chelsea

The Gunners face a brief period of assessment ahead of Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster at Stamford Bridge, with Arteta sweating over the fitness of a few key players following Wednesday’s triumphant Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

Their commanding 3-1 victory over the German champions came at a cost, with Leandro Trossard forced off in the first half through injury.

The Belgian’s withdrawal was a fairly worrying sight given his excellent form this season, though substitute Noni Madueke stepped up brilliantly in Trossard’s stead to score his first goal for the club.

Arteta played down fears surrounding Trossard’s injury in his post-match press conference, suggesting the decision to withdraw him was precautionary rather than enforced by serious damage.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

However, the manager’s cautious approach means Trossard’s participation against Chelsea remains uncertain, with Arsenal’s medical staff set to analyse his condition ahead of Sunday.

Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres are also doubts for this weekend, with Arteta refusing to confirm their involvement against Chelsea following their spells out through injury.

Havertz has been nursing a knee problem which required surgery, keeping him out since the very start of 2025/2026, while Mikel Merino has deputised well in place of Gyokeres, who hasn’t featured since their 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Arsenal hold 'initial talks' to sign Real Madrid target who Arteta thinks is 'ideal'

The Gunners are moving in ahead of January.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 28, 2025

Gabriel Jesus continues to work his way back to full fitness after 11 months out with an ACL injury, with the Brazilian participating in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Jesus is actually set for an ‘earlier than expected’ return from injury, but uncertainty continues to surround his compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.

The star defender injured his thigh on international duty with Brazil and is set to miss the trip to Chelsea, with Arteta also asked if he’ll return before the end of 2025.

Mikel Arteta suggests Arsenal star Gabriel could be out until 2026

When asked by reporters if Gabriel would make a return to the field this year, Arteta’s answer cast doubt.

This suggests that the £100 million defender may not be back until 2026, thrusting summer signings Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera right into the spotlight.

Hincapie was given the nod for Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Spurs last weekend, and the Ecuadorian performed very well alongside William Saliba at the heart of Arteta’s backline.

Mosquera was then chosen to partner Saliba against Bayern, and again earned plaudits for his display, so Arsenal’s boss has a key selection decision to make against Enzo Maresca’s side.

فاز فريق الناشئين لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي مواليد 2009 على أكاديمية برشلونة في مستهل مشواره ببطولة الأهلي الدولية للناشئين تحت 16 عامًا المقامة على ملاعب القلعة الحمراء بمدينة نصر.

وانتصر الأهلي على برشلونة الإسباني بهدفين مقابل هدف، في لقاء الجولة الأولى من البطولة التي يستضيفها النادي الأهلي، ذلك اليوم الجمعة.

وافتتح أحمد عبد الهادي التسجيل للأهلي بتسديدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء مستغلًا عرضية مميزة من الجبهة اليسرى.

طالع | الأهلي يحدد موعد عودته إلى القاهرة بعد مواجهة الجيش الملكي

وأضاف محمد شادي الهدف الثاني برأسية رائعة بعدما قابل عرضية مهند عبد النبي من الجبهة اليمنى.

وقلص لوكاس أوجناسيان الفارق بتسجيل هدف برشلونة الوحيد. أهداف مباراة الأهلي وبرشلونة في البطولة الأهلي الدولية للناشئين تحت 16 عامًا

وبدأ أهلي 2009 المباراة بتشكيل مكون من:

حراسة المرمى: محمد عبيد.

الدفاع: سيف تامر – محمد حمدي قمر – عنر عيد العزيز – آدم يوسف.

الوسط: شوقي السعيد – مهند عبد النبي – سيف كريم – أحمد عبد الهادي – مصطفى فرج.

الهجوم: محمد شادي.

ويضم الجهاز الفني لفريق أهلي 2009 كلا من محمد عز مديرًا فنيًا، وتامر مرسي مدربًا عامًا، وإيهاب خميس مدربًا لحراس المرمى، وعبد الرحمن سعيد إداري الفريق، ومحمد إمام طبيب الفريق، وعبد الله سمير مخطط الأحمال، وإبراهيم رشاد إخصائي التدليك.