All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal are a team that clearly has immeasurable trust in their youth, best outlined in the fact that they boast the youngest average squad in the league alongside Southampton.

Therefore, it will worry Mikel Arteta greatly that they do not boast that same freshness in their engine room, with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey aged 30 and 29 respectively, and a 31-year-old Jorginho as a backup.

Of late, the Spaniard has actually preferred the latter to his Ghanaian stopper, in an effort to exert more control over games as more of a pass-master.

However, if Edu is to get their top target this summer, it could make both of these midfielders obsolete as Declan Rice offers a fine blend between the two.

As a hard-working general who is beginning to add creativity to his game, the West Ham United captain has proven himself more than capable of dominating the midfield battle even for a relegation-threatened side. Should he move to this title-chasing outfit, the sky really is the limit.

However, with a £120m price tag hovering above his head, the Gunners might need to make some sacrifices to tempt such a top young talent to the Emirates.

Given Partey's recent absence from the side, and the fact his profile directly matches the 24-year-old's, this potential transfer could spell the end of the ex-Atletico Madrid ace's time in north London.

Is Declan Rice better than Thomas Partey?

Although Partey has been ever-present in their midfield, starting 26 times, at crucial moments this season he has gone missing. His 7.11 average rating is impressive, but perhaps hides displays like the 6.1 showing against the Hammers, in which Rice taught him a lesson and the Premier League slipped further out of their grip.

Sitting as the protector of the two centre-backs, the £200k-per-week titan has maintained an 88% pass accuracy alongside 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

However, when compared to Rice, these figures are all blown out of the water.

His 7.21 average rating is upheld through an 88% pass accuracy too, but he adds 1.8 interceptions and 1.5 clearances onto his 2.3 tackles per game. That is without mentioning his 61% dribble success rate, which allows him to progress play and get into the positions that have seen him notch three goals and two assists, also per Sofascore.

It seems that with each passing season, David Moyes' main man only improves. It is no wonder he was branded a "generational talent" by journalist Roshane Thomas.

If Arteta is to maintain his youth-focused philosophy, and Edu is the man tasked with ensuring the culture remains that way, to swap Rice for Partey is a necessary decision to see Arsenal improve their levels whilst further decreasing their average age. The future would be so immeasurably bright in north London if they can push this deal through in the summer.

Sri Lanka seamer Shaminda Eranga has been admitted to hospital in Dublin to undergo tests on an elevated heartbeat

Alan Gardner19-Jun-2016Sri Lanka seamer Shaminda Eranga has been admitted to hospital in Dublin to undergo tests on an elevated heartbeat. He is understood to be in a stable condition but will remain in Ireland until Monday while the rest of the team returns to the UK.Eranga experienced discomfort during Sri Lanka’s 136-run win over Ireland at Malahide on Saturday. He came out to bat and faced the final ball of the innings but did not bowl and instead went to hospital.”Eranga had an elevated heartbeat prior to the innings commencing and was taken to hospital for tests,” Sri Lanka team manager Charith Senanayake told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s doing good but in hospital till Monday to complete all tests.”Sri Lanka are due to return to England, ahead of the first ODI in Nottingham, on Sunday evening. Eranga’s involvement in the ODI series against England had been in some doubt after he was reported for a suspect action during the Test series. The ICC announced on Sunday that his action had been found to be illegal and he will be suspended from bowling in international competition with immediate effect.His absence continues a tour dogged by bad luck for Sri Lanka’s pace attack. Dhammika Prasad was ruled out of the Tests with a shoulder injury after playing in one warm-up game and Dushmantha Chameera was then forced to return home after suffering a stress fracture to his back.

Arsenal are preparing an offer for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners are reportedly eyeing a new winger in the upcoming window, and it has recently been reported they are pushing to sign Barcelona's Raphinha, with sporting director Edu Gaspar making constant calls to pursue a deal for the Brazilian.

Another wide option is Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby, having missed out on the Frenchman in the January transfer window, and he could be available for around £65m this summer, at which point a move is a more realistic possibility.

Journalist Dean Jones has hinted Mikel Arteta could go back in for Pedro Neto, with Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke also claiming they are plotting a surprise move for the Wolverhampton Wanderers ace.

There will also be an option available to Arsenal on a free transfer, with Football Insider now reporting they are preparing an offer for Zaha, who is keen to challenge himself elsewhere at the season, despite holding contract talks with Palace.

The Gunners are not the only Premier League club vying for the 30-year-old's signature, however, with Chelsea said to be interested, while there are also suitors from abroad, and Marseille could make a move.

The Ivory Coast international has been a long-term target for the north London club, having had big-money approaches turned down in the past, and they are ready to reignite their interest, now he is available for free.

Should Arsenal sign Wilfried Zaha?

Arsenal will, on the whole, be happy with this season, given that they are back in the Champions League next season, although they will be a little disappointed about some of their results in recent weeks, which have given Manchester City the advantage in the title race.

It could be argued that one of Arteta's issues in recent weeks has been a lack of squad depth, with Rob Holding being criticised after coming in for William Saliba, while there is also a lack of backup options for Bukayo Saka.

With Reiss Nelson being linked with a potential move away, Zaha could be a fantastic replacement, given that he has proven himself at Premier League level over a number of years, hitting double figures for goals in the previous three seasons.

Hailed as "phenomenal" by Arteta, the £130k-per-week Palace star has earned a chance to prove himself at a club like Arsenal, and it is a very low-risk move for the Gunners, given his availability on a free transfer, so he could be an open goal signing.

Time in the middle for South Africa’s bowlers was the most important takeaway from their tied warm-up match against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI, according to Hashim Amla

Firdose Moonda30-May-2016Time in the middle for South Africa’s bowlers was the most important takeaway from their tied warm-up match against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI on Sunday, according to Hashim Amla. The match was affected by rain, with only 24.1 overs possible in the second innings, but it gave South Africa’s attack enough time to find rhythm.”It was a really good sign that our bowlers got some time in the middle before it started raining. It was turning out to be a good game,” Amla said. “They bowled well. It started raining and the ball got really wet, but even then they bowled decently. Getting overs under the belt is the most important thing.”The match was set up for a tense finish after President’s XI had reached 127 for 3, chasing 281, and all of South Africa’s bowlers used in the fixture got in more than one over. Morne Morkel and Tabraiz Shamsi were the only two bowlers in the squad who did not get a bowl.Despite not having played competitive cricket in nine weeks after the World T20, Kagiso Rabada did not show any signs of rust and took 1 for 13 in five overs. Wayne Parnell was the only player coming off a long lay-off. Parnell had last played in the first week of April, for Cobras in the Sunfoil Series, and took a five-wicket haul in the first innings against Titans. But he struggled to replicate that form and conceded 35 runs in four overs. Kyle Abbott (1 for 11) and Chris Morris (0 for 18) have some form behind them, both having been part of the IPL, while the spinners were just getting started when the rain came down.Imran Tahir (1 for 15) and Aaron Phangiso (0 for 8) both seemed to settle in easily. They will be crucial to South Africa’s success in the triangular series where conditions are expected to favour the slower bowlers. There is a strong possibility of sides fielding more than one specialist spinner, especially at Providence, the venue for the first three matches. “The wickets in West Indies can differ, but a lot of the guys are saying that Guyana may be a bit slower and lower. But you will only really know when you get there,” Amla said.Amla was the most successful batsman and scored an aggressive 92 for the South Africans, who were also propped up by contributions from the lower order. Morris, Abbott and Phangiso were among the runs, after Rilee Rossouw had been dismissed for a duck and JP Duminy fell for just 6. South Africa missed Faf du Plessis – out with a finger injury – Quinton de Kock – necessitating the use of an opposition wicketkeeper – and AB de Villiers, who will join the squad shortly, having just played in the IPL final.Out of the 15 members in the squad, de Villiers is one of 11 to have taken part in the IPL, which meant South Africa’s players were not going into the tri-series cold. In fact, Amla said their time at the tournament would be an advantage. “I don’t think (the difference between T20 and ODIs) is that big. The only thing is that you have a lot of time to set the game up,” he said. “You have to remind yourself that there is a lot of time still left in the game, but it’s a lot easier to go from T20s to one-dayers than from a Test match.”South Africa and West Indies play the series opener on Friday.

Manchester United's faltering form has thrown their previously comfortable top-four finish into doubt, as they have just one win within 90 minutes of their last five games in all competitions.

There has been one constant throughout this run, stretching back to mid-March, that Erik ten Hag's team have not hit more than two goals in one fixture.

This is a serious cause for concern, as it was their free-flowing attack that carried them through the early parts of the campaign. With Marcus Rashford slowing down somewhat since his injury, it seems the rest of the team is yet to pick up his slack and make up for his slightly weaker performances.

With just two goals in the Englishman's last eight, the forward had previously enjoyed a run of ten goals across as many games. The Red Devils need to find a way to put their opposition to bed earlier, and today's clash with West Ham United presents a tough challenge where that kind of ruthlessness will be imperative.

Although David Moyes had engineered an initial turnaround, the Hammers are currently on a run of three straight losses. Despite this, most recently at the London Stadium they battled well with Liverpool and fought from 2-0 down to snatch a point from Arsenal.

They are not to be ignored, as they present a huge banana skin which United will have to avoid. To ensure the hosts are suitably put to the sword, Fred must be dropped to facilitate more attacking impetus from the engine room. The man to provide this could well be Marcel Sabitzer.

How did Fred play vs Brighton?

With the £120k-per-week Brazilian having started alongside Casemiro in their recent loss to Brighton and Hove Albion, the midfielder was decidedly anonymous throughout as Roberto De Zerbi's men enjoyed 60% of the ball.

That starved the workmanlike asset of possession, as he recorded just 37 touches all game and maintained an abysmal pass accuracy of 74%. Such wastefulness also seeped into his defensive work, where he would lose five of the nine duels competed in all game, via Sofascore, resulting in his late substitution.

Fans have become accustomed to displays such as this, with journalist Alex Turk even taking to Twitter to highlight one of Fred's showings from February: "Fred isn’t good enough. The occasional stand-out games aren’t enough. Liability."

Meanwhile, Sabitzer this season has overseen a bit-part role for the Red Devils since his January move, yet remained a consummate professional despite his lack of play-time. Across his 17 displays in all competitions, of which only 11 have been starts, the Austrian has recorded three goals and one assist.

For comparison, across Fred's 50 appearances this term, nearly three times the amount of his teammate, the 30-year-old has mustered just six goals in all competitions.

This is also without mentioning the startling praise handed to the Bayern Munich man from Sky Sports journalist Uli Koehler, who suggested that the midfielder "shoots like a horse."

There will be hope that if he plays today, he can showcase that thunderous Equine quality to fire Ten Hag one step closer to Champions League football.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale will be eyeing a summer rebuild at the Ibrox side, especially after yesterday’s Scottish Cup display.

For large portions of the match, the Gers matched Celtic and created chance after chance, yet their woeful finishing skills and ability to make big errors at the worst times meant they were the architects of their own downfall.

Next season could see a total overhaul of the first-team squad, especially with seven players potentially leaving due to their contracts expiring, among them are Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.

Beale already looks as though he is trying to start his business early as the Englishman is set to reignite interest in Swansea City winger Morgan Whittaker having had a bid of £1.8m rejected during the January transfer window.

Could Morgan Whittaker join Rangers?

According to the Daily Record, Beale is eyeing up another move to lure Whittaker to Scotland and the youngster is keen on leaving the Championship for Ibrox.

Along with the players who are out of contract, the 42-year-old will also be looking at shipping out a few players in order to raise precious funds during the off-season and Scott Wright could well be one to go.

The winger has barely made an impact this season, registering just two assists across 32 matches, and he hasn’t even started a game since Beale took over back in November, suggesting he doesn’t trust him to perform from the start.

Making a move for Whittaker would be the ideal licence to ditch Wright with the 22-year-old possessing bags of potential, especially judging by his early season form for Plymouth Argyle, where he netted nine goals and grabbed seven assists.

During his spell in League One, he averaged 3.1 shots per game while creating seven big chances and 1.3 key passes each match.

These stats are much better than Wright’s this season, with the Gers winger taking just 0.5 shots and 0.4 key passes per game while creating only one big chance. Although League One is clearly a lower level than the Premiership, the signs look positive that Whittaker could make an impact.

It’s evident that a move away from Swansea is on the cards this summer as the 6 foot 3 gem has had to rely on appearances from the bench since being recalled in January and a fresh start looks necessary.

Beale has praised Whittaker in the past, dubbing him “excellent” while Jobi McAnuff lauded him as “fantastic” and if an offer is accepted, the Light Blues may well land themselves a real star in the making.

Scottish champions Celtic have moved a step closer toward the title following the recent round of weekend fixtures, with the Parkhead outfit now just one game away from securing their second successive league crown.

Despite having endured a rare slip-up after recording a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell on Saturday, Ange Postecoglou's side were given an almighty boost following the woes of rivals Rangers a day later, with the Light Blues suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Aberdeen.

That surprise loss at Pittodrie has ensured that the Gers are now 13 points adrift of the rampant Hoops with just five games left to play, with clinching the title now just a matter of when and not if for those at Paradise.

The Bhoys seemingly have one of their own to thank for nudging them to within touching distance of wrapping up the league, with out-on-loan defender Liam Scales having netted a remarkable, long-range effort for the Dons against Michael Beale's men on Sunday.

That freakish – and somewhat fluky effort – will no doubt have endeared the Irishman to his parent club, with it perhaps not out of the question that the former Shamrock Rovers man could go on to play a part for the Old Firm giants next season.

How is Liam Scales getting on at Aberdeen?

Having been restricted to just 13 appearances across all fronts for Celtic last season after signing on a £500k deal in the summer of 2021, Scales was snapped up by Aberdeen prior to the start of the current campaign, subsequently going on to thrive in his temporary home.

Hailed as a "quality player" by former boss Jim Goodwin, the Dublin native has notably kept 11 clean sheets in just 27 Scottish Premiership games this season, scoring once and providing two assists in that time.

The versatile centre-back's defensive prowess has been showcased by the fact that he has averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in that time, boasting a better record than even the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers (0.5, 1.1) and Carl Starfelt (0.9, 1.3) for those same two metrics, respectively.

Although at 24 it may appear that the £5k-per-week man's chance has already come and gone at Celtic Park, the in-form asset can look to the previous journey of ex-Hoops star Ryan Christie as a source of inspiration, with the Scotland international having also flourished on loan at Aberdeen, before eventually establishing himself in Glasgow.

The current Bournemouth ace was snapped up by the Old Firm giants from Inverness Caledonian Thistle back in 2015, although would spend the first half of the 2015/16 season back on loan at his former employers, before featuring just ten times in the league over the next 12 months.

That lack of action sparked a temporary move to Pittodrie in January 2017, with the gifted playmaker proving his undoubted talent in that 18-month loan spell, bagging 33 goal involvements in just 57 games across all fronts.

Having proved his worth elsewhere, Christie returned to Parkhead at the start of the 2018/19 campaign and went on to firmly establish himself in the side, ultimately racking up 85 goals and assists in just 151 games prior to his £2.5m exit back in 2021.

There may be a potential for Scales to enjoy a similar route and force his way into Postecoglou's thinking next term, with the 6 foot 2 titan – who has been lauded as an "athletic defender" by the Celtic boss – having certainly already made his mark in Scottish football this season.

Rangers have told centre-back Filip Helander that he is surplus to requirements and free to find a new club in the summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Which players could leave Rangers this summer?

There are a number of first-team players out of contract in the summer, with the likes of Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack currently set to leave the Gers, should fresh terms not be offered in the coming weeks.

Helander's contract is also set to expire, with journalist Jonny McFarlane recently claiming it's an "extremely sad situation" that the centre-back is poised to leave the club, as despite being limited in possession of the ball, he is a "brilliant defender".

However, the Rangers hierarchy now appear to have made their minds up, with Football Insider reporting the 29-year-old has been told he is free to find a new club in the summer transfer window.

The report adds that his £15k-per-week deal will not be extended, having failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI due to injury issues, which have plagued him during his time at Ibrox.

Former manager Steven Gerrard is said to have rated the Sweden international highly, and he was even keen to take him to Aston Villa when he first took charge in November 2021, but his time in Glasgow now seems to be coming to an end.

Should Rangers let Helander leave?

It is a real shame the former Bologna man has been affected by injuries throughout his time at Ibrox, missing a total of 110 games due to foot and knee issues, as when he has been able to hold down a place in the team, he has often been very impressive.

Rangers fans will remember the Malmo-born defender fondly for his performances in the title-winning 2020-21 season, during which he made 21 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, averaging a 7.10 Sofascore match rating.

That said, the Light Blues are coping just fine without Helander, conceding just 32 league goals this season, and they are well-stocked at centre-back, with the likes of Connor Goldson and John Souttar tied down until the summer of 2026.

Overall, Michael Beale is making the right decision by allowing Helander to seek pastures new at the end of the season, as it is far too much of a risk to hand out a new contract to a player with such a poor injury record.

Referee David Coote and his VAR team may have made a big mistake in the most recent Arsenal draw after missing a Declan Rice handball.

What's the latest on VAR and Arsenal?

The Gunners were unable to hold on to a two-goal lead for the second time in as many games as they drew 2-2 with West Ham United on Sunday.

Indeed, Mikel Arteta saw his side score twice inside the first ten minutes through Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard only to then concede two in the remainder of the game.

First, Said Benrahma netted a penalty to change the atmosphere at the London Stadium, before Jarrod Bowen netted an equaliser shortly after Bukayo Saka missed a penalty.

However, if we go back to the first goal scored by West Ham, it appears Rice uses his hand to win the ball off Thomas Partey in the build-up to the goal.

Indeed, as seen in this footage, and this image, there is plenty of evidence online to suggest VAR could have denied the goal.

Did Rice use his hand against Arsenal?

Arsenal midfielder Partey was too relaxed when picking up the ball on the edge of his box and Rice did well to close him down. The ball then quickly fell to Lucas Paqueta who was fouled and so referee Coote pointed to the spot.

However, as the image above shows, West Ham certainly wouldn't have won the ball back in such a way without the use of Rices' hand.

VAR did check the incident but deemed that it wasn't enough to overturn the penalty decision – a call that will no doubt have Arsenal fans feeling pretty exasperated.

Journalist Jack Holmes slammed Partey for his "looseness" on the ball during the passage of play but did point out that it "probably" was "a handball" from the West Ham midfielder.

These two dropped points will no doubt be hugely disappointing for the Gunners, as their lead at the top of the table over Manchester City has now diminished to just four points.

When speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Arteta didn't blame the handball but rather slammed his team for being sloppy, saying: "We started incredibly well, dominated the game, dominated the pitch, and scored two beautiful goals. After that, we made a huge mistake; not to continue playing, to score the third and the fourth.

"We started keeping the ball and giving sloppy passes away. We allowed them [West Ham] transition moments, and did not dominate the direct play. And then it's game on. If you concede the goals that we conceded, the first one and the second one, and on top of that you don't score a penalty, in this league you are in big trouble."

West Bromwich Albion are eyeing a possible move for Motherwell teenager Max Johnston and scouted the player over the weekend, The Scottish Sun reports.

What’s the latest on West Brom and Johnston?

Johnston is just 19 years of age and is primarily a right-back who can also turn out as a right-midfielder or central midfielder if required. He is out of contract at the end of the season and shares the same agency as Baggies winger Matt Phillips.

The Motherwell teenager has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rise from €25,000 (£22k) to a career-high €400,000 (£351k) in recent years and spent the last few seasons out on loan with Queen of the South and Cove Rangers. Johnston has received a chance at Fir Park during the current campaign, though, making 13 appearances in all competitions, contributing to three goals.

The Scottish Sun shared an update regarding Johnston in the last 48 hours, where West Brom received a mention. It was claimed that the Baggies were one of four Championship sides to send club officials to watch the player in action ahead of a possible summer move.

The report says that Johnston impressed in a 3-1 win for Motherwell at Hibernian, with Blackburn Rovers, Luton Town and Norwich City also sending scouts to watch the player, who looks increasingly unlikely to sign a new contract with his current employers.

Could this be one to watch for West Brom?

A Baggies representative would’ve made a 600-mile round trip to watch Johnston in action, and a potential move seems like it could be one to keep an eye on heading into the summer.

Picking up the teenager’s services in a cut-price deal could prove to be a shrewd move given his contract situation, especially with Johnston now featuring regularly for Motherwell and even scoring on his Scotland U21 debut earlier in the campaign.

He seems to have plenty of interest from a number of Championship sides, with Cardiff City also making checks back in February, and should he arrive at The Hawthorns, he could rival the likes of Darnell Furlong and Taylor Gardner-Hickman on the right-hand side under Carlos Corberan.

With the Baggies still within an outside chance of making the play-offs, it remains to be seen which division they will be playing in next season, but it is at least promising to see that plans are very much in action ahead of what could be a key summer for the club either way.