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Last weekend, Arsenal were accused of not taking the handbrake off. Gabriel Martinelli was the hero as he rescued the Gunners a late 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

But, despite a positive result, the performance was not encouraging. Mikel Arteta’s men set up with a midfield three of Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, something that meant the tactical make-up of the team was rather one-dimensional.

Against Newcastle United, however, the handbrake was well and truly off and they got what they deserved at St James’ Park, winning 2-1 in last-gasp fashion.

It was a story of three headers. Nick Woltemade, the Toon’s giant new striker, scored the opener but late strikes from Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes ensured that the north Londoners left a famously tough ground with all three points.

That victory means that Arteta’s side move within two points of Liverpool who lost to Crystal Palace in late fashion 24 hours earlier.

Arteta's tactical tweaks make the difference

Last weekend, the Gunners dominated the ball, boasting over 60% of possession, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resolute Man City backline.

Truth be told, chance creation has been one of the key issues for Arteta’s men but the team selection a week on certainly helped them in their quest to score more goals.

While it may have taken 84 minutes until Merino headed home having been introduced as a substitute, it was remarkable that Arsenal hadn’t scored before then.

Whatever you think of Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty decision, the visitors at St James’ could and perhaps should have scored three or four.

Eberechi Eze was denied superbly well, not once but twice, by Nick Pope in the first half who made excellent saves to his right and left-hand sides. Pope was again alert to keep a close-range header from Jurrien Timber at bay in the second half too.

Eze scored in midweek but this was perhaps his most telling performance in an Arsenal shirt since signing from Crystal Palace.

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With Martin Odegaard on the bench having only just returned from injury and Ethan Nwaneri omitted from the matchday squad, the Englishman featured in midfield and made a fantastic contribution.

Eze could have scored a couple and he did only generate one key pass but the pockets of space he was getting into and his willingness to shoot were a huge positive for Arteta. The fact he was playing close to Gyokeres also made a big difference.

Whether or not the summer arrival continues to play ahead of Odegaard remains to be seen but in the last two games, he’s certainly staked a claim to do so.

Regardless of Arteta’s most dynamic midfield selection on Sunday, it was still set plays that came to Arsenal’s rescue.

Rice’s inswinging ball from a short corner on the left found Merino who flicked a deft header beyond Pope.

The winning goal certainly wasn’t deft. Gabriel, who was weak and embarrassing for Woltemade’s opener, throwing himself to the floor, certainly didn’t shy away this time.

The Brazilian lept high among a sea of bodies in the 96th minute to meet Odegaard’s corner and head home in dramatic fashion, sparking wild celebrations among the Arsenal players.

What a moment this was for the Gunners but if we’re being brutal in our assessments of proceedings, they do need to make improvements.

That begins with one of their players of the season so far.

Arsenal's Player of the Season could be dropped

This has been a very difficult start to the new campaign for the Londoners who have been to Old Trafford, Anfield, St James’ Park and played Manchester City in their opening six league matches of the campaign.

The performances have been strong but they have not been without their issues. Gyokeres continues to float in and out of games, while Leandro Trossard hasn’t done a lot to convince while starting as a left winger in the last two matches.

In defence, however, it could be time for a change, most notably at left-back. Considering his injury history, Riccardo Calafiori has done well to play six league matches on the bounce.

In fairness, he’s had a really strong opening few weeks of the season, scoring against Manchester United on the opening weekend and registering two assists in the 5-0 win over Leeds United.

So good has the Italian been that one Gunners content creator has even described him as “Arsenal’s Player of the Season so far”. Fair words, really.

Yet, against Newcastle, Calafiori perhaps dropped his worst performance of the season to date, struggling at the back and failing to offer much going forward.

It said a lot that Arteta chose to bring him off at 70 minutes, instead preferring Myles Lewis-Skelly, a player who is certainly more composed in possession. That’s a change that could well be beneficial against West Ham United next week when Arteta’s side will be expected to create plenty of chances.

Lewis-Skelly coming into the team would certainly help with that. The clip below demonstrates his ability to carve open a team with his brilliant vision and passing.

While Cafafiori often resembles something of a raging bull in the final third, he’s not quite as precise. That precision would have been ideal against Newcastle on Sunday.

Calafiori vs Newcastle

Minutes played

70

Touches

43

Accurate passes

22/27 (81%)

Key passes

1

Shots

2

Accurate crosses

1

Long balls completed

0/3

Duels won

0/2

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Fouls

1

Stats via Sofascore.

Indeed, Calafiori only managed one key pass and had two shots off target. From a defensive point of view, he failed to win a single duel and only made one tackle.

While it wasn’t a dreadful display from the Italy international, it showed his limitations in particular game states. Lewis-Skelly, on the other hand, is particularly strong in the duel.

Last term, the teenager was only dribbled past once in the Premier League, the best record of any player to have made at least 15 starts. He also won six duels per 90 minutes, the most of any player in the league.

As a result, there’s certainly a case to be made for Calafiori to be benched for the visit of the Hammers next week.

KL Rahul hasn’t waited long to make a splash at IPL 2025 after his belated entry – he was on paternity leave the first two games for Delhi Capitals (DC) – and puts it down to being “back to enjoying my cricket”. His 15 in his first game came off five balls, and the match-winning 77 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Saturday off 51 balls. The new approach is because “the team that hits more boundaries and sixes ends up winning the game”.Since IPL 2019, Rahul hadn’t topped 138.8 as far as the strike rate for a season goes. This included dips of 129.34 (2020) and 113.22 (2023) even as he scored between 520 and 670 runs in every season bar 2023, when he played just nine games. Being relieved of the captaincy (at Lucknow Super Giants) and being with DC as just a player seem to have freed him up.”I’ve worked really hard on my white-ball game the last year or so. Big shoutout to Abhishek Nayar. I’ve worked a lot with him ever since he’s come into the Indian team,” Rahul said in a chat with DC team mentor Kevin Pietersen on iplt20.com after DC’s win over CSK. “We’ve spent hours and hours together talking about my white-ball game and how I can be better. We worked hours and hours together in Bombay and somewhere I have found the fun playing white-ball cricket.”Related

• KL Rahul speeds up in bid to 'get back in the T20 team' ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

• RCB return to Chinnaswamy to take on unbeaten DC with renewed optimism

• Worried Fleming says CSK are still 'grappling' to find their best line-up

• Jaffer: CSK look 'rattled', their batters are not even 'trying'

• KL Rahul shines as DC outclass CSK in Chennai

This was on display at the recent Champions Trophy, which India won, too. Rahul was the designated wicketkeeper and finisher, and had three unbeaten innings out of the four times he went out, scoring 140 runs at a strike rate of 97.90. There were five fours and five sixes in the 140.He has already hit eight fours and four sixes this IPL, and if the trend doesn’t change, he should go well beyond the 45 fours and 19 sixes he his last season, which ended with a much-talked-about, very public discussion with LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka. Goenka said after the season that he wanted to retain players who “have a mindset to win”. Rahul wasn’t retained. He said later that he wanted to be “loved, cared for and respected” by his team, and that he “wanted to start fresh”.”I think somewhere along the way I lost that fun of hitting boundaries and hitting sixes. I wanted to take the game deep, deep, deep and that somehow stuck in my head,” Rahul, who had once come under fire for saying “strike rate is very, very overrated”, told Pietersen. “But now I have realised I need to go back… cricket’s changed, and T20 cricket, especially, is only about hitting boundaries. The team that hits more boundaries and sixes ends up winning the game.”So back to enjoying my cricket. I am not thinking too much about the game, not thinking about taking it deep or none of that stuff. Just see [the] ball and try and be aggressive and put the pressure on the bowler and the opposition and just enjoy hitting boundaries.”

Former England opener declines Notts contract to take up opportunities in MLC and CPL

Matt Roller17-Feb-2025Alex Hales is set to skip both the T20 Blast and the Hundred after signing a deal which will see him represent Knight Riders franchises in both Major League Cricket and the Caribbean Premier League.Hales, 36, retired from international cricket in 2023 but has continued to play franchise cricket around the world, and became the second-highest run-scorer in T20 history earlier this month. He has played for Nottinghamshire since 2008 but has recently relocated to Dubai and will not return to the club this summer after opting not to sign a new contract.The decision will put Hales’ long-term association with Trent Bridge on hold, though he has not ruled out a future return. He has called the venue home throughout his professional career and is the leading run-scorer for both Notts (in the Blast) and Trent Rockets (in the Hundred), winning titles with both teams.Last year, Hales missed six of Nottinghamshire’s 14 group games in the Blast to fulfil a contract at the Lanka Premier League but the ECB has since tightened regulations on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs). As a result, signing a contract with either Notts or Trent Rockets would likely have rendered Hales unable to play overseas throughout the English season.Related

Moeen Ali set to skip Hundred as part of English domestic retirement

Moises Henriques joins Notts Outlaws for 2025 Vitality Blast

Lure of MLC could see English players skip T20 Blast for US payday

Alex Hales to miss Notts Blast fixtures after signing LPL deal

James Vince: Why I quit red-ball cricket – and others will follow

ESPNcricinfo has learned that he will instead take up an offer from the Knight Riders franchise, which will see him play for their Los Angeles and Trinbago teams in MLC and the CPL respectively. Depending on final dates, he may also return to the LPL in between the two tournaments, or alternatively feature in the new European T20 Premier League in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.Knight Riders own four teams around the world – Los Angeles, Trinbago, Kolkata and Abu Dhabi – and several players have represented them in two or more territories, including Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. Venky Mysore, their chief executive, has previously suggested that players signing year-round contracts with an IPL franchise would be “nirvana” and Hales’ move appears to be another step towards that.”The last 17 years playing at Trent Bridge for Notts have been an absolute pleasure, and it remains my favourite place in the world to play cricket,” Hales said in a statement. “Some of my best memories have come in a Notts shirt, and some of my closest friendships in the game have been made in that home dressing room.”Having spent more and more time playing around the world in recent years, heading back to Trent Bridge has always been something I’ve looked forward to. But given the current landscape of the global game as well as having recently moved abroad, unfortunately I won’t be able to return this season… Hopefully I will be able to return at some point in the future.”Mick Newell, Notts’ director of cricket, said that Hales would be welcome to return to the club if his schedule allows in future. “While he won’t be joining us this summer, we are by no means closing the door on him making a return to Notts at some stage in the future, and his achievements mean he will forever have a place in Trent Bridge history,” Newell said.”Both his life and the global cricketing landscape have changed immeasurably since he made his debut 17 years ago. We appreciate the challenge he has faced in balancing his personal life, having recently married his South African fiancée and moved abroad, with the opportunities that a player of his calibre earns across the globe.”Hales will become the second Englishman to feature in MLC after Jason Roy, who terminated his ECB incremental deal early in order to play in the first season. Roy featured for Knight Riders again last year but has not been retained for 2025, and is likely to play for Surrey throughout the Blast season.He will still require a “No Objection Letter” from the ECB to play overseas but is not anticipating any issues, despite recent changes in the board’s policy. Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, told talkSPORT in December: “If [players] choose not to have a contract with a county and they want to be a complete global freelancer, that’s fine.”The changes – which Gould said are designed to “defend our game” from the threat of franchise cricket – played a role in James Vince’s decision to quit first-class cricket this season in favour of the Pakistan Super League. Tom Kohler-Cadmore will also play in the PSL, and has therefore been renegotiating his Somerset contract accordingly.

أعلن نادي الزوراء العراقي تعاقده رسميًا مع المدير الفني، عماد النحاس لقيادة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بعد رحيله عن النادي الأهلي.

ويملك النحاس خبرة واسعة في التدريب داخل الدوري المصري، حيث تولى قيادة أندية المقاولون العرب، الاتحاد السكندري، وأسوان كما عمل مؤخرًا كمدرب مؤقت للنادي الأهلي قبل رحيله عقب وصول ييس توروب.

وقال أحمد سعيد، منسق نادي الزوراء، في تصريحات خاصة عبر بطولات: “تم التعاقد مع الكابتن عماد النحاس حتى نهاية الموسم”.

طالع.. محمود أبو الدهب: هناك من يتربص بـ حسام وإبراهيم حسن.. وتلك مميزات مدرب الأهلي الجديد واستمر: “وسيكون معه مساعد ومدرب حراس مرمى مصريان، على أن يتم السفر خلال يومين إن شاء الله”.

وأضاف: “كانت هناك مفاوضات مكثفة معه خلال الأيام القليلة الماضية وانتهت بالنجاح مع مدرب صاحب خبرات جيدة”.

قيادة النحاس للنادي الأهلي في الفترة الحرجة السابقة لم تكن الأولى، حيث سبق وقاده في نهاية الموسم الماضي للتتويج ببطولة الدوري المصري.

Barcelona received a boost ahead of their Champions League opener as Hansi Flick’s suspension was overturned, clearing him for the Newcastle game.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barca have received a major boost ahead of their Champions League opener against Newcastle after UEFA lifted the suspension of head coach Flick and his assistant Marcus Sorg. The pair had initially been handed one-match bans following last season’s controversial semi-final elimination to Inter, but Barca appealed the ruling. According to , UEFA has partially upheld the appeal, meaning Flick and Sorg will be on the bench at St. James’ Park. Both remain under a one-year “monitoring” period, during which any further violations could reactivate the suspended ban.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The decision is huge for Blaugrana, who begin their European campaign against a resurgent Newcastle side. Flick’s presence on the touchline is important for his tactical management in what promises to be a demanding league phase of the competition. 

  The German coach has been tasked with restoring Barca’s European pedigree after several painful eliminations in recent years. His availability ensures continuity in leadership at a time when Barcelona are eager to bounce back from a frustrating 1-1 La Liga draw with Rayo Vallecano and maintain focus on reclaiming continental success.

• TELL ME MORE

  The ban stemmed from UEFA’s charge that Flick and Sorg had breached the governing body’s principles of conduct during last season’s semi-final tie against Inter, having angrily protested and criticised the referee's decisions. While the suspension has been lifted, both coaches remain under probation for 12 months, meaning any further incident could lead to reinstatement of the punishment alongside fresh sanctions. Barca will cover the costs of the appeal process, though this is seen as a small price to pay for having their manager on the sidelines.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA?

  Barca must quickly shake off their domestic frustrations and turn their focus to Europe. With seven points from three La Liga fixtures, they trail Real Madrid by two points and cannot afford to let early-season slip-ups derail momentum. After the weekend's clash against Valencia in La Liga, the spotlight will shift to the visit to St. James’ Park.

It’s no secret that Chelsea have spent a lot of money on a lot of seriously talented players over the last few years.

However, arguably one of the most exciting signings the club have made in recent years was when they spent £29m on then-17-year-old Estevao Willian, who is finally set to join up with Enzo Maresca’s squad ahead of next season.

The teenage Brazilian, nicknamed Messinho, is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in world football and, with 42 goal involvements in 83 senior club games already, it’s easy to see why analyst Ben Mattinson describes him as a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

So, Chelsea fans should be delighted with reports linking the club to another incredible gem who could be as big a talent as Estevao.

Chelsea target brilliant wonderkid

It would be fair to say that this summer has been a largely positive one for Chelsea so far, as, on top of their exploits on the pitch, the club have conducted some brilliant business off of it.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, they made a tidy profit on Noni Madueke and managed to finally offload Kepa Arrizabalaga, with both making the increasingly common move from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates.

Then, in terms of incomings, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro are all surely going to improve Maresca’s attack, and it looks like they are closing in on RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons as well.

However, the Blues don’t appear to be done there, as it also looks like they will be getting their hands on an even younger prospect, someone who could be as big a talent as Estevao.

At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has reaffirmed Chelsea’s intense interest in Jorrel Hato.

The Italian journalist goes a step further, revealing that a deal to sign the Ajax ace is “now very close” as negotiations between the two clubs are at the “final stages.”

A price is not mentioned in Romano’s report, but stories from earlier this month claimed that a fee of around £40m would be enough to get this deal over the line.

While that might seem like a lot of money, it might end up being fair value if Hato can fulfil the potential so many believe him to have, similarly to Estevao.

Why Hato is as big a talent as Estevao

So, the first thing to point out is that, with Estevao primarily playing as a right-winger and being tasked with scoring and creating goals, he is almost always going to receive more attention and more plaudits than someone who plays in defence, like Hato.

However, that does not mean the Dutchman does not possess the same level of talent as the Brazilian, nor the potential to be a genuinely great player one day – you only need to look at his record to see that.

Since making his debut back in February 2023, at just 16 years old, the “exceptional athlete,” as dubbed by Mattinson, has become an integral part of Ajax’s first team.

Appearances

111

Starts

102

Minutes

9121′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

Minutes per Goal Involvement

701.61′

Points per Game

1.86

The Rotterdam-born monster has already amassed a staggering 111 appearances for the Dutch giants, of which 102 have been starts, and even though he primarily played at left-back, he has also been able to amass a reasonable tally in which he’s scored four goals and provided nine assists.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you that the 19-year-old wonderkid was something genuinely special, then perhaps the fact he’s already captained the Amsterdam outfit on multiple occasions will.

Finally, he’s not just seen as the next big thing by his club.

For example, the “immense” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also already won six senior caps for the Netherlands, in which he’s provided one assist, since making his debut in November 2023, at just 17 years old.

Ultimately, Estevao will always generate more excitement as he’s someone who could be a massive source of goals and assists in the future.

Still, from everything we’ve seen over the last few years and what those in the know are saying, there is every chance Hato could be as immense a talent, and therefore, someone Chelsea fans should be very excited about.

Even better than Hato: Chelsea preparing bid to sign "aggressive" £51m star

As Chelsea close in on the signing of Jorrel Hato from Ajax for around £35m, they’re also preparing an offer for an even better “aggressive” defender.

ByBen Gray Jul 29, 2025

Lancashire’s relegation from Division One of the Vitality County Championship was confirmed on the third day of their final match of the 2024 campaign against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.After bowling out the home side for 180, Lancashire were themselves then dismissed for 177 in 55.1 overs.Their fate was sealed as relegation rivals Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire picked up sufficient points from their meeting at Trent Bridge to both guarantee their own safety.Lancashire’s fall from grace has been rapid after finishing runners-up in 2022, when they came so close to winning the title, and then fourth 12 months ago.The make-up of their side has altered from two years ago with players leaving, call-ups to franchise cricket and injuries.The Red Rose county have suffered four innings defeats in a season for the first time in their history, including three in succession.It was their fourth relegation from the top flight since last winning the title in 2011 – in 2012, 2014, 2018 and now 2024.Worcestershire had already guaranteed their own safety with a game to spare and now have their sights on trying to secure a top six finish.They resumed on 119 for 7 and Matthew Waite completed an excellent half-century off just 37 balls with four sixes and two fours.He was given staunch support by Logan van Beek during a free-flowing partnership of 84 from 15 overs.Waite (60) eventually fell to Anderson Phillip when he went for a pull through midwicket but gloved the ball to Keaton Jennings at second slip.Joe Leach, in his final match before retiring, received a standing ovation from supporters on his way to the wicket but made only two before he was bowled off the inside edge to give Phillip his fifth wicket.Van Beek and Jack Home added 26 useful runs for the final wicket before the former on 48 from 70 balls chopped on to George BaldersonPhillip finished with figures of 13-2-65-5 and Tom Bailey 15-5-22-3.Lancashire were left 35 minutes batting before lunch and they suffered an early setback.Skipper Jennings drove at a widish delivery from Waite and the ball flew to Rob Jones who held onto a head high chance at second slip.Josh Bohannon had an escape in the same over before he had scored when Waite failed to hold onto a sharp one-handed return catch away to his rightBut there was another breakthrough when Harry Singh pushed forward to Leach and was caught behind.The wickets continued to tumble after lunch when Bohannon attempted to work Leach to leg and was lbw.It became 30 for 4 when Rocky Flintoff attempted a straight drive and was also leg before.Keeper Matty Hurst and George Bell tried to repair the damage and added 43.But Hurst gave his wicket away when he tamely clipped Waite to Home at mid wicket.Home came into the attack and accounted for Luke Wells (38) who lost his middle stump working to leg.Waite picked up a third scalp when George Bell missed a straight ball and was lbw.Ethan Brookes added to Lancashire’s woes in his first over after tea as Bailey became another lbw victim to a delivery which cut back.Determined resistance came from Phillip and Balderson who added 56 for the ninth wicket.But the innings was wrapped up with Balderson (38) caught low down by Waite at mid-on off Brookes and then Phillip (30) was collected at cover by Brookes off van Beek.Bad light halted play at 5.10pm after one over of Worcestershire’s second innings.

The BBL will begin on December 15, the second day of the third Test, with the final on January 27

Andrew McGlashan11-Jul-2024

Steven Smith played twice for Sydney Sixers last season•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

BBL officials remain hopeful that Australia’s Test players will be able to feature in the latter stages of the regular season in January although availability will come down to workloads after the five-Test series against India.With Australia due to tour Sri Lanka for two Tests from late January, players involved in that squad won’t be available for the BBL finals which run from January 21-27. The India series finishes on January 7 in Sydney with a window of approximately the final ten days of the BBL home-and-away stage where Tests stars could feature, but it appears unlikely that will include the fast bowlers.Related

All the BBL and WBBL squads for 2025-26 season

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All the BBL and WBBL squads for 2024-25 season

Sydney Thunder confident of Warner BBL return

Melbourne Stars get first pick in BBL overseas draft

The BBL fixtures were confirmed on Friday with the season starting on December 15 – the second day of the Brisbane Test – and the final played on January 27 which is a public holiday the day after Australia Day.”We’ve seen the last couple of seasons the impact those local heroes have when they come back into the BBL,” Alistair Dobson, the head of the BBL, told ESPNcricinfo. “We’ve given ourselves a really good opportunity this year from a scheduling perspective with the window post the SCG Test before our team head off to Sri Lanka for players to play a number of games.”We’ve given ourselves every shot. That said a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is probably the toughest Test series our players will play in and that’s where their focus is. We’ll work with them as that series goes through to understand what they can do and whether they can play some BBL games. We know they want to and we are optimistic we’ll see a number of them back again.”Last season, some of Australia’s Test players made a brief appearance between the Pakistan and West Indies series.The BBL brought in a new mechanism which allows clubs to sign Australia contracted players outside of their 18-player squad with the ability to bring them in if they became available. Pat Cummins (Sydney Thunder) and Mitchell Starc (Sydney Sixers) took up this option but did not play for their clubs. It has been a decade since Starc last played BBL in 2014, while Cummins last featured in 2019.Last season Steven Smith played twice for Sydney Sixers, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne twice for Brisbane Heat and Alex Carey once for Adelaide Strikers. Travis Head had been set to play for Strikers but was rested by Cricket Australia while Nathan Lyon did not feature for his new team Melbourne Renegades.The overseas player draft is expected to take place in early September with clubs now able to sign player before the draft on a multi-year deal.Perth Scorchers will play on opening night•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Scorchers to launch seasonPerth Scorchers will host the opening match of the 2024-25 season when they face Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. Once the BBL starts there will only be two nights during the regular season – Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – when matches won’t be played. With the Perth Test followed by the day/night game in Adelaide, which are broadcast into the primetime east coast market, being the first two in the series against India, it means the BBL then gets a clear run for the evening timeslot once it begins.Strikers will host their traditional fixture at Adelaide Oval on New Year’s Eve (against Scorchers) while Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars are the New Year’s Day fixtures. Defending champions Heat begin their campaign with an away fixture against Stars on December 18.A Boxing Day double header will follow the opening day of the MCG Test with Sixers playing Stars followed by Scorchers against Heat and there will be another double header after the first day of the SCG Test on January 3.Geelong gets another chanceOne of the major controversies last season was the abandoned game in Geelong between Renegades and Scorchers when a damp pitch was deemed to be dangerous. But there has been a show of faith for GMHBA Stadium which will host Renegades’ first home game against Hurricanes on December 19. Renegades other four home fixtures will be at Marvel Stadium.BBL fixtures 2024-25December 15:Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars, Optus Stadium (4.15pm)
December 16:Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades, SCG (7.15pm)
December 17: Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers, Manuka Oval (7.15pm)
December 18: Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat, MCG (7.15pm)
December 19: Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes, GMHBA Stadium (7.15pm)
December 20: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Oval (6.45pm)
December 21: Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers, Blundstone Arena (4.00pm)
December 21: Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers, ENGIE Stadium (7.15pm)
December 22: Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers, Gabba (6.15pm)
December 23: Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers, Marvel Stadium (7.15pm)
December 26: Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars, SCG (6.05pm)
December 26: Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat, Optus Stadium (6.15pm)
December 27: Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Oval (6.45pm)
December 28: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, Manuka Oval (7.15pm)
December 29: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, Gabba (6.15pm)
December 30: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades, ENGIE Stadium (7.15pm)
December 31: Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Oval (6.45pm)
January 1: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena (4.00pm)
January 1: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars, Gabba (6.15pm)
January 2: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers, Marvel Stadium (7.15pm)
January 3: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat, Coffs Harbour (6.05pm)
January 3: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder ,Optus Stadium (6.15pm)
January 4: Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, MCG (7.15pm)
January 5: Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers, Blundstone Arena (7.15pm)
January 6: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder, Gabba(6.15pm)
January 7: Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades, Optus Stadium (4.15pm)
January 8: Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes, ENGIE Stadium (7.15pm)
January 9: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers, MCG (7.15pm)
January 10: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder, Blundstone Arena (7.15pm)
January 11: Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers, SCG (4.45pm)
January 11: Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
January 12: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars, Marvel Stadium (7.15pm)
January 13: Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers, ENGIE Stadium (7.30pm)
January 14: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena(7.30pm)
January 15: Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval (7.00pm)
January 16: Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes, Gabba (6.30pm)
January 17: Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder, SCG (7.15pm)
January 18: Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat, Marvel Stadium (5.00pm)
January 18: Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers, Optus Stadium (5.15pm)
January 19: Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes, MCG (7.15pm)
January 21: The Qualifier (1 vs 2)
January 22: The Knockout (3 vs 4)
January 24: The Challenger (loser of Qualifier vs winner of Knockout)
January 27: The Final (Reserve Day, January 28)

It might seem overly simple, but if there is one thing Arsenal need to add to the squad this summer, it’s goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side are well known for being one of the hardest teams to break down in world football – and the data shows it – but time and time again this season, the North Londoners found it hard to put the ball in the back of the net when it really mattered.

So, while the addition of Martin Zubimendi will be a great one – when it eventually happens – the club need to do a lot more and strengthen the frontline.

Fortunately, reports have now linked the Gunners with another option to lead the line next season, someone who could be a great alternative to Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal's striker search

Arsenal’s hunt for a new number nine has been ongoing for over a year now, and over the last few weeks, Sesko and Gyokeres have been constantly linked.

The former was a target last summer, again in the winter, and now, for the third window on the bounce, he has been dominating the talk around the club, with reports suggesting he could cost at least £67m.

The situation is even more unclear regarding the Swedish international, as while he supposedly rejected Manchester United in favour of the Gunners, reports from late last week claimed that Sporting CP’s demands had seen the North Londoners ‘freeze’ their interest in the 27-year-old.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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So, it looks like the Gunners might need to seek out an alternative, which could help explain the links to Dušan Vlahović.

Yes, according to a recent report from TuttoJuve, Arsenal are now in the picture for the Juventus marksman.

The report has revealed that in light of Sporting wanting at least €80m – £68m – for Gyokeres, Arteta and Co are now ‘evaluating valid alternatives,’ one of which is the Serbian international.

No price is mentioned in the report, but stories from last month claimed that the 25-year-old goalscorer could be available for just £25m, which could make him an ideal alternative to Sesko and Gyokeres.

Why Vlahović could be a great alternative to Sesko and Gyokeres

Okay, so the first thing to say is that one of the advantages to signing Vlahović over Gyokeres and Sesko is that he’d cost substantially less and, therefore, free up more money to spend elsewhere.

However, while you would expect someone who could cost less than half as much as the Leipzig star, for example, would be significantly less effective, that is not the case.

When it comes to raw output, he’s only marginally worse than the Slovenian star, who is playing in a top-five league and, therefore, at a similar level.

Vlahović vs Sesko vs Gyokeres

Players

Vlahović

Sesko

Gyokeres

Appearances

41

45

52

Minutes

2569′

3258′

4248′

Goals

15

21

54

Assists

5

6

13

Goal Involvements per Match

0.48

0.60

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

128.45′

120.66′

63.40′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, while he is miles off the Sporting star, it’s important to note that research from Opta Analyst found that 11 of 18 teams in the Portuguese top-flight are League One standard.

That brings us to one of the significant benefits of signing the Serb, who former Juventus striker Darko Kovacevic once said is “just like Haaland”, over the other two: his vast experience at the highest level.

For example, across his career to date, the Belgrade-born monster has made 202 appearances in Serie A.

In comparison, the former RB Salzburg gem has made just 64 appearances in the Bundesliga, while the Stockholm-born poacher has never played a minute of football in a top-five league.

Ultimately, Vlahović probably wouldn’t be the most exciting addition Arsenal could make to the frontline this season, but he has a proven track record in a tough league, is almost as effective as Sesko and would cost a fraction as much.

Therefore, if the Gunners cannot get their hands on either the Leipzig star or Gyokeres this summer, then the Juventus ace would be a great alternative.

Related Arsenal set to bid for £40m star who has heart set on move to Emirates

The Gunners could land a long-term target…

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Jun 16, 2025

With promotion sealed, Sunderland have now been handed another boost by reports that one of their summer targets is now open to completing a move to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland secure promotion back to Premier League

In one tense, nervous affair, the beauty and the heartbreak of the playoffs was on show for all to see at Wembley. Sheffield United were left in shock, but Sunderland were left delirious when Tommy Watson coolly placed home from range to hand the Black Cats promotion at the death. Coming from behind, Regis Le Bris’ side took Sunderland back to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.

Le Bris had his say on an unforgettable moment, telling reporters after his side’s triumph: “It feels fantastic to have lived this moment with our fans. I am really proud of the work we have done this season.

“The players, the staff, and the people in the building have been really connected and believed that it was possible. In the end, the emotion and the feeling are really impressive.

“We are always focused on the present, and the path – the journey – is something we live together. It had its ups and downs, so we are always focused on the next step. In the next few days, we will realise what we have achieved together.”

Sunderland could soon sign their next Amad in "unplayable" EFL star

Sunderland could finally win their next Amad Diallo with this tricky attacker.

ByKelan Sarson May 29, 2025

Now that they’re in the top flight, Sunderland undoubtedly have a tough task on their hands. None of the last six promoted sides have survived at the first time of asking in the Premier League, meaning that the Black Cats are up against a growing trend next season. What would certainly help their push for safety, however, is the arrival of someone who knows exactly how to win in England’s top tier.

Henderson now "open" to Sunderland return

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Jordan Henderson is now open to completing a move to Sunderland this summer with those at the Stadium of Light also keen to make a deal happen as, according to talkSPORT, they ‘believe he would add valuable experience to their young team’.

The Ajax midfielder is seemingly on his way out of the Netherlands after 18 months this summer and could enjoy a full circle moment by heading back to where it all started.

The England international should, on paper, take hold of the opportunity to enjoy a fairytale ending to his career with both hands. Since leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq in a move that came with plenty of criticism, Henderson’s reputation has arguably been on a downward spiral, however, during his time at Ajax, he has managed to break back into the England setup under Thomas Tuchel.

Games

79

Goals

5

Assists

10

Minutes played

6,067

There’s no denying his experience no matter what some think of his recent decisions, though. Henderson has won it all as a captain in English football and could be worth every penny of his £75,000-a-week base salary if Sunderland make their move this summer.

Dubbed “selfless” by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in 2019, Henderson could receive the chance to complete the most fitting move to end his career in the Premier League courtesy of Sunderland.