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Fair to say, West Ham United supporters are not best pleased with their club’s transfer business so far this summer.

This is mainly due to the fact that star attacker Mohammed Kudus has been sold to fierce London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £55m, the first player to make that controversial switch since Scott Parker in 2011.

In terms of arrivals, El Hadji Malick Diouf has joined from Slavia Prague for £19m, with Kyle Walker-Peters coming in on a free transfer from Southampton, both bolstering full-back options.

Nevertheless, even before Kudus’ departure, Graham Potter’s team lacked goals, thereby meaning additions will need to be made, so are the Irons closing in on a signing?

West Ham's search for a number nine

As the table below outlines, trying to be a productive goal-scoring centre-forward at West Ham United has proved to be something of an enigma.

Danny Ings

2023

£15m

69

5

Niclas Füllkrug

2024

£27m

20

3

Evan Ferguson

2025

Loan

8

Zero

Gianluca Scamacca

2022

£30.5m

27

8

Sébastien Haller

2019

£45m

54

14

Albian Ajeti

2019

£8m

12

Zero

Javier Hernández

2018

£16m

63

17

Lucas Pérez

2018

£4m

19

6

Andy Carroll

2012

£15m

142

34

Jordan Hugill

2018

£10m

3

Zero

Diafra Sakho

2016

£10m

71

24

Emmanuel Emenike

2016

Loan

16

2

Enner Valencia

2014

£12m

68

10

Michail Antonio

2015

£7m

323

83

As the table outlines, aside from Michail Antonio, over the last decade or so, West Ham have signed umpteen strikers, none of whom have been a success to any sort of degree, paying huge fees for Gianluca Scamacca, Sébastien Haller and Niclas Füllkrug in particular in recent summers.

As they aim to be a bit more shrewd in the transfer market, Jack Rosser of The Sun is reporting that West Ham have made an approach to sign Callum Wilson, who is a free agent after leaving Newcastle,

Rosser states that the Hammers are “in talks” over potential move, while revealing that the striker has “long had admirers” at the club.

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Wilson, now 33 years old, played just 458 minutes last season due to a back and then hamstring injury, with the Irons looking for a deal that would be “weighted towards appearances/goals”.

Despite this, West Ham aren’t the only club interested in the veteran centre-forward, with Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell of the Athletic reporting that Manchester United have been ‘offered the chance’ to snap him up too, but could Wilson soon be on his way to East London?

How Callum Wilson would improve West Ham

Despite the presence of Alexander Isak, Eddie Howe described Wilson’s importance to Newcastle as “incredible”, adding that his goal-scoring record while on Tyneside was “excellent”.

This was no more so the case than against West Ham, so signing him would first and foremost prevent the veteran from adding to his remarkable scoring spree against the Irons.

West Ham United

16

12

Everton

12

8

Burnley

12

7

Huddersfield Town

6

7

Brighton

14

6

Southampton

14

6

Wilson averages a goal against West Ham every 88.5 minutes, on target against them at four different venues: the Boleyn Ground, Dean Court, London Stadium and St James’ Park.

Lorihanna Balabanova of Total Football Analysis praises his ‘position and intelligence’ in the penalty area in front of goal, while the aforementioned Howe believes that his “goal-scoring ability” has always been his “biggest strength”.

Meantime, Chris Waugh of the Athletic is impressed by his ‘aggression and tactical nous’, believing his ‘experience and scoring acumen’ at Premier League level is invaluable.

Should he join West Ham, this could only benefit Jarrod Bowen, as it would allow the Hammers captain to exclusively be deployed on the right-wing, which is his best position, with Roshane Thomas of The Athletic documenting how, even when he is deployed as the lone centre-forward, Bowen tends to drift wide.

In 2023/24, for example, the Englishman scored 11 goals and registered six assists from just 20 games as a right-winger, while recording ‘just’ nine goals and four assists in 22 games as a striker, as per Transfermarkt. The need to have him deployed in his best role is certainly evident.

Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian adds that West Ham ‘have already wasted a lot of money’ in an attempt to ‘satisfy an obsession’ which is searching for the perfect centre-forward, something that has proved largely elusive.

Well, as a free agent, Wilson certainly wouldn’t prove expensive and would surely score goals, given his track record, with the added bonus of getting the best out of West Ham’s star player, Bowen.

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Manchester United have now opened talks to swap Alejandro Garnacho for “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to journalist Miguel Delaney.

Garnacho almost certain to leave Man Utd

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has recently revealed that Garnacho is almost certain to seal a move away from Old Trafford this summer, and there is a chance he could move to one of Man United’s Premier League rivals.

Romano said: “Don’t forget about the situation of Alejandro Garnacho, who remains a player appreciated by Chelsea. He remains a case to watch in this summer transfer window because Garnacho will leave Man Utd for sure. Chelsea are following the situation closely.”

It is no surprise that Ruben Amorim seemingly has no qualms about sanctioning a departure, given that the Argentinian hasn’t exactly endeared himself to fans as of late, with Mark Goldbridge left fuming after the United ace was pictured in an Aston Villa shirt.

Villa have also been named as potential suitors for the forward, who is enticed by the prospect of working under Unai Emery, but there has now been a suggestion that Amorim’s side could get him off the books in a different way.

In a report for The Independent, Delaney has now revealed that Man United have spoken to Villa about swapping Garnacho for Ollie Watkins, with INEOS trying to orchestrate slightly more unorthodox deals, in an effort to get around PSR issues.

Watkins is now attracting strong interest from the Red Devils, given that the striker is a proven Premier League goalscorer, and there is a belief they could get a deal done for around £40m – £45m.

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RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is also on the shortlist, but a deal for the Slovenian may be more expensive, with a £78m fee being touted.

Watkins among the "best strikers in Europe"

Emery is likely to have little desire to lose the England international this summer, having lauded him as “one of the best strikers in Europe” in the past – a description which is certainly backed up by his performances for Villa over the past few years.

The 29-year-old has scored a minimum of 15 Premier League goals in his last three seasons, and having a reliable goalscorer in the squad would be a real boost for Amorim, given that the manager has been unable to depend on Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

The only concern over the signing of Watkins is likely to be his age, given that the Englishman is seven years Sesko’s senior, so United have a big decision to make before the season starts.

Regardless of whether Garnacho is included in a swap deal, it is important United get the 21-year-old off the books this summer, with his Villa shirt stunt showing he has little interest in remaining at Old Trafford.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and fiancee Perrie Edwards have revealed they are expecting a second child. The Little Mix favourite posted a beautifully shot black-and-white clip to Instagram, where the pop star, Oxlade-Chamberlain and their four-year-old son Axel joined her in a moving family moment.

• Edwards expecting second child joy
• Singer bravely opened up on miscarriages
• Oxlade-Chamberlain faces uncertain football future

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The video showed Perrie turning to the camera in a white T-shirt emblazoned with the lyrics from her new single If He Wanted To, He Would. Beaming with joy, she revealed her growing bump before Alex wrapped his arms around her. Little Axel then added the sweetest touch, kissing his mum’s stomach before the trio embraced in a tender family hug. Her caption? A simple, cheeky line: “Guess what hunnies…” – enough to send fans into a frenzy of congratulations.

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  The announcement comes after a painful journey for Perrie and Alex, who have suffered not one but two devastating miscarriages. The singer bravely opened up earlier this year on Paul C Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, admitting that her first pregnancy ended almost as soon as it began.

  “So I had a miscarriage very early on with my first ever pregnancy, and it was so early,” she said. “I remember finding out I was pregnant. Obviously, I started bleeding not long after, and I went to the hospital and I had the scan and they were like, ‘There’s no baby.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve made this up. Maybe I got a false positive or something.’ And I remember being on my own at the appointments because nobody was there.”

  When she later carried Axel, born in August 2021, Perrie admitted she was constantly fearful of history repeating itself. She confessed to feeling “on edge” throughout the pregnancy, longing just to make it past the 12-week scan. That fear became reality again during Little Mix’s farewell tour in 2022, when Perrie miscarried at 20 weeks. 

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  WHAT NEXT FOR OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN?

  While Perrie celebrates, her fiancee Oxlade-Chamberlain faces uncertainty in his professional world. The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder recently had his contract with Besiktaş terminated on 27 August 2025, with the Turkish side paying him €1.75 million in severance. The 32-year-old remains a free agent and is now weighing up his next move. Reports suggest Leeds United are monitoring his situation, while Birmingham City are also believed to be interested in bringing him back to English football.

Sunderland are in talks over completing the signing of a versatile player in the summer transfer window, according to a promising new update.

Who could Sunderland sign this summer?

The Black Cats are reportedly interested in snapping up Clermont midfielder Habib Keita before next season gets underway, but they will have their work cut out getting a deal over the line.

That’s because a host of English clubs are keen on acquiring his signature, with Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and Crystal Palace all keeping tabs on him.

Elsewhere, Sunderland are said to be leading the race to sign Vladyslav Vanat this summer, with the Dynamo Kiev striker a potentially exciting addition for Regis Le Bris, as he looks to have enough firepower in his squad to aid their chances of staying in the Premier League and avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

West Brom youngster Isaac Price has also emerged as a reported target for the Black Cats, with the 21-year-old a player who could have a bright future in the game. The midfielder has already scored six goals in 18 caps for Northern Ireland, summing up his potential.

Sunderland in talks over signing £2.5m midfielder

According to a new report from Africa Foot, Sunderland are in talks with the representatives of Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradja over a potential £2.5m summer move to the Stadium of Light.

The 24-year-old is looking for a new challenge after his team were relegated from the Swiss Super League last season, and the Black Cats are hoping to “reach an agreement” in the near future following contact.

Baradja isn’t necessarily a player who is well-known to the English audience, but he could be an astute signing by Sunderland, in what is such an important transfer window for them.

Perhaps the Frenchman’s greatest asset is his versatility, allowing him to thrive as a defensive midfielder and a more attack-minded one, as well as being able to do a job on the right wing.

This is sure to appeal to Le Bris, who knows the importance of squad depth ahead of Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, and Baradja would likely come in as a relatively cheap addition, assuming they can get him for just £2.5m.

He has made 29 appearances for Yverdon Sport, chipping in with four goals and three assists in that time, and he will be able to offer quality at both ends of the pitch.

Granted, Sunderland also need to sign players who have proven themselves in the Premier League, but Baradji looks like shrewd business that could ultimately be effective over time.

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Still only 24, he wouldn’t be coming in as a quick fix for the Black Cats, instead arriving as a squad player and hopefully becoming a key man as time passes.

Winger Manor Solomon is a player who has captured the hearts of the Leeds United fanbase, impressing during his loan stint at the club during the title-winning campaign.

The Israeli international joined the Whites on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur, looking to get his career back on track and fire Daniel Farke’s side back to the Premier League.

It’s safe to say that the 25-year-old has done exactly that, registering 10 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, leading to calls for him to be signed on a permanent basis.

With the transfer window now open once again, the club have the opportunity to complete such a deal, but up to now, there has been no progress, with it remaining unclear whether he will return to Yorkshire.

As a result, other forwards have since emerged on their radar as the German looks to build a side capable of surviving the drop come the end of May 2026.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new attackers this summer

In recent days, striker Davie Selke has emerged as a potential option for Leeds this summer, with a report claiming that they’ve already held talks with his representatives over a move to Yorkshire.

The 30-year-old has been in splendid form throughout 2024/25, scoring 22 times in his 31 appearances – the most in the Bundesliga 2 and helping Hamburg secure a return to the top-flight.

However, another name has entered the mix in recent days, with Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao a summer target, that’s according to Dutch outlet FR12.

The report claims that the Whites have made an enquiry to sign the 24-year-old star, who’s registered 32 combined goals and assists across all competitions this campaign.

It also states that Marseille and Brighton and Hove Albion have made moves for the Brazilian, who could be available for a fee in the region of £34m this summer.

Why Leeds’ £34m target could be Farke’s own Sinisterra

Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra was seen as a huge addition back in the summer of 2022, joining Leeds in a £21.4m deal – looking to add key depth to their frontline.

The 25-year-old only made 19 appearances during his first season at Elland Road, but managed to find the net on five occasions, with injuries plaguing his progress after his big-money move.

After the side suffered relegation back to the Championship, he would leave to join Bournemouth on loan, before making his move permanent last summer in a £20m deal.

It was a partially successful deal, which only saw them lose £1.4m on their investment, in a move that was ultimately cut short due to the club’s slide down the football pyramid.

However, they could repeat such a deal this summer with Paixao, potentially joining Farke’s side from Dutch outfit Feyenoord – just as Sinisterra did three years ago.

When delving into the Brazilian’s underlying stats from 2024/25, he’s managed to outperform Solomon in numerous key areas, allowing the manager to forget about a dream reunion this summer.

Paixao, who’s been labelled “exquisite” by talent scout Antionio Mango, has registered more goals and assists, whilst posting a higher shot on target rate – subsequently showcasing his clinical edge in attacking areas.

Games played

34

39

Goals & assists

26

22

Shot-on-target accuracy

45%

40%

Shots on target per game

1.4

0.8

Carries into final third

2.4

2.3

Passes into final third

1.8

1.4

Aerials won

41%

0%

He’s also completed more carries into the final third and made more passes into the opposition area, having the tools to aid the likes of Piroe in being a success in England’s top flight.

The 24-year-old has also won more aerial duels, offering Farke a top-level all-round option in attacking areas – something which will be vital if they are to secure survival.

£34m may seem a huge fee for a player who’s unproven in the Premier League, but his talent is there for all to see, undoubtedly providing a better option than Solomon next season.

A move for Paixao is certainly a risk worth taking this summer, but the hierarchy will have to work quickly to avoid missing out on his signature, given the interest from elsewhere.

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Newcastle United will play football with Alexander Isak at the front next season. It’s a wonderful thought, and it’s very much set to happen, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein stating there’s “no chance” the Sweden striker leaves St. James’ Park this summer.

That’s because the Carabao Cup champions sealed their place in next year’s Champions League on the final game of the Premier League season, clinching fifth place.

However, the future of Callum Wilson is less clear, out of contract at the end of the month, but offered fresh, reduced terms.

Perhaps Newcastle should move to sign a new centre-forward instead, with talks being held for an exciting Premier League star.

Newcastle meet with Premier League striker

As per NUFC Blog, Newcastle met with Rodrigo Muniz’s camp last month to ascertain whether the Fulham forward would be interested in a move to Tyneside this summer.

He would, with the player’s representatives exploring different avenues ahead of a potential summer transfer, heading into the final year of his Cottagers deal (albeit the club have the option to extend terms by an additional 12 months).

It’s thought the prolific Brazilian could cost as much as £50m.

What Rodrigo Muniz would bring to Newcastle

Muniz signed for Fulham from Brazilian club Flamengo, aged 20, in 2021, making remarkable progress across the past two seasons in the Premier League for Marco Silva’s side, having previously completed a difficult loan spell in the Championship with Middlesbrough, scoring twice across 17 fixtures.

But having found his shooting sense with Fulham over the past two years, Silva has hailed him as a “proper quality striker”, with pundit Alan Shearer backing such effusions up by calling him “horrible to play against.”

His potential was perfectly illustrated by a rich burst of form last season in the Premier League, scoring seven goals from as many matches across spring.

This year, Muniz hasn’t been provided the same regularity of minutes, but he’s still managed to bag himself a goal when afforded a chance.

This innate clinical quality is actually something that could see him replace Wilson at St. James’ Park, with his scoring leading FBref to draw him against the Newcastle man during the 2023/24 season, given both retain their attacking fluency even if not featuring week in, week out.

Wilson, reduced to scraps this season due to injury problems, is typically an invariably deadly finisher, scoring 27 goals across 30 Premier League starts over the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.

Matches (starts)

26 (18)

31 (8)

Goals

9

8

Assists

1

1

Shots (on target)*

2.8 (1.0)

1.3 (0.6)

Big chances missed

4

5

Pass completion

62%

66%

Key passes*

0.7

0.2

Dribbles*

0.2

0.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

0.5

Duels (won)*

4.6 (39%)

3.7 (52%)

He’s a target man, and no mistake. It’s interesting, though, that Muniz has enjoyed such clinical shooting success across the past two years in the English top flight, also demonstrating a tenacious attitude in the duel, if not through his passing, his creativity.

As per FBref, he actually ranked among the top 3% of Premier League forwards this term for non-penalty goals scored per 90 (0.75), so prolific and fluent when afforded the chance to impress.

His failure to earn regular starts at Craven Cottage likely came from his overall game, which may not be kitted out with the completeness of other strikers. But that’s okay; in that way, he can be Howe’s next version of Wilson.

Muniz doesn’t need to bring a protean attacking arsenal to the fold when Isak’s staying put, but his keen-edged shooting could certainly add the perfect dimension to ensure attacking success across the whole campaign, across a variety of fronts.

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Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is personally keen on one manager to replace Ange Postecoglou, and it is believed the tactician is now becoming more tempted by the prospect of a north London move.

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A season-defining encounter awaits Postecoglou’s side on Thursday, and if they can get the job done, Spurs will book their place in the Europa League final, where they will likely face Premier League rivals Man United.

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The Lilywhites travel to Norway and face-off against Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their Europa semi-final, carrying a 3-1 lead from their clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and they go into the game off the back of a 1-1 London derby against fierce rivals West Ham.

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Wilson Odobert’s opener and first ever Premier League goal for Spurs, but Postecoglou was full of praise for his players after they came away from east London with a draw.

“Yeah proud of the players’ efforts,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against West Ham.

“It’s not easy making so many changes and it’s going to affect fluency and even the rhythm of the team. But even the individual players haven’t played a lot regularly and it wasn’t just the changes, I mean I only made one sub so a lot of them played a lot more minutes than they have recently. I thought the efforts that they put in today were outstanding.

“They were really disciplined and organised. We were disappointed with the goal we conceded but aside from that I thought we nullified their threat as well as we could, and they had some decent firepower up front and I still thought we were dangerous going the other way. So I’m glad the boys get some reward. It’s obviously not a win but get some reward for their efforts because I thought on a difficult day they handled themselves really well.”

As the Australian attempts to end Spurs’ 17-year wait for a major trophy, uncertainty continues to surround his long-term future, following reports that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of Europa League success (The Telegraph).

Marco Silva is now open to joining Tottenham

Many managerial candidates have been linked with the potentially vacant Tottenham job in recent weeks, and one of them is Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The Portuguese’s £4 million-per-year contract, which expires in 2026, also includes an £8 million release clause, and it is believed Silva is one of the frontrunners to replace Postecoglou if he is sacked.

Now, Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke has shared a fresh update on the 47-year-old’s future.

The reporter claims Silva is now open to taking the Tottenham job this summer, and Levy is a firm admirer of the ex-Everton boss, who has impressed at Craven Cottage again this season.

He is currently more likely to be pursued than Andoni Iraola as well, considering Bournemouth are growing in confidence that the Spaniard will commit his future by signing a new deal.

Silva has been called a “master” tactician by some who’ve worked under him, and his impressive work on a shoe-string budget is unsurprisingly attractive to Levy.

Heading into their away tie with Newcastle United on Sunday, Chelsea were deep in some pretty impressive form in the Premier League.

The Blues were five league games unbeaten heading into his one – which included a stunning 3-1 victory being picked up against Arne Slot’s title-winning Liverpool – but all that positive energy came crashing down at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s Magpies ran out comfortable 2-0 victors.

Chelsea’s task on the day was made a lot harder by a clueless first-half red card, but there would have still been a lot to moan about from Enzo Maresca’s perspective at the full-time whistle, irrespective of his side having to play all of the second 45 minutes a man light.

Chelsea's biggest underperformers at St James' Park

Before touching on the rash red card, the likes of Noni Madueke struggled to ever get going in attack for the visitors.

Whilst Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak busted a gut for the Toon cause up top, Madueke was timid and limp in approach, seen in the 23-year-old failing to a register a single effort on Nick Pope’s goal during his forgettable 45-minute stint, as well as losing all four of his contested duels.

Romeo Lavia would last far longer on the St James’ turf, but he wouldn’t be deserving of any praise himself come full-time either, with his lackadaisical approach early on gifting the ball to Newcastle to take the lead via Sandro Tonali.

Moreover, the usually electric Cole Palmer once again failed to spark into life with possession squandered a hefty 14 times, but the elephant in the room that remains is Nicolas Jackson’s hot-headed dismissal.

Jackson would brainlessly connect with Newcastle defender Sven Botman using his elbow, meaning the ex-Villarreal centre-forward will now be suspended for the rest of the season.

This could be the last time Chelsea fans see the 23-year-old lead the line for the Blues in the Premier League, therefore, with the pantomime villain very much turning into Stamford Bridge’s next Kai Havertz.

Chelsea's next Havertz

Much like Jackson now, Chelsea fans would regularly lament the amount of missed chances Havertz would spurn for their team when he was still on the books of the West London outfit.

That is the case despite the German popping up with 32 strikes overall – which included the now Arsenal man scoring a winner in a Champions League final.

Despite that, he would still infuriate the Stamford Bridge masses with his consistent wastefulness, seen in him missing a colossal 14 big chances in Premier League action during his final Blues season.

Jackson’s Premier League numbers by season for Chelsea

Stat

Jackson (24/25)

Jackson (23/24)

Games played

30

35

Goals scored

10

14

Assists

5

5

Big chances missed

19

24

Goal conversion %

13%

18%

Big chances created

6

8

Stats by Sofascore

Jackson has actually bagged a promising 29 strikes in total for Maresca’s men over two seasons, yet – much like Havertz – he gets regularly under the skin of the restless Chelsea fanbase with his off performances, seen in him missing a mammoth 19 big chances during the 2024/25 campaign.

Therefore, his hot-headedness away at Newcastle could be the final straw that sees Jackson – the club’s new Havertz-like scapegoat – moved on.

London Evening Standard journalist Dom Smith suggested that the £32m signing ‘ruined’ his side’s chances of a big win, handing him a dismal 2/10 post-match rating.

But, it shouldn’t be completely ruled out that the 23-year-old goes on to be a success elsewhere, with Havertz showing in flashes for Arsenal – as per his 29-goal haul from 85 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s men – that a damaging experience for the Blues isn’t the be-all-and-end-all.

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Last night saw Arsenal finally return to Premier League action after what felt like several lifetimes, and it would be fair to say that it was a night that left fans with mixed emotions.

The big negatives from the night were Gabriel Magalhaes walking off with what looked like a hamstring injury and Jurrien Timber being taken off after seemingly injuring himself as well.

However, while these two potential injuries could seriously affect the end of the campaign, last night also had some genuine positives, chief among them the return of Bukayo Saka.

The Hale Ender was spectacular in his first match in over 100 days, although there was a starter who was arguably even better and put in his most impressive display of the season.

Arsenal vs Fulham

Arsenal

Statistics

Fulham

2

Goals

1

52%

Possession

48%

2.31

Expected Goals

0.81

3

Big Chances

2

17

Total Shots

9

5

Corners

4

476

Passes

460

All Stats via Sofascore

Saka's return to Arsenal action in numbers

After being out of action for over three months, Mikel Arteta and Co made the correct decision to start Saka on the bench last night and bring him on in place of fellow Hale Ender Ethan Nwaneri in the 66th minute.

Due to the severity of his injury and the time he spent out, we aren’t too sure many fans really expected a great deal from the young Englishman upon his return, but he wasted no time in reminding everyone just how special a player he is.

It took all of seven minutes for the Ealing-born superstar to score the side’s second goal, and it’s a good thing he did, as following Rodrigo Muniz’s late strike, it was the only thing separating the teams.

However, it wasn’t just the goal that made the 23-year-old stand out, as before and after his strike, he was a real threat on and off the ball, leading the Standard’s Dom Smith to give him an 8/10 match rating at full-time and proclaim that the club’s ‘talisman is well and truly back.’

Unsurprisingly, his statistics also make for great reading. In just 24 minutes of action, he amassed an expected goal and assists figure of 0.84, had one shot on target, took 13 touches, completed 100% of his crosses and long balls, won a foul, and lost the ball two times.

Saka’s game in numbers

Minutes

24′

Expected Goals

0.72

Goals

1

Expected Assists

0.12

Shots on Target

1

Touches

13

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (1)

Long Balls (Accurate)

1 (1)

Fouls Won

1

Lost Possession

2

All Stats via Sofascore

Yet, as impactful and impressive as Saka was, one of Arteta’s starters was even better last night and was most certainly the Gunners’ man of the match.

The Arsenal star who was even better than Saka

There were a number of other stand-out performers from last night’s game, such as Timber and Declan Rice, but when it came down to it, nobody was as good as Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian winger has received his fair share of criticism over the last season and a half for not reaching the level he did in the 22/23 campaign.

While it will take plenty more top-notch showings to convince people he can get back to that level, last night was the first time he got anywhere close.

The former Ituano gem was a constant threat throughout the 90 minutes and so thoroughly beat Timothy Castagne that to call it a battle would be wrong.

Instead of getting to his opposite number and stopping or losing the ball, the “unbelievable” ace, as dubbed by podcast Phil Costa, was taking people on and making things happen, and it was thanks to his sensational touch that Saka was able to score his goal.

Smith was just as impressed with the 23-year-old, awarding him an 8/10 at full-time and writing that he ‘showed his skill by jinking past opponents’ all night long.

It might all sound rather hyperbolic, but it’s also borne out in his statistics. In 96 minutes, he amassed an expected goal and assists figure of 0.63, provided one assist, completed 66% of his dribbles, took 40 touches, made five key passes, and created one big chance.

Martinelli’s game in numbers

Minutes

96′

Expected Goals

0.30

Expected Assists

0.33

Assists

1

Dribbles (Complete)

3 (2)

Touches

40

Key Passes

5

Big Chances Created

1

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, while last night’s game had some serious negatives from an injury perspective, Arsenal fans can at least be happy that Saka looks as good as ever, and Martinelli might just be on his way back to his very best as well.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 1, 2025

Aqib and Masood have made it clear that the spin strategy is not short-term, but is it really a fix?

Danyal Rasool27-Jan-2025There has been lots of glorious myth-making of Pakistani fast-bowling. Of Sarfraz Nawaz, wily inventor of a new art no one new anything about. Of Imran Khan running in open chested, grace and effectiveness in equal measure, all culminating in a gazelle like gallop, creating the cricketer that led Pakistan’s greatest ever side. Of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, whose swing and accuracy were as addictively watchable as they were devastating, of Shoaib Akhtar, a high-speed train in a world of freight locomotives. The legends are passed on from one generation to another, and, for much of the region’s cricketing history, marked Pakistan out as the exception to the rule that the sub-continent was a land of spin-bowling specialists.The stories we tell of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali will be different, and nowhere near as enduring. After years of repeated failures to develop a home template in line with the self-image Pakistan wish to live up to, the current setup – led in part by Aqib Javed, member of Pakistan’s selection panel and all-format interim coach – dispensed with the idealism and injected realpolitik into their philosophy. The fast bowlers weren’t taking 20 wickets, and all attempts to prepare seam-friendly wickets had failed, as, seemingly, had the ability and willingness of many of their fast bowlers to actually play Test matches.Related

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Their new idea was as brilliant as it was simple, hiding in plain sight. Pakistan had wizened old fingerspinners who always seemed to do well in spin-conducive conditions in domestic cricket. So, by way of fans and heaters, windbreakers and greenhouses, they prepared surfaces that ragged from day one, where fast bowlers were rendered as superfluous as horse-drawn carriages; seamers have bowled 17 overs for Pakistan in their last four Tests, and taken one wicket. Bat first, get the ball ragging, rinse, repeat.Pakistan finished the World Test Championship cycle at the bottom•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd supporters, despite disgruntlement from some quarters, were happy to sacrifice playing style at the altar of effectiveness. Drawbacks, such as what it meant for Pakistan’s fast bowling future, or the toll it would take on batters’ confidence and techniques could be ignored. Their captain Shan Masood went far enough to call it a “sacrifice” that the batters and fast bowlers were making. However, they had to win. That was the social contract.But if your only selling point is that the trains run on time, you do at the very least have to ensure the trains do, in fact, run on time. Over the past two days, West Indies demonstrated to Pakistan the precarity of that assumption. Any denunciation of Pakistan’s playing style over the past three Tests largely circled around whether these were sporting wickets of if they were doing Pakistan’s long-term prospects hard; that victory would be achieved was almost assumed. Before this Test, Aqib was already referencing the next World Test Championship cycle and how Pakistan would replicate these wickets because they needed to win “all their Test matches” at home to qualify for the final.Yet, results – on these surfaces more than perhaps any other – can tilt substantially on the flip of a coin. Pakistan were on the right side of it in two of the first three Test matches they won this way, but no pitch can guarantee you won’t have to bat fourth. And while three out of four wins is a vastly improved Test run than any Pakistan have managed at home in years, West Indies hoisting Pakistan by their own petard in Multan was a reminder of how few data points we have to extrapolate meaningfully into the future. Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” approach to the England Test side began with a similar uptick in results to equally wild optimism over the first season, but longer sample sizes can provide surprisingly sobering reality checks.Pakistan were willing to ignore drawbacks of playing on a turner – like the toll it would take on batters’ confidence•AFP/Getty ImagesBut Pakistan have, to their credit, provided consistent clarity on their future intentions. An on-paper soft draw over the next cycle has encouraged Pakistan to dream of a possible slot at the WTC final in 2027, with the path invariably running through home wins. Masood backed his coach up, promising domestic cricket on similar pitches to help batters cope with opposition spin better.But Pakistan have to guard against chasing their own tails here; they may find they’re preparing for the season just passed than the one that follows. This was billed as the “bumper home Test season” with seven home games across three series, but it has come and gone, with their spin strategy “a new one for our batters, too” as Masood said. It may not be quite as new for them when the next season does roll around.Pakistan are scheduled to host South Africa later this year and then welcome Sri Lanka – a side that, in any case, they are unlikely to want to curate uber-spin tracks for – for two Tests in 2026. A year of honing batters’ spin techniques on pitches that have nothing for red-ball quicks is unlikely to be of much assistance when they travel away between March and August next year, five of which come in West Indies and England. Not to mention, of course, that in Pakistan, where the domestic red-ball season is jostled around at the mercy of different priorities, two years might as well be an epoch.The most flippant criticism of Aqibball, as it has come to be known, is that it was a short-term fix. But Aqib and Masood have made clear they don’t view it as short term, and Jomel Warrican’s West Indies showed them it may not necessarily even be a fix.