Arsenal finally ended their barren run when facing Manchester City over the weekend, as they went toe to toe with last season's Premier League champions and came out the other side unscathed.

Although it was hardly a classic, as Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola engaged in more of a chess match regarding tactical flexibility as they sought to gain control, the actual game devolved into a cagey affair, as neither side piled forward with devotion, likely scared of losing rather than desperate to win.

However, it was the attacking impetus injected by Gabriel Martinelli that proved decisive, as his first-team effort took a heavy deflection off Nathan Ake and sent the Emirates into raptures.

The full-time scenes such a result sparked were electric, and they now sit atop the league table, only level with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst there were many standouts in what will likely go down as a famous victory, the midfield mastery of Declan Rice certainly proved decisive, and highlighted just how important it was for Edu to ensure it was the Gunners who secured his services, and not the Citizens.

Did Manchester City nearly sign Declan Rice?

There was a brief period in which their fierce title rivals entered the race for West Ham United's captain, forcing them to act with far more speed after what had been a long, drawn-out process beforehand.

Desperate to ensure the best possible deal was achieved, they saw two bids rejected before Guardiola came in to crash the party, the latter of which totalled up to £90m. The Etihad outfit would submit a former offer of their own, although it would prove fruitless

Arteta could not allow such a fierce competitor to be bolstered through their own failures, and the eventual £105m deal was soon sealed. As The Athletic put it: "This time, it truly was all or nothing for Arsenal. No Plan B, no capacity for frugal switches to alternative targets and, therefore, no room for error. It was Declan Rice or bust."

Every deal they had made was linked to the England international and the qualities he was set to offer, which made their tentative initial movements more questionable.

Although they would get their man in the end, it could truly have been game over for the Gunners had City stolen their top target, as they saw Rice as the man capable of taking them to the next level and usurping the seemingly unstoppable side.

Breaking the British transfer record marked a huge risk, but it is one that already seems to be paying off. His performance on Sunday marked a culmination of such a notion.

How did Declan Rice play vs Manchester City?

Starting alongside Jorginho and Martin Odegaard, it was widely expected that, were they to achieve success on Sunday afternoon, Rice would be key. He made up an important spine of a side without Bukayo Saka in the matchday squad and without Martinelli in the starting lineup.

So, it should come as no surprise that such a suggestion rang true, with his 7.7 Sofascore rating the highest of anyone on the pitch, only matched by teammate Ben White.

Arsenal vs MCFC (08/10/2023)

1-0 W

MCFC vs Arsenal (26/04/2023)

4-1 L

Arsenal vs MCFC (15/02/2023)

3-1 L

Arsenal vs MCFC (01/01/2022)

2-1 L

MCFC vs Arsenal (28/08/2021)

5-0 L

All stats via 11v11

The midfield general was defensively immaculate, silencing the potent threat of City's engine room stars, whilst boasting a calm head to ensure that the occasion did not get to his teammates. It truly is remarkable just how assured the 24-year-old remains, as he got one over on the other team who could have signed him.

Boasting 58 touches emphasises his influence, whilst his 90% pass accuracy is indicative of that economical nature that helped maintain what control they boasted throughout the match. However, adding two key passes to these figures truly takes them to new heights, and showcases a world-class star capable of starring on the biggest stage, against the toughest opponents, via Sofascore.

Making two clearances, three interceptions, one block and three tackles would only add to this notion, with his early clearance off the line helping to offset the early pressure from the visitors that nearly saw David Raya crumble.

The media would flock to laud Rice, with journalist Dan Kilpatrick handing him an 8/10 when penning his post-match ratings, also claiming: "Cleared an early Gvardiol effort off the line and shielded the defence superbly in a robust performance."

Then, content creator Gooner Chris would supplement such a notion: "Declan Rice was immense against Man City, he snuffed out so many dangerous runs. Elite baller! Worth every damn penny. I’m so excited about the prospect of him permanently in the 8 role with Partey snug behind him. Who’s going to stop us?"

To boast such immense influence in a game of that magnitude goes a long way towards paying back the huge financial investment made to acquire his services, and proves Arteta's gamble may have already paid off by giving them the edge over their rivals.

How good is Declan Rice?

What makes Rice so special is that such a performance likely came as a surprise to few.

Whilst the media debates whether Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez are justifying their huge price tags over at Chelsea, there has been complete silence about the £240k-per-week ace. He has been near-faultless since joining, and to already be meriting a £105m figure for a midfielder is generational.

The 6 foot 1 maestro is arguably the perfect player for Arteta in that engine room, even if he is not the most flashy player. When compared to other midfielders across Europe, via FBref, he sits in the top 5% for interceptions per 90, the top 14% for pass completion per 90, and the top 17% for progressive carries per 90, and that is all he needs.

There is no need for flashy, high-risk manoeuvres in positions of peril, nor does he need to score or assist every other match. Rice excels in a very specific vacuum, and his integration has filled that void for Arsenal.

It was a massive gamble to spend so freely on the former Republic of Ireland international, and one which drew questions. Pundit Roy Keane would even note: "They have obviously paid way too much for him. He's certainly not worth over £100m, Declan Rice, but a really good player.

“We'll find out over the next year or two how good Declan is. He turns up every week, he is a big strong boy – again, you talk about that physicality, they lacked that in the last month or two (of last season). Has he got that really top quality in terms of seeing a pass and getting nine, ten goals? We'll soon find out.”

However, he and any other doubters that remain have swiftly been proven wrong, with the future so bright at the Emirates, with their club-record acquisition set to lead them into it.

قام نادي برشلونة بتسجيل لامين يامال وباو كوبارسي مع الفريق الأول، بحسب ما أكدت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية.

وجدد كوبارسي في الأشهر الأخيرة عقده مع برشلونة حتى عام 2027، مع وجود بند يتيح التمديد حتى عام 2029.

ولدى لامين يامال عقدًا مع برشلونة حتى عام 2026 ولكن هناك أيضًا اتفاق آخر لأربعة مواسم أخرى، أي حتى 30 يونيو 2030.

ارتدى كوبارسي الرقم 33، بينما ارتدى لامين الرقم 27، ومن الآن فصاعدًا، سيتعين على كليهما اختيار رقم بين 1 و25، كما هو منصوص عليه في لوائح الدوري الإسباني، وفي أغسطس، اعتمادًا على شكل القائمة، سيتم تخصيص رقم لكليهما.

اقرأ أيضًا | بسبب برشلونة.. أتلتيك بلباو يصدر بيانًا رسميًا بشأن نيكو ويليامز

وأوضحت الصحيفة أنه في الساعات القليلة الماضية، قام برشلونة بتسريع الإجراءات وتمكن من تسجيل كوبارسي ويامال باعتبارهما لاعبين من المقدر أن يكونا مهمين للغاية في الفريق.

وعلى موقع الليجا الرسمي ظهر اسم يامال وكوبارسي في قائمة الفريق الأول لبرشلونة.

MatériaMais Notícias

O basquete do Botafogo está, oficialmente, de volta. Na manhã desta sexta-feira, a diretoria da modalidade lançou a coleção de uniformes para a próxima temporada e planos de sócio-torcedor exclusivos para o esporte da bola laranja. Ao todo, são oito peças de roupa e três níveis de associação.

Os uniformes de jogo, carros-chefes da coleção, produzida pela W.A. Sport, fazem alusão ao título da Liga Sul-Americana, conquistada no ano passado ainda quando o time tinha o antigo investimento. Há um patch dourado no peito da camisa em homenagem ao campeonato.

Entre os planos de sócio-torcedor, os planos variam – em valores anuais – de R$ 105,00 a R$ 1.999,88, dando diferentes direitos, prêmios e promoções de acordo com o nível.

Não há a utilização de nenhum recurso do Botafogo, que é patrocinado pela Kappa. A diretoria do basquete, liderada por Carlos Salomão, captou recursos por meio de projetos incentivados.

O Botafogo, pela desistência no NBB, vai disputar o Campeonato Brasileiro na temporada. A competição, organizada pela CBB (Confederação Brasileira de Basquete), dá vaga no principal torneio do país.

RelacionadasBotafogoQuestões burocráticas pesam, e Botafogo desiste de contratar JonasBotafogo19/11/2020BotafogoChamadas de vídeo e contato diário: como Ramón Díaz acompanha o Botafogo de longeBotafogo19/11/2020BotafogoEleições Botafogo 2020 – Durcesio Mello: ‘Quero implantar o profissionalismo no Botafogo’Botafogo19/11/2020

Recomeço no estilo!🏀🔥

O Basquete Glorioso lançou o uniforme pra temporada 2021 e os planos de sócio-torcedor. Confira! #BasqueteGlorioso #CampeãoSulAmericano #Basquete #BFR pic.twitter.com/dYxbbGAgG7

— Botafogo F.R. (de 🏠) (@Botafogo) November 20, 2020

Patrick Mahomes, accompanied by his wife Brittany, graced the opening of the Kansas City Current's state-of-the-art stadium on NWSL season opener.

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Mahomes inaugurated Kansas City Current's stadium Built for $120m & has a capacity for 11,000 fansMore seats can be added in the futureWHAT HAPPENED?

Situated along the picturesque banks of the Missouri River the CPKC Stadium was built on a remarkable investment of nearly $120 million (£93m). With the downtown skyline as its backdrop, the 11,000-seat arena emerges as a premier venue dedicated exclusively to the advancement of women's football.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The grand inauguration took place during the enthralling match between the Kansas City Current and the Portland Thorns, where fans witnessed Vanessa DiBernardo's triumphant goal just 22 minutes into the game, setting the tone for an exhilarating season ahead.

Apart from the Mahomes pair, Current chairman and CEO Chris Long, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman were present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The vision of the Current's ownership group, spearheaded by Chris and Angie Long, transcends mere sport; it embodies a commitment to empowering female athletes and revolutionizing the landscape of women's soccer. With private financing driving its construction, CPKC Stadium epitomizes a groundbreaking initiative to provide women with world-class facilities tailored to their needs.
From the inception of an $18 million purpose-built practice facility to the culmination in the grandeur of CPKC Stadium, the Current's ownership group remained steadfast in their pursuit of excellence.

TICKET DEMANDS SKYROCKET

The genesis of CPKC Stadium heralds a new era for the Kansas City Current, symbolizing a departure from the club's previous nomadic existence. Previously known as FC Kansas City before its dissolution in 2017, the club navigated through various venues, ranging from high school football stadiums to minor league ballparks, before finding a permanent home.

The overwhelming demand for tickets underscores the fervent anticipation surrounding CPKC Stadium, with season tickets sold out months in advance. As fans eagerly await the expansion of the stadium, designed to accommodate future growth, the club remains committed to enhancing the matchday experience for supporters.

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WHAT NEXT?

However, amidst the jubilation surrounding CPKC Stadium's inauguration, dissenting voices have emerged, expressing concerns about potential ramifications on property values, traffic congestion, and parking accessibility. Moreover, the club's decision to introduce a $50 parking fee sparked outrage among a section of fans.

In response, the Kansas City Current has urged fans to explore alternative transportation options, including rideshare services and public transit, to mitigate parking challenges and ensure a seamless matchday experience for all attendees. After a winning start to the campaign against Portland Thorns, Kansas City Current will get back to action on March 23 when they face San Diego Wave.

Liverpool moved on a number of players in the summer transfer window out of Anfield, the old guard being gradually phased out by Jurgen Klopp for new talents such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch coming into the building.

James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and more were all let go of by Klopp in his pursuit of new and fresh players, both Fabinho and Henderson opting for moves to Saudi Arabia. The latter has linked up with former teammate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq who now manages out in the Middle East.

A third departee from Liverpool would also join the mega-bucks of the Saudi Pro League, Roberto Firmino ending his eight-year connection with the Reds to join Al-Ahli and link up with former Premier League players Ryad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin subsequently.

How much did Liverpool sign Roberto Firmino for?

Signed by Brendan Rodgers during the summer 2015-16 transfer window for £21.3m – Klopp not joining the Reds until that October – Firmino would become a stalwart for Liverpool and a key player in the success the German manager would bring back to Anfield.

In his first season with the club after leaving Hoffenheim behind, scoring 49 goals in total for the Bundesliga side before Liverpool poached the Brazilian, he would net ten goals and become Liverpool's top scorer in the league.

He would notch up double figures for the next three seasons on the spin for the Reds, his best season in a Liverpool strip coming during the 2017/18 campaign – the Brazilian centre-forward helping himself to 15 goals, forming the foundations of an unstoppable front three.

Firmino – alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane – would wreak havoc on top-flight defences for a number of seasons – striking fear into Premier League defences, combining for an unbelievable 338 goals together.

Although, when Liverpool lifted the coveted Premier League at the end of the 2019/20 season, Firmino only netted nine times.

An emotional last match at Anfield for the Brazilian showed how much the Liverpool masses had idolised the forward, scoring at the death versus Aston Villa to snatch a 1-1 draw with the attacker visibly emotional in his celebrations.

Making 362 appearances for Liverpool – all mainly under the tenure of Klopp – the label of Firmino being a Liverpool legend was branded about by pundits and fans alike as he departed on a free transfer.

Even Liverpool goalscoring great Ian Rush would herald Firmino as the 'most skilful number nine that Liverpool have ever had' in the wake of his move to Saudi Arabia, high praise indeed from the Welshman who also wore that same number.

How is Firmino performing in Saudi?

Firmino has slotted straight into the Al-Ahli set-up, named as captain for his new Saudi side before a ball had been kicked.

He has scored three goals from ten games so far for his new Middle East employers, all three of those goals coming against Al-Hazem on his debut – his second of the contest assisted by Ryad Mahrez.

He has also been unselfish for Al-Ahli so far, assisting a further two goals with one of those assists helping his Saudi side win 1-0 against Al-Okhdood recently – Franck Kessie benefitting as a result with a last-minute winner.

Early days with Al-Ahli suggest that Firmino will not view this move as a holiday, nearing towards his retirement. Rather, it's an opportunity to become a star man again after leaving Liverpool behind.

So far, he has more goals and assists than even Szoboszlai does in a Reds jersey – the ever-impressive Hungarian midfielder scoring just the two times this term, while failing to register an assist.

But, Firmino's time with Klopp's team is up and Liverpool fans will now keep a close eye to see how the Brazilian performs in Saudi Arabia in the hope their former icon excels in his new surroundings.

Chris Woakes has also been brought into the squad for the second Test against India at Lord’s as a replacement for Ben Stokes who will be attending court in Bristol

George Dobell05-Aug-20182:10

Root sees shades of Stokes in Curran

Ollie Pope has replaced Dawid Malan in the England squad for the second Specsavers Test against India at Lord’s.Pope, a 20-year-old who has played just 15 first-class matches, has been in excellent form for Surrey in the County Championship this season scoring 684 runs at an average of 85.50, including three centuries. He also recently made an unbeaten half-century against India A for England Lions.If he plays, Pope will become, aged 20 years and 219 days, the fifth man aged 20 or under to make his Test debut for England in the last couple of years. Haseeb Hameed (19 years and 297 days), Sam Curran (19 years, 363 days), Dom Bess (20 years, 306 days) and Mason Crane (20 years, 320 days) are the others.”Ollie Pope has made an exceptional start to his first-class career,” Ed Smith, the national selector, said. “He has reached a 1,000 first class runs in just 15 matches and is the first division’s stand-out batsman this season with 684 runs at 85. The selection panel believe that Ollie’s performances and character suggest he is well suited to international cricket.”Last week, Pope talked to ESPNcricinfo about soaking up knowledge from some of the experienced batsmen he has had a chance to play alongside including Kumar Sangakkara and Aaron Finch at Surrey as well as Alastair Cook with the Lions.”I pick their brains. Cook is one of the best players to have played in India so I asked him what his method was. You find out what you want to know. Of course you learn by watching, and how they go about practice but you have to be proactive. You have to ask them the questions you want the answers to.”Malan has endured a tough few weeks in the England team. As well as failing to reach 30 in any of the three Tests he has played this summer, he has proved somewhat unreliable in the slip cordon and dropped what could have been a match-defining chance offered by Virat Kohli in the first innings at Edgbaston. Kohli, on 21 at the time, went on to make 149.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Malan looked to have made a breakthrough in Test cricket when making a maiden century in Perth. But since that Test, he has reached 30 only twice in 12 innings. Aged 30, with a Test average of 27.84 after 15 Tests (and just 20.23 in eight home Tests), this may well prove to be the end of Malan’s career.”Dawid Malan drops out of the squad for Lord’s. Dawid has not found his best rhythm this season, and it may be that his game is better suited to overseas conditions,” Smith said.Pope has been preferred to numerous other batsmen including Worcestershire’s Joe Clarke. While Clarke has also enjoyed a decent county season – with three centuries, 621 runs and an average of 44.35 – he struggled against spin bowling on England Lions’ tour of the Caribbean over the winter. With spin expected to play an increasingly prominent role in the series, that counted against him.Both Pope and Clarke have the advantage, in this instance at least, of being right-handed. As such, they would appear to be better equipped to negate the threat of R Ashwin, the India offspinner. Ashwin takes his Test wickets at an average below 20 against left-handers and above 30 against right-handers. England had seven left-handers in their line-up at Edgbaston and Ashwin claimed seven wickets in the match.Chris Woakes also returns to the squad in place of Ben Stokes, who faces his court hearing in Bristol this week, while Moeen Ali remains in the squad as a second spin option. The uncapped Essex seamer, Jamie Porter, also retains his place in the squad.It remains possible that, in the unlikely event his court case should be adjourned for any reason early in the week, Stokes could be added to the squad. Woakes has played a couple of T20 matches since he was deemed unready to be named in the squad in the first Test. He has also had some long spells in the nets with a red ball.”Ben Stokes is unavailable, but Chris Woakes, with some extra matches and practices under his belt, can now return to the England squad after injury,” Smith said.Realistically, England have to decide whether to play two spinners at Lord’s, where they expect the pitch to be dry, and if they do so, whether Moeen should play instead of a batsman (Pope) or instead of the fourth seamer (who is probably Woakes). Either way, the loss of Stokes is significant.

Jerome Boateng's mother has claimed he "has been abusing women for years" as legal proceedings resume for alleged assault against his ex-girlfriend.

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• Boateng was found guilty of assault
• His mother made shocking claim about defender
• A superior regional court will hear the case again

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Boateng's mother, in an email to a Berlin lawyer, dated March 25, 2021, asserted that her son had been mentally and physically abusive towards women for years. This statement comes in the aftermath of the tragic death of Kasia Lenhardt, Boateng's former girlfriend, who took her own life on February 9, 2021, in Berlin.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  According to the German publication Boateng's mother claimed: "My son has been mentally and physically abusing women for years, now Kasia Lenhardt has taken her own life and he still doesn't want to face the consequences of his behaviour."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Investigations into Lenhardt's death by have revealed compelling evidence supporting allegations of violence within her relationship with Boateng. Forensic analysis of Lenhardt's iPhone and extensive audio messages are said to corroborate her accounts of abuse. Moreover, it has emerged that Lenhardt allegedly intended to file a complaint against Boateng for bodily harm shortly before her untimely death.

  Chat messages retrieved from Lenhardt's communications paint a harrowing picture of the alleged abuse she endured. As early as October 2019, Lenhardt documented instances of Boateng's alleged violence, detailing injuries such as broken thumbs and hematomas inflicted by him.

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• WHAT DID BOATENG'S LAWYERS SAY

  Speaking to Spiegel, Boateng's lawyer explained: "Due to ongoing proceedings, it is currently not possible for our client to respond to your questions in detail. Therefore, fundamentally: You are simply misinformed to a large extent; In addition, they are apparently only provided with selective information. He never physically attacked."

While some England players are raring to pick up a bat or a red ball against the No.1 Test team, Jonny Bairstow can’t wait to get his mitts on, well, the mitts. Having relinquished the wicketkeeping duties to Jos Buttler during the limited-overs leg of England’s summer, the Test gloveman will be back behind the stumps for the first match of the series at Edgbaston.Bairstow’s keeping has improved markedly since he first took up the gloves for England, as a replacement for the injured Matt Prior during the 2013-14 Ashes. His development is a testament to both hard work and a stubborn refusal to be considered as a batsman only.”It is quite good fun running around like a lunatic on the boundary,” said Bairstow of his time as an out-fielder during the one-day matches. “It is not quite as much fun getting abused by home fans… it is exciting.”I enjoyed it this week being back at Headingley. The last time I kept before then properly was the last Test match so we have had a little bit of a break and a lay-off, but I don’t see that as too much of an issue.”Your movements and everything like, you just settle back in. Yes, you have got a pair of gloves on and you are standing behind instead of out on the boundary. You are able to get your angles a bit better but it is something I have worked hard on for a number of years now.”It was good to get a bit of a break because it keeps your mind fresh, your body fresh, and it keeps that excitement and hunger to come back in and want to do well, keep pushing yourself and to keep having an impact on the game.”Leaving aside his glovework, Bairstow’s impact on matches this season has been significant. Earlier in the week he scored 82 in Yorkshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Lancashire, while he has made solid contributions for England batting up and down the order in all three formats since the start of the summer, calling to mind his form in 2016.”I am happy with the way I have been playing,” Bairstow said during the launch of the Specsavers Test Series. “There are differences that are going to change from white-ball to red-ball. With the white ball I have been opening the batting, with the red ball I am bit further down, hopefully batting for a longer time and your roles differ.”I would like to hope that is something over the last ten years of playing, with the way my game is and evolving, that I have been able to modify those in different scenarios and different conditions against different opposition.”Whether I am coming into it in good nick… I don’t want to jinx myself. I am content with my game is at but there is a lot more I can offer and a lot further I can go in the game.”Bairstow was, quite understandably, unwilling to be drawn into the controversy surrounding the Test selection of his Yorkshire teammate, Adil Rashid, who opted out of playing red-ball cricket for his county earlier this year. But he is optimistic that Rashid will be able to put aside the rumblings that have followed his England call-up.”That is for them to deal with,” Bairstow said. “That is for Yorkshire to deal with and Adil. That is something I am sure will be in the background but, at the same time, he has now been picked in a Test squad to represent England.”The biggest honour you can have is to go out and play Test cricket for England. I think deep, deep down, Yorkshire will be chuffed to pieces that another one of their players is going out and hopefully representing their country in one of the biggest series there is to play.”Bairstow knows Rashid better than most: the two Yorkshiremen have been playing together since they were teenagers, although Rashid is two years older, and Bairstow believes the legspinner is a better bowler now than when he last played for England against India in December 2016.”I think he has matured a lot,” said Bairstow. “You can see that in the way that he is starting, the way he is bowling in the Powerplays in one-day cricket. And I don’t think that’s hyping him up too much, yes he hasn’t played red-ball cricket – he has played white-ball cricket – but if he is landing his legspinner, if he is landing his googly, he just has to do it a few more times other than the 10 overs he has been bowling.”At the same time people are not necessarily [going to] come at him as hard in red-ball cricket as they will in white so the shape he gets on the ball, the line he might bowl, the length he might bowl, might differ as well. It is an exciting challenge for him, as for us all, going from white-ball cricket to red-ball cricket.The national selector, Ed Smith, has denied that Rashid’s call-up was heavily influenced by the leg-break he bowled to dismiss Virat Kohli in England’s victory over India in the third ODI at Headingley. Rashid took Kohli’s wicket twice during the ODI series and there has been speculation the Indian captain’s stunned reaction after missing the Headingley delivery, which Rashid later described as one of the best balls he has bowled at the highest level, may have significantly helped his selection.”He has bowled me with plenty of legbreaks over the years,” said Bairstow. “It is not just that one ball that he will get remembered for. For the rest of the balls he bowled, he’s used his googlies, varied his pace, he’s come over the top of the ball, round the side of it.”The utilisation of his side spin and top spin was very impressive as well. To have him [Kohli] out, get him stumped then to bowl him was really impressive.”He obviously bowled really, really nicely in the one-dayers and the way the white ball has been coming out of his hand… it is an exciting call-up for him. He is delighted and I am really excited for him.”Jonny Bairstow was speaking at the launch of ‘The Test Experts’ Specsavers as Official Test Partner for England ahead of the 1000th Test which begins at Edgbaston on August 1

BBC pundit Chris Sutton now thinks that Mikel Arteta has an absolutely "broken" Arsenal player in his ranks.

West Ham 3-1 Arsenal

While Arteta's side are absolutely flying in the Premier League, remaining unbeaten over their opening 10 matches, the same cannot be said for cup competitions. Arsenal have suffered defeat in the Champions League against RC Lens, and most recently, they were knocked out of the EFL Cup by London neighbours West Ham.

Goals from Ben White (OG), Mohammed Kudus and star winger Jarrod Bowen cancelled out captain Martin Odegaard's late concellation to book West Ham's place in the quarter-finals, where they will take on Liverpool in what will be a tough encounter. Arsenal made six changes from their win over Sheffield United last weekend, with Arteta taking full responsibility for the defeat while also ruing the lack of VAR.

"I'm very disappointed. I am responsible for that, we're out of the cup and we wanted to play a very different game," said Arteta on Arsenal's defeat to West Ham.

"We wanted to compete in a game like this, which we discussed for 48 hours, in a very different way. The game took a direction because of the first goal and we can discuss that but we have to see much more from the team to earn a result at a place like here. If there is VAR there's no [first] goal, that's for sure. I understand it's difficult for the referees because of the angle and the amount of people there. I don't want to use that as an excuse but that takes something in the game that is very important which is momentum."

Summer signing Kai Havertz has been criticised this season but was given the nod by Arteta against West Ham, but he didn't exactly shine.

Kai Havertz looking "broken" at Arsenal

The Germany international joined from Chelsea for around £60 million, a transfer which has been questioned given Havertz's lack of goal involvement. The 24-year-old has a goal and assist to his name across 15 appearances in all competitions, and reports suggest Arsenal could look to sign a striker in January.

BBC pundit Sutton, speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast, has said Havertz looks like a "broken" player at Arsenal right now, despite still "trying" to give his all.

“He looks like a player, before you ask what it’s like to be a failed striker at Chelsea, he looks like me," said Sutton after Arsenal's defeat to West Ham.

"Let’s get back to the serious chat. Havertz does look like a broken man, a player with zero confidence, it’s not a nice place to be, his decision making is muddled. He’s half a yard off it. He’s trying, but if you look at his body language, he needs a break, he needs a big moment, he doesn’t need the ball throwing at him and given sympathy penalties like he was earlier this season."

Likes to do lay-offs

Likes to play short passes

Commits fouls often

Time may be running out for the ex-Bayer Leverkusen sensation to really live up to his name in England.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has now personally identified a £70 million forward as his signing preference over Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Will Arsenal sign anyone in January?

The Premier League title hopefuls, according to various reports in the last two months, have a few transfer targets in mind for the January transfer window and 2024 in general. Lesser-known names like Royal Antwerp sensation Arthur Vermeeren and Club Brugge star Andreas Skov Olsen have been linked in the past week, but Toney is a name absolutely dominating the headlines where Arsenal are concerned.

The Englishman, who scored 20 league goals prior to his gambling ban last season, looks set to be one of next year's hottest transfer commodities. Toney has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham in the past few weeks alone, with pundits like Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believing a new striker like Toney is desperately needed at the Emirates.

“I do believe that is the position that Arsenal needs to strengthen," said Parlour live on talkSPORT.

"But, it ultimately depends on player availability and financial negotiations to ensure it’s the right deal for Arsenal. Ivan Toney would be a great acquisition. Let’s wait and see how things develop.”

As well as Toney, Wolves forward Pedro Neto is another player attracting Arteta's interest, with Football Transfers now having some news on both of Arsenal's transfer targets.

Pedro Neto transfer update

Sharing a Neto transfer update, the outlet claims that Gary O'Neill's star man is actually now a preferred target of Arteta's. Indeed, it is believed that the Spaniard actually wants Arsenal to sign Neto more than Toney after being informed by club hierarchy of a limited budget. There is said to be confidence that their current crop of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah can do the job up front, with Arteta being a long-time admirer of Neto as he looks to ease the burden on Bukayo Saka out-wide.

The 23-year-old won't come cheap, though, as the report goes on to state that Wolves will demand close to around £70 million for him. While Arsenal believe they can do it for £40 million, that doesn't appear likely. Neto has already grabbed five assists and a goal over his first eight league games this season, rediscovering his past form after coming back from a serious injury.

Journalist Charles Watts, commenting on the links to Neto recently, claimed he would be an excellent signing for Arteta – going on to call him "electric".

“Pedro Neto is a player we know Arsenal like," said Watts on Inside Arsenal.

"They’ve followed him before. Wolves have been very adamant when Arsenal have gone knocking for Neto, they were having none of it. These stories are emerging again. He looks electric, he’s scoring goals, his pace looks spot on. He really surprised me, he looks so sharp, so quick. He’s the perfect age for Arsenal, all the talent in the world. Would I take Neto? Absolutely, he also grew up watching Arsenal, maybe that will help."