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With each passing week, Ange Postecoglou’s position as Tottenham Hotspur manager feels increasingly precarious.

Now, the Australian could still end the season with a European trophy in his hands, but should that not happen, then crashing out of both domestic cups and finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table might cost him.

With that said, if he is still in the hot seat at the end of the season, he needs to oversee a serious shakeup of the squad to ensure next year isn’t as disastrous.

That means bringing more first-team quality players and shipping out the deadwood, including one of his own signings who was once tipped for greatness by Lionel Messi.

The Spurs stars who need to be moved on

So, before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at the other Tottenham players Ange and Co should be looking to sell or let leave in the summer window, such as Pedro Porro.

Now, it’s true that the Spanish full-back had a decent game on Thursday and can offer something in attack, but this season has made it abundantly clear that he’s a problem when it comes to defending.

For example, there have been multiple times this season where he’s been shown up, like away to Arsenal or at home to City.

It might sound harsh, but we are not the only ones to think this, as journalist Mitch Fretton described his display at home to Ipswich Town as a “horror show”, while one podcaster didn’t mince his words when he described his performance in the defeat to Bournemouth as “absolutely terrible.”

The former Sporting CP dud isn’t the only player who must be moved on this summer, though, as Yves Bissouma very much falls into the same camp.

Chalkboard

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

The former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has had a dreadful campaign this year and so far has featured in just 45% of the team’s Premier League starting lineups.

It’s not hard to see why Postecoglou opts to go with other midfielders these days either, as his last start came in the defeat to Fulham, a game he received a 3/10 match rating for from Alasdair Gold.

However, as bad as the Mali international has been, there is another player in the squad, an Ange signing, who’s proved to be even less effective and, therefore, must be moved on.

The Ange signing who needs to be moved on

When it comes down to the worst signing Postecoglou has made during his time in the Spurs dugout, some may go for Radu Dragusin, but for our money, it’s Timo Werner, and unsurprisingly, he’s the player who has to be let go.

Now, to give the manager and the club credit, while Andy Townsend described the decision as “astonishing,” it didn’t seem like the worst idea in the world to sign him on a short-term loan when they did last season.

After all, while he failed at Chelsea and didn’t exactly set the world alight on his return to Germany, he was once one of the most exciting forwards in Europe.

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For example, in his final season before moving to Stamford Bridge, he managed to rack up a pretty sensational haul of 47 goal involvements in 45 games, and about five years before that, Messi named him among the ten youngsters he backed to become football’s next superstars.

Unfortunately, we all know what happened next, and while he did alright in the back half of last season, racking up six-goal involvements in 14 appearances, many were still surprised when his loan was extended for another season.

Appearances

14

27

Goals

2

1

Assists

4

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

0.14

That decision has not panned out whatsoever, and as things stand, the former Stuttgart star has amassed just one goal and three assists in 27 games, which is hardly value for money when he’s making £165k-per-week.

The good news is that Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the club will not be looking to re-sign the former Chelsea flop in the summer, but until the club confirms this, there is always a chance.

Ultimately, while Werner has undoubtedly tried to make it work in North London this year, he’s been a failure at Spurs, and the sooner he is moved on, the better for all involved.

He's a lot like Dele Alli: Spurs want to sign £20m "freak of nature"

The incredible youngster would be a hit at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 10, 2025

Allrounder Matthew Spoors could become an option for Scorchers after reviving his career with Canada

Tristan Lavalette14-Dec-2024In the last BBL game played at Optus Stadium, a low-scoring knockout final back in January, Adelaide Strikers successfully deployed a spin-heavy attack that flummoxed Perth Scorchers and ended their dreams of a hat-trick of titles.It was a stunning turn, pardon the pun, of events and underlined that spin can have a major impact on a surface renowned for being fast and bouncy much like the nearby WACA.Scorchers, the competition’s most successful franchise, will be determined to bounce back but they could face challenges with their spin depth.Related

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Left-arm spinners Ashton Agar and Cooper Connolly have been in a race to be fit for Sunday’s season-opener against Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. While skipper Ashton Turner, a handy offspinner, has been managing a ribs issue since a recent hit-out for local team Fremantle. But all three have been named in Scorchers’ 14-player squad.Left-arm wrist spinner Hamish McKenzie departed in the off-season after taking up a two-year deal with Stars having struggled to regularly crack into a Scorchers attack usually featuring Agar as their sole frontline spinner.Agar has been a mainstay of Scorchers’ attack for years, relied upon to dry the scoring in the middle overs although he was expensive late last season. He has not played since suffering a shoulder injury during the Sheffield Shield last month.Having been blooded into Australia’s white-ball teams, there was a lot of excitement heading into this season over Connolly whose x-factor allround ability has seen him likened to Travis Head.But he’s been on the sidelines for the past month with a fractured hand after being whacked by a short delivery from Pakistan quick Mohammad Hasnain in the third ODI at Optus Stadium.Australia’s selectors are excited about Cooper Connolly’s potential with the ball as well as bat•Getty ImagesIt was a premature end to Connolly’s first innings in international cricket, but he appears a chance to take his place against Stars after playing in Scorchers’ intra-squad match on Thursday at the WACA.”I’m going to try and put my best foot forward to play on Sunday. But it’s up to the coaches to decide if I’m ready or not,” Connolly told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday. “It’s obviously frustrating [the injury], it wasn’t great timing. But it’s a small bump in the road and I’m just looking to keep a positive mindset.”Connolly is still developing his left-arm orthodox bowling, but does boast a three-wicket haul among his 15 BBL games. The 21-year-old Connolly is set to assume more responsibility if Agar is absent, while his cavalier batting makes him a potential match-winner.Connolly offers flexibility with the bat but failed to make an impact as an opener early last season. At this stage of his career, No. 6 is his preferred position and appears the best use of his ability to finish an innings as he memorably showed in the unforgettable final of BBL12 when he helped lift Scorchers to the title and became an instant cult hero.”I like to be very versatile and I’m happy to bat anywhere from one to seven,” Connolly said. “But at this point in time, I probably see myself at six and want to try to knuckle down in that role and finish off the innings.”With limited spare spin options, Scorchers could at some stage this season turn to new signing Matthew Spoors, a legspinning allrounder who like his friend and former team-mate Tim David has emerged off the canvas and ignited his career through Associate cricket. He isn’t part of the squad to face Stars but has already provided an impressive comeback story.Spoors, 25, was a highly touted top-order batter as a junior and received his first Western Australia contract while he was in high school. But he never played a senior game and was discarded in 2020 after three years on the list.”I probably didn’t know my game too well and chopped and changed my technique a lot,” Spoors told ESPNcricinfo. “I listened to too many people when I was younger and probably couldn’t say no to the advice.”With his cricket career in ruins, he tried his hand at Australian Rules Football, his other sporting passion, but the rough and tumble sport proved demanding for the diminutive Spoors.He decided to give cricket another serious crack, with a particular focus on the T20 format amid the sport’s shifting landscape to franchise leagues. But a reinvention was required if he was going to make a professional career out of it.Having always been able to bowl a “quick leggie”, Spoors focused on the craft of legspin and used Afghanistan talisman Rashid Khan as a blueprint.Matthew Spoors has revived his career•Getty Images”I could never really slow it up, that wasn’t really my game,” Spoors said about his legspin. “I’ve always been able to bowl a wrong’un and leggie, so being able to to do that fast…I’ve tried to utilise that and it’s the type of bowling that suits T20 cricket.”He’s also worked on his power-hitting in a bid to turn himself into a specialist finisher.Inspired by David, who rose from WA cricket discard to in-demand T20 player via a stint with Singapore, Spoors made use of holding a Canadian passport – the country his mother was born – and represented them in the uncompromising world of Associate cricket. He smashed 108 not out from 66 balls on T20I debut against the Philippines in Oman and played 10 T20Is and five ODIs in a 14-month period.”Playing Associate cricket helped my confidence,” he said. “I played on so many different pitches in different environments that it holds you in good stead. And meeting new people and being part of different cultures really expanded my horizons.”Spoors took that form into last season’s local cricket competition in Perth where he shared the Olly Cooley Medal with Renegades batter Jono Wells for the top player in WA Premier Cricket.He then impressed in August’s Top End T20 Series in Darwin to seal a contract with Scorchers before making his List A debut for WA against Victoria at the MCG last month. He didn’t get a chance to bowl and made just 4 off 12 balls at No. 6 in the rain-interrupted match, but more opportunities under brighter lights may be imminent.Spoors already has an enthusiastic supporter in the Scorchers ranks with Connolly, his Scarborough team-mate in local cricket, a firm believer in his skill-set.”I’m very close to him and we’ve had some good conversations about the game and being a spin allrounder,” Connolly said about Spoors. “I think if he gets an opportunity, he’ll be ready.”

You go, girls – and hurry up with those international retirements

Alan Gardner16-Feb-2023Hey laydeeeeez. It’s finally time, in the words of the Beastie Boys, to get funky. The people have spoken – or at least 50% of them have – and after a mere few years of respectfully listening to [] their demands, the BCCI has played its benevolent hand and created a Women’s IPL. Female cricketers of the world, rejoice, because the men in suits have decided you’re worth it.The Light Roller has always been a champion of the women’s game – we were fans of Rachael Heyhoe Flintoff before most people had even heard of her – and we’re delighted that the chicks have got what they wanted: money.Sorry, make that equality. But listen, the cash is decent: according to Jay Shah, the WPL is already the “second-highest valued” league in world cricket. And who among us would argue that showering one small area of the sport with bank notes could ever be anything other than beneficial?Related

• Hurray, the PCB is back to being the beloved drama we want to binge

• V Kohlz, B Mac, Boom and Jay Lang win the only cricket trophies of 2022 that matter

• Reactions to the WPL auction – Smriti Mandhana watches herself make history

Anyway, before the wokerati accuse us of peddling paternalistic claptrap, here are a few tips from the top, gleaned from our years of dedicated men’s IPL watching.Club vs country
The WPL is only three weeks long, but these are now the most important three weeks of your life. Do you want to risk missing out with an injury sustained while playing a bilateral series in Sri Lanka in November, just because your country’s selectors want you to? No. Best bring those international retirement plans forward.Franchise life
You’re going to be based throughout the tournament in Mumbai, one of the greatest cities in the world. So what should you do when not on team duty? That’s right, sit in your room and play Xbox. If you need anything from outside – coffee, newspaper, replacement batteries for the halo light used on your Twitch stream – then make sure to send the social-media intern.Fan following
Now that the auction has been concluded, you’ve doubtless felt the love in your mentions. Welcome to the world of #OneFamily #PlayBold #CapitalsUniverse. Your new supporters will cheer for you, pray for you, get tattoos of you… and also send you dog’s abuse on Twitter if you ever have an off day.Brand awareness
You are an empowered girl boss inspiring the next generation of sportswomen, you are a super she-ro who can take down the patriarchy in between net sessions… But you are also a walking billboard whose raison d’etre is to sell more bags of cement. Remember who’s paying the bills, sister.Food and drink
Don’t worry about having to eat curry all of the time, Indian hotels can provide the finest in global cuisine. Just keep an eye on your portion control, because the camera adds several pounds and those uniforms can be a little unflattering.Good luck, and hopefully you won’t get asked if you’re a cheerleader!

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Speaking of fitness demands in the modern game, the Light Roller was saddened by South Africa’s decision to omit Dane van Niekerk from their T20 World Cup squad due to her inability to run a set distance in an arbitrary time frame. This seems another example of the women getting a raw deal. The sport has barely been professional for ten minutes and already it’s gone all in on body-shaming. If 150 years of men’s cricket has taught us anything, it’s the value of carrying around a bit of extra timber – from WG to Inzy. Surely the ladies deserve a similar “Grace period”? As the famously sturdy doctor didn’t quite say: “They came here to watch me bat and bowl, not you oversee a 2k time trial.”

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“It’s bigger than the Ashes” has been one of the themes of the build-up to the ongoing instalment of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and in at least one sense that is already being borne out. Controversies that have so far exercised the Aussie press include how unplayable the Nagpur pitch was (Rohit Sharma 120, Axar Patel 84, Ravindra Jadeja 70), dirty tricks over practice facilities, the changing tour itinerary, whether Australia’s players are too pally with the Indians, their own team selection, and just what was Jadeja rubbing on his fingers? Credit to the touring hacks, who have displayed all their years of phoney war experience – but it usually takes them until the fourth or fifth Test of an England series to drop their bundle so comprehensively.

As the top four teams start to pull away in the IPL here’s a look back at how the Australian contingent fared over the last week

Andrew McGlashan19-Oct-20202:10

Steven Smith on why he didn’t give Jofra Archer the 19th over

Smith’s shuffleFive single-figure scores for Steven Smith had brought the spotlight on him, to the extent that there were a few questions being asked about his place in the Rajasthan Royals side. It would have been a huge call to leave out the captain – and one of the world’s best batsmen – and it was little surprise when Smith came good after moving to No. 4 as part of a batting shake up. He reached his half-century from 30 balls and two deliveries later produced the most astonishing shot of his innings when he played a reverse whip through point from a standing position. However, in the end his runs weren’t enough for the struggling Royals who fell victim to an AB de Villiers epic. Smith’s captaincy came under the microscope when he opted not to give Jofra Archer the 19th over with 35 needed, instead opting for Jaydev Unadkat who got taken for 25 to change the course of the match.

Simon Katich: "That's why de Villiers is the greatest of all time"

Do you agree with @RCBtweets' head coach? #IPL2020 https://t.co/9J84Wu4n9e pic.twitter.com/c5bMNZNuGF

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 18, 2020

Warner left speechlessDavid Warner had to take a new role for Sunrisers Hyderabad in their match against Kolkata Knight Riders after Kane Williamson picked up an injury which led to him opening the batting so he could focus more on boundary-hitting than running between the wickets. It has been rare to see Warner not opening in T20 over recent years. Since an experiment with the tactic for Australia at the 2016 T20 World Cup he had done it six times across the CPL and BPL; the last time in the IPL was back in 2014. He almost got the Sunrisers across the line with his unbeaten 47 off 33 balls, but having taken three consecutive fours off Andre Russell he could only scamper a leg bye off the last delivery to tie the scores and get a Super Over. Then, walking out to face the over, he was castled first ball by Lockie Ferguson as the Sunrisers were ‘bowled out’ for 2. “I don’t know what to say, I’ll probably have to bite my tongue a little bit,” Warner said.

David Warner gets honest about where he thinks his team is lackinghttps://t.co/CGoETAaZWa#SRHvKKR | #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/bWmUw2hWN4

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 18, 2020

Cummins in the runs…and a wicketPat Cummins was at the forefront for KKR against the Mumbai Indians…with the bat. Coming in at 61 for 5 he struck 53 off 36 balls, his maiden T20 fifty, in an unbroken stand of 87 with Eoin Morgan to at least give KKR something to bowl at, although it proved far too few in the end. It comfortably out shone his previous best of 39 for the Sydney Thunder in the 2017-18 BBL. Since making consistent lower-order Test runs in the 2018-19 Australian season, when it was pondered if he could bat higher than No. 8, Cummins’ batting hasn’t quite been as useful as his talent suggests it should be but he has produced some handy knocks in this IPL. Meanwhile, with the ball his wicket of Vijay Shankar in the game against the Sunrisers was his first after a run of five wicketless outings.Pat Cummins brought up his fifty•BCCIHow much more for Carey?Australia’s limited-overs wicketkeeper, Alex Carey, has been filling the shoes of injured Rishabh Pant over the last week for Delhi Capitals. After a gap of nearly month since his brilliant ODI century against England he has found it tough going in the middle order with 32 runs from 29 deliveries. His dismissal against Chennai Super Kings may have come in the nick of time for the Capitals as the next man, Axar Patel, smashed 21 off five balls to help secure a thrilling chase. The Capitals were hopeful Pant would only be sidelined for a week, so Carey may soon find himself sidelined.Off the benchA couple more of the Australians finally got their chance for an outing over the last week. Nathan Coulter-Nile, who had been carrying a niggle earlier in the competition, replaced the rested James Pattinson for Mumbai Indians as one of the tournament pace-setters manages their quicks with an eye on the latter stages of the competition. It wasn’t the best of starts for him as he felt the force of Cummins and Morgan with his second two overs costing 37. In the same match, Chris Green came into the KKR side and performed his usual role of opening the bowling but could do little to defend a mediocre target. With Sunil Narine now taken off the bowling-action warning list it remains to be seen how much more Green plays. It leaves Billy Stanlake, Chris Lynn and Daniel Sams as the Australians yet to feature in a match.

“Leave the football before the football leaves you” was the message that Jamie Carragher handed to Manchester United midfielder Casemiro in early 2024.

It was one of the aggressive forms of criticism we’ve seen on Sky Sports in recent years and it was arguably deserved.

The Brazilian was one of the best midfielders in the world at Real Madrid. He was a serial winner, a Champions League legend.

At Old Trafford, however, his career has started to wane. Who could forget Casemiro’s tired and laboured display against Crystal Palace at the back end of 2023/24?

He was dribbled past a remarkable eight times during that game. For no context, no player in the whole of that Premier League campaign was dribbled past on more occasions in one match.

Since then, however, Casemiro has enjoyed something of a revival under Ruben Amorim in 2025/26. Long gone are the days of Erik ten Hag fielding the veteran at centre-half. He looks like a proper midfielder again.

The Brazil international has been one of United’s most consistent players this term, scoring three goals and supplying an assist. Yet, that should not distract supporters from the fact that he is still a problem.

He’s now 33 years of age and cannot be trusted to play for 90 minutes. Because of that, the transfer chiefs at United are considering launching a big-money move for a new midfielder in 2026.

The search for a Casemiro heir at Man United

While many problems linger in the air at Old Trafford, the biggest arguably lies at wing-back and in the centre of midfield.

United bolstered their attacking line significantly in the summer with the additions of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha but the midfield went untouched. That needs to change in January or next summer.

There are three players who appear to be at the forefront of their minds. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson would appear to be the dream target but he is also being chased by rivals Manchester City and could cost a fortune.

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is another long-term target and could finally make his big move in 2026. He gave Casemiro the runaround during United’s 2-1 win on Sunday. Samuel Luckhurst noted that the Brazilian looked “haunted” by his experience at Selhurst Park just a couple of years ago.

The other target is Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba but his form has taken a downturn in 2025/26 and he doesn’t look like a player worthy of a previous £100m price tag.

Touches

48

Accurate passes

23/29 (79%)

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

1/3

Shots

1

Tackles won

3/3

Interceptions

1

Clearances

2

Recoveries

7

Duels won

5/7

Anderson and Wharton would be the ideal solution to United’s woes and according to the numbers, it’s the former who should be the priority target.

He’s a bigger threat in the final third but he doesn’t shirk his defensive duties. He’s won more duels and made more ball recoveries per 90 minutes this season than his England colleague. According to Thomas Tuchel, he’s “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”.

Yet, what if United had already signed their answer to Wharton and Baleba?

Man United have found their own Wharton and Baleba

United have taken a vested interest in improving their youth ranks since INEOS completed their takeover of the club.

Towards the beginning of 2025 they signed young Malian midfielder Sekou Kone in a bargain deal and while he is yet to appear for the first-team just yet, he has endured an injury-hit first few months at Carrington and looks a real superstar in the making.

There is also left wing-back Diego Leon, the young defender who looks well set to replace either Patrick Dorgu or Diogo Dalot in that position before too long.

The latest talent who looks set to arrive is a 17-year-old midfielder by the name of Cristian Orozco.

It was reported last week that United were set to complete a move to sign the teenager, with Orozco flying to the UK over the weekend to formalise a $1m move from Colombian side Fortaleza.

So, who is the budding youngster? Well, he’s notably been compared to both Casemiro and Moises Caicedo. Already it’s clear to see why comparisons are also being made to Baleba, the man Brighton actually tasked with replacing Caicedo at the Amex.

Having captained Colombia at U17 level, he already boasts natural leadership skills but it’s his skillset in and out of possession that makes him so exciting.

Como scout Ben Mattinson has outlined that Orozco is capable of ‘controlling the game from deep in midfield’. His best attributes are his press resistance and footwork to turn past defenders, while he’s ‘so composed under pressure’ and is capable of ‘recycling possession’ superbly well.

On that evidence, it’s easy to see why comparisons to Wharton are being made. The Palace midfielder is one of the most press-resistant midfielders in the English top-flight and that was clear for all to see when he supplied the pass that led to Palace’s penalty on Sunday. He evaded his marker with ease and then picked out a punchy forward pass.

Orozco, however, isn’t just about making things look pretty. Further labelled as “a midfield destroyer with leadership maturity far beyond his age” by one analyst on social media, he also brings the best of Baleba who is more defensively minded than Wharton.

United’s new signing is unlikely to provide them with too much threat in the final third but like Wharton he’ll evade the press and manoeuvre the ball nicely. Like Baleba, he’s also capable of sitting in front of the defence and breaking up play.

The teenager certainly isn’t ready for first-team football just yet but INEOS could well save themselves a fortune in the transfer market here.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd star who was a "waste of time" is now undroppable

This Man Utd player starred in their 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace

1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 30, 2025

After he spent less than two weeks in Triple A with the Omaha Storm Chasers, top prospect Jac Caglianone is headed to the big leagues. The 22-year-old was officially called up to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon—a move that has Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes stoked.

As is the norm nowadays, the team captured the moment the first baseman was informed of his promotion, resulting in the awesome video shared by the Royals on X (formerly Twitter) below.

The best part? Among Caglianone's first reactions was to call his father and let him know the exciting news. Check it out:

"Holy cow," he said as he exhaled. "I need to call my dad!"

Awesome stuff.

In 12 games with Omaha, Caglianone slashed .319/.370/.723 with 15 hits that included six home runs and 13 RBI. He now heads to a 31–29 Royals team and will likely make his debut on Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It's been a bit of a rough year for MLB teams playing at temporary stadiums.

On Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays' game against the Boston Red Sox was delayed for an unusual reason: an unbearable ringing sound was emanating through the stadium speakers at the Rays' temporary home of George M. Steinbrenner Field.

With two outs in the bottom of the second inning and the Red Sox leading 3-1, Rays outfielder Jake Mangum stepped up to the plate. But instead of hearing his walk-up music, Mangum heard the 21st century equivalent of nails on a chalkboard

His facial expression says everything you need to know about what it was like to hear this excruciating noise. Here's video of the moment, courtesy of Rob Friedman on X. But be warned before you click—it is extremely annoying, to the point of pain.

As the ringing persisted for about 40 seconds, fans covered their ears in the stands. The personnel at George M. Steinbrenner Field finally got the grating sound to stop, which garnered a loud cheer from the crowd.

That has to go down as one of the most unusual delays you'll see at an MLB game.

Another international break is coming to an end, and Arsenal have yet more injuries to contend with.

On the annoying but manageable side of things, Kai Havertz will be out for a little longer after Julian Nagelsmann confirmed he had suffered a minor relapse with his knee injury.

However, the far more worrying development is that, following initial scans, Gabriel Magalhães is set to miss at least a month of action due to the groin injury he picked up playing at the Emirates for Brazil.

Thankfully, Mikel Arteta has several defenders he can call on to replace him at the back, and just maybe, Arsenal also have another international star who could pick up the slack at set-pieces and become Nicolas Jover’s new go-to man.

Arsenal's potential Gabriel replacements

Now, it should really go without saying, but losing Gabriel is a massive blow for Arsenal, as not only is he an incredible player, but a real leader.

Chalkboard

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

With that said, unlike in seasons past, Arteta does have the defensive backup to help minimise the impact of his absence and a few ways to rearrange the backline.

One solution to the problem could be to move Riccardo Calafiori in from left-back and start either Myles Lewis-Skelly or Piero Hincapie on the left.

This is the approach the manager took in pre-season, while Gabriel was recovering from the injury that ended his campaign last season.

However, while the Italian is more than capable of doing this, it would mean taking away the license he’s had to roam wherever he pleases so far this season, which in turn would make the attack far more predictable and therefore less potent.

So, another solution could be to move Hincapie into the back two alongside Saliba.

However, while this could be a solution further into the season, the Ecuadorian is still somewhat of an unknown quantity, having played just 170 minutes for the club and started one game at centre-back.

Therefore, the best bet for Arteta would surely be starting Cristhian Mosquera.

The young Spaniard has already played 597 minutes for the team this season, almost entirely at centre-back, and was brilliant against Liverpool and then Nottingham Forest there.

In all, there are options to cover the defensive deficit Gabriel’s injury will bring, but there might also be a way to cover the attacking side of his game that’ll be missed.

Jover's new Gabriel

While Gabriel certainly has the ability to influence the attacking side of the game from open play, it’s no great secret that he is phenomenal when it comes to set-pieces.

Just this season alone, he has scored twice and provided three assists, which would be a great return for an attacker, let alone a centre-back.

Therefore, his absence from the team could seriously hinder Arsenal’s potency in dead-ball situations, unless Arteta starts using Mikel Merino more often. After all, he has been described as an “aerial duel monster” by Como scout Ben Mattinson.

While there are certainly other players who could chip in more from set-pieces like Saliba, Calafiori and maybe even Viktor Gyokeres when he’s fit again, it’s the Spaniard who could become Jover’s new star.

After all, while he’s certainly not the best player in the team, the former Real Sociedad star has proven beyond all reasonable doubt over the course of the year that he knows how to score a goal.

Appearances

44

16

Starts

29

9

Minutes

2635′

820′

Goals

9

3

Assists

5

1

For example, since the turn of the year, he has put the ball in the back of the net 19 times and provided seven assists for club and country, which is truly an incredible return and more than justifies Arsenal writer Adam Keys calling him “a magnet in the box.”

More than that, though, plenty of those goals have either been one-touch finishes or headers, which is generally how someone scores from a set-piece.

Now, this doesn’t mean Arteta has to start the 29-year-old game-changer in every match, but when the team are chasing a goal, this goalscoring ability should see him become one of the first names off the bench.

Ultimately, losing Gabriel is a huge blow, but with their defensive depth and the prospect of Merino becoming Jover’s new set-piece king, Arsenal should be alright.

A Saka & Madueke hybrid: £70m "monster" wants to sign for Arsenal in 2026

The Champions League speedster would be an excellent addition to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 19, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Ameaçado no Campeonato Brasileiro, o Corinthians entra em campo pressionado para o duelo contra o Grêmio e necessita de uma vitória para se distanciar da zona de rebaixamento.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Após 33 rodadas, o Timão ocupa a décima quarta colocação, com 41 pontos conquistados, quatro à frente do Cruzeiro, que abre o Z4. Se por um lado os três pontos diante da equipe gaúcha praticamente asseguram o clube na primeira divisão, do outro o triunfo ajudaria diretamente o Palmeiras, rival histórico do Alvinegro, na briga pelo título do Brasileirão.

Isso porque o Verdão e o Imortal estão separados por apenas três pontos na tabela de classificação. Porém, o Tricolor Gaúcho conta com um jogo a menos em relação ao rival, que será disputado justamente contra o Corinthians.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Apesar da rivalidade, o clube do Parque São Jorge não pode se dar ao luxo de prejudicar o Alviverde por conta da situação complicada na competição e vai a campo com a missão de silenciar os mais de 50 mil torcedores gremistas que esgotaram os ingressos para o duelo.

PROVÁVEL ESCALAÇÃO

Mano Menezes deve manter o esquema com dois volantes, com Moscardo e Vera à frente da zaga. Assim, a provável escalação do Timão conta com os seguintes nomes: Cássio; Fagner, Gil, Veríssimo e Matheus Bidu (Fábio Santos); Moscardo e Maycon; Renato Augusto, Giuliano e Romero; Yuri Alberto.

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Wrexham star James McClean delivered a shock message to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side amid a lack of game time. The winger has dropped a stunning revelation, claiming that his passion for boxing has eclipsed his love for football, and he’s planning to hang up his boots for gloves sooner rather than later.

• When football turned feisty for McClean

  McClean’s tempestuous edge boiled over as tensions flared behind the scenes during Wrexham’s Carabao Cup derby clash against fierce Welsh rivals, Cardiff City. Emotions were running hot at the Racecourse Ground, and after the match, an incident in the players’ car park threatened to turn ugly. A group of Cardiff City fans reportedly breached a restricted area and confronted McClean, forcing him to defend himself. Witnesses claimed that he stood his ground and handled himself well. An internal investigation is now underway into how rival supporters gained access to the secured zone. But for McClean, the encounter only deepened his belief that he might be better suited to a ring than a pitch.

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• AFP
  

  McClean is a fighter at heart

  Over the past year, McClean has been training intensively in boxing. He has been posting workout clips to his Instagram that show sharp jabs and fierce combinations. 

  Speaking in an interview with Westlife star released on Thursday, he said: "I'll be honest, I've really enjoyed it [at Wrexham] up until the last two or three months. It's not been ideal, I've not been playing as much as I'd like, which is never a good thing. You want to be playing and you want to be in the mix. I've never dealt really well with not playing."

  The Republic of Ireland international, who joined Wrexham from Wigan Athletic in August 2023, has helped guide the club to back-to-back promotions. But the step up to the Championship has brought new realities. And it seems to have bruised his pride.

  "Nowadays, I just channel that frustration and annoyance and do my training. Before, I'd throw my toys out of the pram," he said. "Now, I just channel that frustration into the punch bag and it seems to blow off a bit of steam. You kind of feel better for it afterwards."

• Taste of the big stage for McClean

  McClean isn’t just shadowboxing, but he has already dipped his toes into the professional world. On September 5, the Wrexham winger walked out with Michael Conlan for his high-profile bout against Jack Bateson at Dublin’s 3Arena. Now, he confirmed that talks have already taken place about entering the Misfits Boxing circuit. It is an influencer-led crossover promotion that’s given everyone from YouTubers to ex-footballers a shot at the spotlight.

  "I do want to box," he admitted. "Misfits (boxing company) is opening up opportunities for a lot of people who aren't professional boxers to give them the opportunity to step in and experience what it's like to be a boxer. Absolutely, it's something I want to do and there has been background chats about it, but I'm contracted at the moment. It's definitely something I want to do in the near future.

  "A lot of my training now is boxing training. I have a bigger passion now for boxing than I do for football. I would rather watch boxing than watch football. It's something I want to do and it's something I want to experience to tick off my bucket list. I've done the ring walk for Mike Conlan in Dublin. Being on the stage that night and doing the ring walk was unbelievable. I was thinking, imagine doing that, where this is for you and you're going into the ring for a tear up. I get goosebumps."

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  What comes next for McClean?

  McClean was once seen as one of the dressing room’s emotional leaders. But he has now found himself watching from the sidelines more often than not this season as he has made just 10 appearances across all competitions. Wrexham currently sit 14th in the table, comfortably clear of the relegation zone but well off the play-off pace. Their next test is a home tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which will be their final game before the international break.