Tottenham Hotspur suffered from a lack of creativity during Saturday’s defeat against Bournemouth on home turf, losing 1-0 after such good work in claiming six points from six to get the Thomas Frank era off to a flyer in the Premier League.

The hunt for a playmaker worth their salt has dominated much of the Lilywhites’ transfer window, with Xavi Simons signed on but only after botched efforts for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, who left Crystal Palace and joined Arsenal.

But the defeat against the Cherries, requiring more than an hour of action for a first shot on target, and Simons alone won’t provide the answer across the wide span of the campaign.

Mohammed Kudus has racked up a few assists already at this early point in his Tottenham career, but it’s not enough, and Daniel Levy looks ready to attack the market one last time and land a player with properties better suited to fixing this chink in the armour.

Spurs lining up D-day signing

Tottenham have what it takes to come on leaps and bounds this season, but much will depend on the coherence threaded through the first-team squad.

And without enough creative ammunition, Frank’s lofty ambitions might prove hard to hit. To put it another way, he could do with another impactful addition in the coming hours.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, that man could be Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, with Tottenham having made an enquiry to ascertain the potential of a last-gasp bid for the England international.

Transfer Focus

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

The chances of the energetic attacking midfielder leaving are admittedly slim, but Tottenham may well pull it off if they offer a sum in the ballpark of £80m, the figure quoted as other clubs – including Liverpool – circle.

What Rogers would bring to Spurs

Aston Villa only signed Rogers from Middlesbrough in the Championship for £15m in January 2024, and already, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

After all, he notched 30 goal involvements across all competitions last term, blending his prolific touch with such power and confidence when carrying the ball forward.

Might Spurs be set to land a stunning repeat of their one-time masterclass in winning the race for Dele Alli, who also had strong interest from Liverpool before leaving MK Dons in League One and joining Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham in a £5m package, aged 18.

The rest is history. While Dele’s career has sadly swerved down a dark path, he will always be remembered fondly down N17 for his incredible and prodigious emergence, with Pochettino actually saying back in 2017: “If he is not the best young player in Europe, he’s one of the best. Look at his age and his statistics, the potential is massive.”

Rogers doesn’t quite carry the same weight, but he’s still showcased immense potential under Unai Emery’s wing at Aston Villa.

25/26 (Villa)

3

–

–

24/25 (Villa)

54

14

16

23/24 (Villa)

16

3

1

23/24 (Boro)

33

7

9

Not just a prolific midfielder, Rogers is something of “a machine” when on the ball, as has been noted by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell. He won 4.7 duels per league match last year, as per Sofascore, and shifted from the centre to a more attacking berth with such gusto.

While he can play out on the flank, Rogers shares a further likeness with his countryman in that he is best utilised from the centre, with journalist Carl Anka actually remarking that he has a “Dele-esque” way about him in that regard.

Adding him to the ranks would strengthen Tottenham’s creative potential, to be sure, adding something that Kudus, for all his ability, doesn’t quite inject with the needed skill at this present moment. Indeed, last term, Kudus chalked up just nine goals and assists for the Hammers in all competitions, far fewer than Rogers’ haul of 30.

Kudus is a direct and dangerous winger, but he’s not the most effective of playmakers, and with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both sidelined, adding a player of Rogers’ profile to the mix could go a long way toward weaving together the kind of tactical harmony needed for Spurs to hit their targets and exceed them.

More exciting than Simons: Spurs chasing "one of the best LWs in the world"

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5 ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2025

Celtic are back in action once again this evening as they prepare to welcome Falkirk to Parkhead in their first League Cup match of the season.

The Hoops won the competition in the 2024/25 campaign, beating Rangers on penalties in the final, and they will be hoping to lift it again this year under Brendan Rodgers.

They must first get past Falkirk, who have conceded five goals in their first two matches back in the Scottish Premiership, and it will be interesting to see what route the manager goes down with his team selection.

Rodgers could see this as an opportunity to provide the fringe players with chances to impress him, or he could go with his preferred line-up to give them the best chance of winning the game.

The Northern Irish head coach should hand minutes to one of his other options in the centre-forward position, though, as Shin Yamada and Johnny Kenny are both waiting in the wings behind Adam Idah.

Celtic’s number nine has started the season as the first-choice striker for Rodgers, but has yet to prove that he has what it takes to be the main man for the team moving forward.

Why Adam Idah should be on the bench

Idah did not do enough in the games against St Mirren and Aberdeen to suggest that he is going to be a ruthless and clinical goalscorer in the centre-forward position for the Hoops this term.

Whilst it is still very early in the season, the former Norwich City marksman’s statistics in the graphic above illustrate just how poorly he played on the opening day, missing three ‘big chances’ in the scrappy 1-0 win over St Mirren.

The 6 foot 3 attacker’s output for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign also does not suggest that he is suited to starting week-in-week-out in the Premiership, as he was more productive when coming off the bench against tired defenders to make an impact.

Appearances

19

16

Minutes

1,352

357

Goals

6

7

Minutes per goal

225

51

Assists

0

1

As you can see in the table above, Idah was far more effective as a substitute in the Premiership last season, scoring more goals in roughly 1,000 fewer minutes on the pitch.

These statistics suggest that the Irishman is at his best when he is coming off the bench to use his physicality – strength and speed – to take advantage of tiring defences to score goals for the Hoops.

This means that the Hoops need to find a player, before the end of the summer transfer window, to allow Idah to drop down to the bench to play that role.

However, it does not have to be a centre-forward because Daizen Maeda scored 14 goals in 11 matches as a striker, per Transfermarkt, for Celtic last season and could play that role.

Celtic make contact to sign new winger

According to Africa Foot, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Al Jazira wide attacker Oumar Traore before the summer transfer window slams shut.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have already made contact with the UAE outfit to discuss a potential move for the Mali international in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that negotiations are well underway between Celtic and Al Jazira over a deal for the 23-year-old forward, as they remain locked in talks to reach an agreement for his services.

Africa Foot also reveals that it will take an offer of around €3m (£2.6m) to convince his club to part ways with him, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to pay that asking price.

The outlet claims that Traore is expected to complete a transfer to a team in Europe before the end of the summer transfer window, and Celtic are seemingly hoping that they will be the club to snap him up.

Why Celtic should sign Oumar Traore

The Premiership champions should push to get a deal over the line for Traore, if he is the winger they want to sign as this report suggests, because he could allow Rodgers to bench Idah.

He is a versatile winger who can play on either the left or the right flank, having played over 30 matches on both sides of the pitch, as per Transfermarkt, and this could make him a very useful player for the manager to call upon.

If Rodgers decides to use him as a left winger, Maeda would then be free to play through the middle, where he had success last term, and that would allow Idah to move to the bench to come on as a super sub.

Of course, Traore still needs to have the quality to be an effective operator in his own position to make this transfer make sense, though, as the Hoops could otherwise put any player out on the left to facilitate this move.

Starts

17

8

Goals

5

3

Conversion rate

12%

19%

Big chances created

5

2

Assists

4

2

Completed dribbles

33

8

As you can see in the table above, the Mali international has scored eight goals and created seven ‘big chances’ in his last 25 league starts for his club, which suggests that he can provide a fairly regular threat in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator.

Traore has delivered 24 goals and 19 assists in 140 matches for Al Jazira in all competitions during his career to date, as per Transfermarkt, and still has plenty of time left ahead of him, at the age of 23, to develop and improve his output at the top end of the pitch.

These statistics suggest that he carries enough of a threat in the final third already, if he can translate it over to Scottish football, to allow Maeda to move centrally, where he thrived last season.

This is why the signing of Traore could directly lead to Idah being dropped down to the bench, where he is at his best, despite the Mali international not being a natural centre-forward to replace the striker.

Celtic make offer to sign attacker compared to Jota as Hoops receive reply

The first of Rodgers’ three potential new signings has been identified.

ByCallum Kemp Aug 14, 2025

Celtic are back in action once again this evening as they prepare to welcome Falkirk to Parkhead in their first League Cup match of the season.

The Hoops won the competition in the 2024/25 campaign, beating Rangers on penalties in the final, and they will be hoping to lift it again this year under Brendan Rodgers.

They must first get past Falkirk, who have conceded five goals in their first two matches back in the Scottish Premiership, and it will be interesting to see what route the manager goes down with his team selection.

Rodgers could see this as an opportunity to provide the fringe players with chances to impress him, or he could go with his preferred line-up to give them the best chance of winning the game.

The Northern Irish head coach should hand minutes to one of his other options in the centre-forward position, though, as Shin Yamada and Johnny Kenny are both waiting in the wings behind Adam Idah.

Celtic’s number nine has started the season as the first-choice striker for Rodgers, but has yet to prove that he has what it takes to be the main man for the team moving forward.

Why Adam Idah should be on the bench

Idah did not do enough in the games against St Mirren and Aberdeen to suggest that he is going to be a ruthless and clinical goalscorer in the centre-forward position for the Hoops this term.

Whilst it is still very early in the season, the former Norwich City marksman’s statistics in the graphic above illustrate just how poorly he played on the opening day, missing three ‘big chances’ in the scrappy 1-0 win over St Mirren.

The 6 foot 3 attacker’s output for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign also does not suggest that he is suited to starting week-in-week-out in the Premiership, as he was more productive when coming off the bench against tired defenders to make an impact.

Adam Idah: The super sub
24/25 Premiership	Starts	Off the bench
Appearances	19	16
Minutes	1,352	357
Goals	6	7
Minutes per goal	225	51
Assists	0	1
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Idah was far more effective as a substitute in the Premiership last season, scoring more goals in roughly 1,000 fewer minutes on the pitch.

These statistics suggest that the Irishman is at his best when he is coming off the bench to use his physicality – strength and speed – to take advantage of tiring defences to score goals for the Hoops.

This means that the Hoops need to find a player, before the end of the summer transfer window, to allow Idah to drop down to the bench to play that role.

However, it does not have to be a centre-forward because Daizen Maeda scored 14 goals in 11 matches as a striker, per Transfermarkt, for Celtic last season and could play that role.

Celtic make contact to sign new winger

According to Africa Foot, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Al Jazira wide attacker Oumar Traore before the summer transfer window slams shut.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have already made contact with the UAE outfit to discuss a potential move for the Mali international in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that negotiations are well underway between Celtic and Al Jazira over a deal for the 23-year-old forward, as they remain locked in talks to reach an agreement for his services.

Africa Foot also reveals that it will take an offer of around €3m (£2.6m) to convince his club to part ways with him, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to pay that asking price.

The outlet claims that Traore is expected to complete a transfer to a team in Europe before the end of the summer transfer window, and Celtic are seemingly hoping that they will be the club to snap him up.

Why Celtic should sign Oumar Traore

The Premiership champions should push to get a deal over the line for Traore, if he is the winger they want to sign as this report suggests, because he could allow Rodgers to bench Idah.

He is a versatile winger who can play on either the left or the right flank, having played over 30 matches on both sides of the pitch, as per Transfermarkt, and this could make him a very useful player for the manager to call upon.

If Rodgers decides to use him as a left winger, Maeda would then be free to play through the middle, where he had success last term, and that would allow Idah to move to the bench to come on as a super sub.

Of course, Traore still needs to have the quality to be an effective operator in his own position to make this transfer make sense, though, as the Hoops could otherwise put any player out on the left to facilitate this move.

Oumar Traore (UAE Pro League)	23/24	24/25
Starts	17	8
Goals	5	3
Conversion rate	12%	19%
Big chances created	5	2
Assists	4	2
Completed dribbles	33	8
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Mali international has scored eight goals and created seven ‘big chances’ in his last 25 league starts for his club, which suggests that he can provide a fairly regular threat in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator.

Traore has delivered 24 goals and 19 assists in 140 matches for Al Jazira in all competitions during his career to date, as per Transfermarkt, and still has plenty of time left ahead of him, at the age of 23, to develop and improve his output at the top end of the pitch.

These statistics suggest that he carries enough of a threat in the final third already, if he can translate it over to Scottish football, to allow Maeda to move centrally, where he thrived last season.

This is why the signing of Traore could directly lead to Idah being dropped down to the bench, where he is at his best, despite the Mali international not being a natural centre-forward to replace the striker.

Celtic make offer to sign attacker compared to Jota as Hoops receive reply

The first of Rodgers’ three potential new signings has been identified.

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 14, 2025

England manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the performance of two Arsenal players after his side’s unconvincing 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday night.

England one step closer to World Cup qualification after Andorra triumph

England extended their perfect record in their World Cup qualification group with a comfortable, but not particularly flashy 2-0 win against Andorra on Saturday night, courtesy of an own goal in the first half, before Declan Rice sealed all three points in the 67th minute.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel insisted he was happy with his side’s performance, although Roy Keane was a little more sceptical about the display.

Keane said: “I still think England fell back into their old ways tonight, certainly in the second half. Sideways, backwards passes.

“We saw their two goals, particularly the second one, just from a cross. They’ve got to cross it a bit more, don’t complicate the game. And I still think they go backwards too many times.”

While Tuchel was pleased with his side’s overall performance, despite Keane’s criticism, the German also insisted there is work to be done, with two Arsenal players failing to make the desired impact on proceedings.

Speaking after the match, the Three Lions boss said: “We missed the little moments to accelerate the game. Maybe Ebs had not his best day in the No 10 position. He trained so well. In the decision-making, struggled a little bit.

“The last pass from Noni was not clinical enough.”

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ByWill Miller Sep 6, 2025 Eze criticism warranted after disappointing performance

It is fair to say Eze didn’t exactly set the world alight against Andorra, touching the ball just 38 times throughout the match and failing to create any big chances. For context, Morgan Gibbs-White picked up 25 touches during his late cameo after replacing Eze in the 78th minute.

As such, criticism of the 27-year-old is perhaps warranted, but it is a little harsh to single out Madueke, given that the winger was one of England’s only bright sparks on the night, putting in the cross which led to Christian Garcia’s own goal in the first half.

Contrary to Eze, the Arsenal winger was also very much involved in the game, completing 46 of the 53 passes he attempted, while also completing two successful dribbles and winning five duels, although he did squander one big chance.

Mikel Arteta will need Madueke to continue his current performance levels for a little while longer too, given that Bukayo Saka is not expected to return until October, although it is feasible the 24-year-old could be available for selection later this month.

Legendary manager Jose Mourinho picked his three greatest players in football history, choosing between modern-day icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese boss has worked with some world-class players during his managerial career, representing the home dugouts at Stamford Bridge, San Siro, Bernabeu and Old Trafford during his career.

As well as managing Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Mourinho has also won European trophies with FC Porto and AS Roma.

The ‘Special One’ has also had a lot to say during his career, producing some brilliant quotes over the last 20 years.

9 of the best Jose Mourinho quotes

The Special One has had a way with words over the years.

ByBarney Lane Dec 2, 2024

Mourinho was asked back in 2016 for his top three players of all time, and as to be expected, he didn’t shy away from giving an answer.

Jose Mourinho’s 3 greatest players in history 3 Pele Brazil

One of Mourinho’s three GOAT’s is World Cup hero Pele, who broke goalscoring records during his playing days.

A forward for the big occasion with Brazil, records say Pele scored 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, with more than 600 of those coming for Santos.

Games

14

Goals

12

World Cup titles

3

Talking after Pele passed away in 2022, Mourinho paid tribute to the Brazilian, calling an interaction with him as one of his “proudest moments”.

“In 2005 I received the BBC award directly from the king’s hands, and to this day it’s one of my proudest moments. I was so so happy to have him in Manchester where we had such a nice chat and nice time. Rest in peace, King Pele, and thinking of his loved ones. I am very sad.”

2 Diego Maradona Argentina

Also on Mourinho’s list is Diego Maradona, with the pair having a close relationship before the latter’s passing in 2020.

A classic number 10 who helped transform the game, the Argentine arguably single handedly won his country the World Cup in 1986. At club level, Maradona is best known for his time with Italian side Napoli but also played for Barcelona in the 1980s.

Games

84

Goals

32

Assists

27

World Cups won

1

Mourinho said Maradona would regularly call him and has vowed to continue the attacker’s legacy.

“I made sure that my son knows a lot about him, even being born after he was a player. I know my son will make sure when he is a father he will not let his kids forget. It was a bit similar with Di Stefano; I never saw him play football, but my dad made sure I knew a lot about him.”

1 Lionel Messi Argentina

Despite never working with Lionel Messi, coming up against him on numerous occasions during his time as Real Madrid manager, Mourinho has picked the Argentine over Cristiano Ronaldo.

Between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho and Madrid faced Barcelona and Messi 27 times but only won eight of those meetings against the Catalan giants.

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

Mourinho, when asked for a player he wishes he could have coached, said that Messi “never needed a coach” as “he was born with everything”. High praise indeed.

“One in particular? I don’t have a player I can tell you. Messi has never needed a coach. Who tells you ‘I coached Messi’? It’s absurd. Messi knows everything, he was born with everything. You can only say that I had the honour of having trained him.”

Mourinho’s reply when asked for his three best players was:

Newcastle United will have to wait for Yoane Wissa to send St. James’ Park into a loud cheer with the first of surely many goals in black and white.

The DR Congo international signed for the Magpies in a £55m deal this summer, leaving Brentford after prolific returns across a number of seasons. He is the Bees’ all-time top scorer in the Premier League, and against some stern competition at that. He is sidelined for several weeks, having picked up a knee injury on international duty earlier this month.

Brentford – All-time Prem Top Scorers

#

Player

Goals

1

Yoane Wissa

45

2

Bryan Mbeumo

42

3

Ivan Toney

36

4

Kevin Schade

13

5

Christian Norgaard

11

Data via Transfermarkt

It’s not ideal, but Nick Woltemade took to the Premier League like a duck to water at the weekend, and his arrival and performance suggest the bitter sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool may well be overcome.

Why Newcastle signed Woltemade

Newcastle paid a club-record £69m fee to bring Woltemade over from Stuttgart in Germany. The 23-year-old boasts a unique attacking profile and scored 12 goals in the Bundesliga last season, starting only 17 times.

Whether he will match Isak’s prolificness in the years to come is anyone’s guess, but he started off strongly with a headed goal against Wolves on Saturday, sealing Newcastle’s first win of the year.

Hailed as an “entertainer” by Bundesliga reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt, the 6 foot 6 striker showed more than his command of the skies, with Sofascore recording that he won five ground duels, made three tackles and completed eight of nine passes against the Old Gold.

Now, it’s all about consistency, and Howe will know that internal pressure, applied carefully, will help him rise to the fore. The German has shown he can lead the line, but he needs competition.

But with Wissa out for the foreseeable, there’s an interesting chance for a new star to step up and challenge Woltemade for a starting berth.

Newcastle talent is ready to challenge Woltemade

Up until Newcastle met Liverpool in the Premier League last month, William Osula had done very little on the senior stage to suggest he had the minerals to star as the club’s number nine.

But the 22-year-old impressed when introduced on that highly-charged evening, darting through the Reds line and bundling in, leading Howe to remark on his “outstanding” progress on Tyneside.

Rangy, powerful and instinctive, he was once described by former teammate Curtis Davies as being like “a poor man’s Haaland”, and there is certainly some form of similarity to the Manchester City machine, easily the most clinical footballer competing today.

He’s certainly got the personality and charisma to match a superstar like Haaland, and if Howe can unlock a degree of consistency, it might not only be Wissa knocking on Woltemade’s door this season.

Clearly having come on leaps and bounds since leaving Sheffield United and signing for the Toon in August 2024, Osula is the real deal, with a skillset that demands regular Premier League football, should he continue to make the same progress of recent months.

Having only made 23 senior appearances for Newcastle, the Frenchman has scored three goals and supplied two assists. He’s off the mark in the Premier League.

The signs are promising, and Howe seems to think there is a player in there who might come knocking at Woltemade’s door sooner rather than later.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 15, 2025

علق أيمن يونس، لاعب الزمالك السابق، على فوز الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالقلعة البيضاء، على ديكاداها الصومالي 6-0 في الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

وانتهت مباراة الزمالك وديكاداها الصومالي، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي، في ذهاب دور الـ32 من بطولة الكونفدرالية، بفوز الفريق الأبيض 6-0.

طالع | محمد صلاح: بيزيرا “عفريت”.. وزيزو لم يفعل ذلك مع الزمالك

وقال أيمن يونس في تصريحات لقناة “أون سبورت”: “فوز مهم جدًا للفريق، أعاد للاعبين الثقة بأنفسهم، وللمدرب الثقة في اختياراته، من المهم إشراك لاعبين جدد ومنحهم الفرصة لإثبات أنفسهم، المباراة كانت مليئة بالمكاسب، معنوية، نفسية، وأيضًا على مستوى النتيجة”.

وتابع:  “لكن الأبرز في اللقاء كان الساحر الراقص بيزيرا، لاعب مختلف، لا يلعب الكرة بل يرقص بها، لمساته تشبه رقصات التانجو، حتى هدفه جاء بطريقة مميزة، رغم أن استلامه للكرة لم يكن مثاليًا، لكنه تحرك بذكاء، وسجل بتشيب فيه لمسة من ميسي، ومحمد صلاح، ولمسته الخاصة”.

وأضاف: “بيزيرا أمتع الجميع، صنع كل شيء جميل في اللقاء، تمريراته، استلامه، وصناعته للأهداف، كما ساهم في تألق زملائه مثل سيف جعفر والجزيري، لعب بثقة وتواصل بانسجام مع الجميع، وكان نجم اللقاء بلا منازع”.

واختتم: “عند الحديث عن لاعب مصري يشبهه، قد يكون خالد الغندور في شبابه الأقرب له، من حيث الأسلوب والروح، وكان يمتاز بخفة الظل والشخصية المميزة، خاصة وسط جيل ذهبي احترم الكرة وأتقنها”.

Declan Rice came back to haunt West Ham once again as the former Hammer opened the scoring against his old club to help Arsenal to a 2-0 victory which sent them to the top of the Premier League table. Bukayo Saka was also on target but there was to be more injury agony for Martin Odegaard, as he once again had to leave the pitch prematurely in what's proving to be a bit of a nightmare start to the season on a personal level.

Rice, who has already found the net against his former employers once since switching east London for north London was at it again this afternoon, firing home from close range to break the visitors' first-half resistance after Alphonse Areola had kept out Jurrien Timber's strike.

It was a crucial goal for Mikel Arteta's side, who went on to make the game safe after the interval when Saka struck from the penalty spot following a foul on Timber.

Saka's spot-kick sealed a routine win for the Gunners, but there was some disappointment as they lost captain Odegaard to a knee injury early on, with the Arsenal skipper becoming the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (6/10):

Flapped at a very early corner. Barely troubled from that moment on.

Jurrien Timber (8/10):

Strong display down the right. Got forward well and could have scored early on when he forced Areola into a good save. Won the penalty with another strong run in the second half.

William Saliba (7/10):

Cruised through the game and got forward a bit more than usual, playing a couple of nice passes around the box.

Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

Comfortable afternoon's work at the back. Rarely troubled.

Riccardo Calafiori (8/10):

Popped up all over the pitch, so unlucky not to make it 2-0 just before half-time when he smashed an effort against the post. Another fine performance.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Declan Rice (8/10):

On the scoresheet against his former club once again. It was actually a decent finish, as it was not the easiest shot to keep down. A typically strong performance and the standout player on the pitch.

Eberechi Eze (7/10):

Missed a great early chance but consistently got into dangerous positions and it was his shot that led to Rice's opening goal. Lively in the first half, although faded a bit after the break.

Martin Odegaard (N/A):

So unlucky to be forced off early again. He becomes the first player in Premier League history to be subbed off before half-time in three consecutive starts.

AFPAttack

Bukayo Saka (7/10):

Constant threat down the right in the first half. Less involved in the second, but tucked the penalty away emphatically to make it 2-0.

Victor Gyokeres (6/10):

Struggled to really get into the game. Worked hard, but West Ham dealt with him well. 

Leandro Trossard (7/10):

Neat and tidy. Had one early shot blocked. Kept things moving and was probably Arsenal's best attacker in the second half.

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Martin Zubimendi (7/10):

Class act. On early for Odegaard and immediately made an impact, playing the ball through for Eze in the build-up to Rice's goal.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):

Replaced Calafiori as Arsenal saw the game out.

Ethan Nwaneri (6/10):

Never really got into the game having come on for the final 20 minutes.

Mikel Merino (N/A):

Replaced the injured Rice with 10 minutes remaining.

Gabriel Martinelli (N/A):

On for Eze late on.

Mikel Arteta (7/10):

Went with a more attacking line-up, but Odegaard's injury denied us the chance to see how it worked. He'll be happy with the win, although would have liked to have seen a more clinical edge to his side.

Harry Kane increased his goals tally to 17 in the 2025-26 campaign with a brace, while Michael Olise starred with two assists as Bayern Munich thrashed Champions League newcomers Pafos 5-1 on Tuesday. Nicolas Jackson scored his maiden goal for the Bavarian side since moving to Germany from Chelsea on loan on deadline day and ex-Liverpool star Luis Diaz contributed with an assist.

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  TELL ME MORE

  It took a dominant Bayern side just 15 minutes to break the deadlock as Harry Kane found the back of the net. Michael Olise initiates the move after receiving a pass on the right side, before he switches legs and cuts into the box. The former Crystal Palace winger found Kane with a pinpoint pass, who found the back of the net with a quality shot.

  Five minutes later, the visitors doubled the lead after Olise found Raphael Guerreiro with a pass inside the box. The left-back exchanged a quick one-two with Nicolas Jackson before firing the ball past the opponent's goalkeeper. A minute after the half-hour mark, it was once again Olise who stole the limelight as he beat a couple of Pafos defenders with silky stepovers before setting up for Jackson to score his first goal of the game.

  Bayern piled more misery on Pafos as, after three minutes, Kane completed his brace, this time from Luis Diaz's assist. The England captain collected the ball on the edge of the box and went past three Pafos defenders with ease before finding the back of the net. 

  There was some relief for the hosts at the stroke of half-time as Mislav Orsic took advantage of a misunderstanding between Kim Min-Jae and Dayot Upamecano and fired the ball past Manuel Neuer with a long-range effort.

  The Bundesliga giants continued to dominate the game after the break and finally extended their lead in the 68th minute. From a quick counter-attack, Jackson made a run down the middle and approached the Pafos goal before taking a shot, which was saved by Neofytos Michael but Olise found the back of the net from the second ball. 

  With the thumping win in Paphos, Bayern have now extended their winning streak to nine matches this season as they maintained a 100 per cent record. 

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  THE MVP

  Kane might have contributed with a brace but it was Olise who stole the limelight with an exceptional performance throughout the 73 minutes he was on the pitch. The Frenchman provided two assists, scored one goal and was the key architect for Bayern's first goals. He was their star performer for the night. 

• THE BIG LOSER

  The Pafos backline miserably failed to keep a check on the star-studded Bayern attack as they were completely blanked in the first 35 minutes of the game, which saw the visitors score four past them. They particularly looked clueless during Bayern's fourth goal as Kane comfortably went past three Pafos players inside the box. Overall, it was a night to forget for the Cypriot side. 

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Kompany's side will be back in action this Saturday in the Bundesliga as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt in an away fixture.

Sussex’s base at Hove may be one of the more tranquil destinations on the county circuit. But when the club make their return to Division One of the Championship after a ten-year absence next month, opponents should not arrive expecting a ride on the teacups.That is the message coming from the 2024 Division Two champions, with head coach, Paul Farbrace, saying Sussex will go into the new season “aiming to win” the title. If that proves beyond them, Farbace is targeting a finish of fourth or higher, with the goal of being in the top two the following summer.All this is part of a five-year plan Farbrace drew up when appointed to succeed Ian Salisbury in the winter of 2022-2023. Sussex, who lifted the County Championship as recently as 2007, were at the time languishing in the second tier, having won just three first-class matches in the previous three seasons – but Farbrace immediately set about scotching talk of incremental progress, declaring that the club should be challenging for promotion and a place at T20 Finals Day.Related

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Although Sussex finished that season in third, those lofty twin goals were eventually realised a year later – John Simpson (a Farbrace signing) captaining them to the Division Two title with a 20-point gap on Yorkshire, while Tymal Mills oversaw a run to the last four of the Blast. It proved swift vindication for Farbrace’s belief that the players could walk his talk.”I deliberately tried to change the language [around the club],” Farbrace tells ESPNcricinfo during Sussex’s pre-season media day at Hove. “At the time, people were saying to me, it’s a tough job, because, you know, they’ve only won one game [per season] in three years. But actually, we’ve got a group of players, they were crying out for someone to say, ‘Right, this is where we going. Come on, let’s roll our sleeves up. Let’s have fun doing it.'”I think there’s a real feelgood [factor], and everyone’s realising now that we don’t have to be a team that just talks about, ‘What’s our relevance in county cricket?’ Let’s show people our relevance. Let’s punch above our weight. All right, some of the clubs have got bigger and better budgets than we have, but it’s not about that. It’s about having the right people in the right places, whether that’s on the field or off the field, and have a bit of fun doing what you’re doing. You spend a lot of time at cricket, practicing, playing, working at the game. You want to enjoy it as well. But you enjoy it so much more when you’re winning.”It was not all smooth sailing from the outset, with ill discipline undermining their promotion push in 2023 – Sussex were docked 12 points after a bad-tempered late-season win over Leicestershire – and rumours that not everyone agreed with Farbrace’s approach. Ali Orr, one of the club’s brightest batting talents, was allowed to leave for Hampshire, prompting Chris Adams and Ian Gould, two Sussex stalwarts, to step down from advisory roles. George Garton, another homegrown talent, also found himself surplus to requirements.Upending the deckchairs at a tight-knit club like Sussex could have been risky but Farbrace believes it was important to “give the place a shake” after several seasons in which cost-cutting and a reliance on the academy had limited ambition. He also says he has tempered his approach accordingly as the team has developed.”I had to do that,” he says. “I think that was part of my role when I first came in. I’d like to think I’m doing things differently to what I did in the first year. The first year, I was very bullish, I didn’t really ask too many questions. I told people what we were doing, let’s get on board and make sure you’re with me. That was something that I spent a lot of time doing, making sure people understood what we were trying to do and why we were trying to do it. And, yeah, I did ruffle a few feathers, I think I had to.Sussex won promotion with a game to spare in 2024•Getty Images

“I had quite a few spats with people during that first year. But I definitely think it was the right thing to do. And then subsequently, last year, I’ve been a lot more inclusive, a lot more open, I’ve asked a lot more people’s thoughts and views, and I’m hopefully starting to sit back a little bit more. It’s now a case of saying, we’ve got the right captains, we’ve got the right coaches, we’ve got the right support staff. The pitches are playing brilliantly. Now I can sit back a little bit and just keep nudging people in the right direction and make sure we keep that momentum going, and not feel as I’ve got to be at the front of it. It wasn’t about me, per se – it was just about someone just giving the place a bit of a shake. Saying, ‘Come on. Let’s compete. Let’s have some fun taking people on.’ And if it doesn’t work, I take full responsibility.”He admits, however, that things might have turned out differently had Sussex not sneaked their way to a two-wicket win over eventual Division Two-winners, Durham, in his first game in charge. “I’ll always be indebted to Oli Carter for the innings that he played to get us over the line against Durham. Because beating a strong Durham team here, in that first game, everyone started thinking: actually, maybe that idiot knows what he’s doing.”Faith in the group that Farbrace has assembled means there have been few changes at Sussex over the winter, with rookie contracts for George Thomas, the former England U19 batter released by Somerset, Nantes Oosthuizen and ACE academy graduate Troy Henry the only additions. Simpson will again lead the red-ball side after a stunning first summer down on the south coast in which he averaged 74.81 with the bat – and he has counselled his players that they will “need to be better for longer” in Division One as they seek to avoid a battle for survival.For the first time in four seasons, there is no Cheteshwar Pujara to act as batting bulwark – but Australian Daniel Hughes is back for a full campaign after impressing last year. West Indies quick Jayden Seales also returns to lead the attack alongside Ollie Robinson during the first block of Championship games. Robinson, who is expected to be fit after hernia surgery, opted not to speak to the media, presumably in anticipation of his bowling doing the talking as he aims to nudge the selectors more than a year on from his last England cap.And while incipient plans to nurture Jofra Archer’s Test comeback via a few appearances in the opening rounds of the Championship season were shelved after he was a late entrant in the IPL mega-auction, Sussex could still benefit from his services later in the summer. Could Archer tune up for involvement in the Ashes by firing Sussex’s Division One challenge? Down Hove way recently, stranger things have happened.