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On paper this series was between two evenly-matched teams. Two Tests in, Stokes and Co have ensured it’s been anything but

Vithushan Ehantharajah08-Dec-2024The build-up to this second New Zealand-England Test focused on 2023’s dramatic one-run win on the final evening of day five at this same venue.Locals streaming in, school kids cutting class, converging on this gorgeous roundabout in Mount Victoria to bear witness to a finale for the ages. This time around, they were headed the other way. Locals back home, schoolkids with black caps wishing it was Monday already.England’s emphatic 323-run victory was secured on Sunday, but set in motion well before that. All that was left to do when they arrived in the morning with a 533 lead were the polite formalities, like raise the curtains and load the shotgun.Related

England crush NZ to claim series despite Blundell defiance

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It was shortly before 5pm that New Zealand were put out of their misery at the Basin Reserve. The margin as humiliating as the fact it only took three days to establish.Success over here for England was not guaranteed. Their last series win away in New Zealand came in 2008. Four failed attempts since spoke of the need for graft and respect for the opposition. The latter was guaranteed considering they had swept India in India a few weeks prior. In the end, Ben Stokes’ side have moved to an unassailable 2-0 lead off the back of an eight-wicket win in Christchurch and a demolition job in Wellington. Two of New Zealand’s historic venues sullied.These last exchanges of a brief Test containing all sorts amounted to a glorified box-ticking endeavour. At points it felt like England were looters coming back to see what was left from their initial ransackings across Friday and Saturday.Joe Root found a routine century, moving level with Rahul Dravid’s tally of 36, who sits above him in fourth on the all-time Test run-scorer charts. Even the use of his patented reverse scoop off Will O’Rourke’s bowling to take him to three figures from his 127th delivery felt like an indulgent side-quest. It was the first time he had used the shot to move to three figures.Reverse scoop to get to a hundred? Sure•Getty Images”I thought it was amazing,” beamed Stokes, who was batting with Root at the time, and raised his arms at the non-striker’s end at the sheer audacity. “He [O’Rourke] had the man down there all morning, then he brought him up and he [Root] thought it is a good idea to scoop a 6ft 9in giant who was bowling rockets!”An epic target of 583 allowed more grooving of Shoaib Bashir, who was unused in the first innings and finished unbeaten on nought from two deliveries with the bat on day one. Stokes informed Bashir he would be bowling all day, and initially cordoned off 17 overs from the Scoreboard End for the offspinner.Having navigated the wind at the Hagley Oval during the first Test, Bashir had earmarked the Basin Reserve’s top end as the place to apply those fresh learnings, particularly holding strong in his action. Alas, he was met with a far more challenging gust than anticipated.The results were expensive, with 102 conceded from that long spell, including seven sixes, all gone with the wind. But Stokes was willing to spend frivolously to buy the 21-year-old Test dismissals No. 46 and No. 47 in the form of Glenn Phillips (bowled with decent turn and skid) and centurion Tom Blundell (fortuitously pocketed by a quick-thinking Ben Duckett off a wretched ball down leg).A captain both wise and tactically astute? Done•Joe Allison/Getty Images”You don’t get Test wickets if you’re not bowling, Bash, do you?” Stokes said to Bashir after Blundell’s demise. In any other situation, under any other captain, Bashir would have been pulled out of the attack earlier. But the luxury of England’s advantage, and Stokes’ desire to stuff him full of experience saw him uninterrupted, eventually conceding 110 from 19 overs, 70 of which came in boundaries.Even Stokes was able to get a little something for himself. With New Zealand seven down, he tagged to take on the elements, swapping Bashir to the other end. He claimed the last three wickets, the first time he has taken as many in an innings since September 2022.While there is no jeopardy for the end of this series as a live contest – World Test Championship points at Hamilton next week aside – it is important to reiterate England earned their canter. Their approach to tough conditions in the first innings when Tom Latham asked them to bat first, scoring 280 inside 54.4 overs, allowed them to sway the match, eventually gaining total control after dismissing New Zealand for 125.Stokes wanted to bat first based on the 2023 meeting here, which took turn as the game extended beyond England’s expectation and into New Zealand’s wildest dreams. And while this might look like a nightmarish result on Latham’s side, by this point they were calmly put to sleep, accepting and powerless.Blundell’s first century in 20 months brought a modicum of Kiwi joy. The appearance of the retiring Tim Southee, coming out to the middle as No. 10 for his penultimate Test appearance brought a standing ovation from the few who had remained.A crowd that had been diluted by the rain that brought an early lunch had been spread thinner by the near-gale that warned of an impending storm. An apt allegory for a series many thought would be competitive but has already been decided in five days out of a possible 15.On paper, this was supposed to be an even match-up. New Zealand perhaps even favourites off the back of their historical tour, and fuelled by the added motivation of reaching a second WTC final in three cycles. Two defeats – and an over-rate deduction – has put that out of reach.While there is pride to play for next week, including giving Southee a fitting farewell, New Zealand have been roughed up. It has been a mismatch, and nothing typified that more than the final throes.

The Tigers' offense woke up just in time to avoid elimination as they scored all nine of their runs unanswered to secure a 9–3 victory over the Mariners in Game 4 of their American League Divisional Series. Javy Báez, one of the few Detroit batters to show any signs of life this postseason, put things out of reach by blasting a two-run homer on a hanging slider that sent Comerica Park into a frenzy.

It was a no-doubter from the moment it left his bat, but Fox Sports' A.J. Pierzynski still deserves credit for putting it on the board before Baez had even completed his swing. Listen to him nail the call in record time.

"And now, two more" Pierzynski said before the ball had even sailed over the infield.

Even better, he quickly got out of the way for his partner Adam Amin to narrate the moment with some context, saying this was Báez's first playoff homer in eight years. That one came as a member of the World Series-winning Cubs.

Pierzynski has seen a lot of baseball and knows what a pitch like that can result in, but still some incredible speed on the processing there.

Do Arsenal lack attacking firepower?

The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres this summer was supposed to end the Gunners’ search for a centre-forward but, so far, the Swede has scored just four Premier League goals, with supporters yet to be truly convinced by their new number nine.

The Swede, as well as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are all likely to remain sidelined ahead of Sunday’s North London derby, meaning Mikel Merino will continue as the makeshift centre-forward.

So, could Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta address this issue in January by targeting “one of the best strikers in Europe”?

Arsenal searching for more attacking firepower

The January transfer window is often a quiet one for Arsenal, albeit they have pulled off some memorable winter signings down the years.

Nacho Monreal, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor, Leandro Trossard and Andrey Arshavin all arrived in various Januarys, as did current club captain Ødegaard, albeit the most exciting mid-season addition surely remains Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January 2018.

So now, in a deal that would be very reminiscent, reports in Spain claim that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a January move for another Dortmund centre-forward, this time Serhou Guirassy.

They claim that the Guinea international has a €50m release clause (around £44m) in his contract, making him an attractive proposition for any potential suitors, including Arsenal.

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Former national team head coach Kaba Diawara is the only Guinean to ever feature for Arsenal, scoring zero goals in 14 appearances in 1999, infamously hitting the woodwork with pretty much every shot he took, so Guirassy would certainly surpass that legacy, should he swap North Rhine-Westphalia for North London.

How Serhou Guirassy would repeat Aubameyang's success

When Aubameyang joined Arsenal, he was 28 years old and had just scored 141 goals in 213 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, winning the previous season’s DFB-Pokal, scoring the winning penalty against Eintracht Frankfurt in the final at Olympiastadion.

Once at Arsenal, the Gabonese international netted 92 times in 163 outings, sharing the Premier League golden boot in 2018/19, while only five players have ever scored more goals for the Gunners in the competition.

For those wondering, this quintet are: Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Olivier Giroud.

Now 36, Aubameyang is proving that goal-scoring instincts never fade, having netted six times for Olympique de Marseille already this season, most recently breaking the deadlock during Friday night’s 5-1 demolition of Nice, having also scored when les Phocéens crushed Ajax 4-0 at Stade Vélodrome in the Champions League in September.

So, with Gyökers earning mixed reviews, Arsenal might just lack a striker with that killer instinct, but could that be Guirassy?

Well, let’s compare his and Aubameyang’s time at Borussia Dortmund to see if he would be able to replicate the ex-Gunners star’s career?

Appearances

50

46

Minutes

4,244

3,959

Goals

38

40

UCL Goals

13

7

Assists

9

5

Shots per 90

2.9

3.4

Shots on target per 90

1.8

2.2

Shot accuracy %

60.54%

63.11%

Big chances missed

31

32

% of touches in the box

15.9%

20.5%

As the table documents, Guirassy’s form last season is remarkably similar to that of Aubameyang during his final campaign with die Schwarzgelben.

​​​​​​​

The current Dortmund centre-forward scored two fewer goals than peak Aubameyang, albeit he did net 13 times in last season’s Champions League, thereby picking up the competition’s golden boot.

Other numbers that are similar are the pair’s shots per 90, shooting accuracy and the percentage of their touches that come in the opposition’s penalty area, while the duo both missed more than 30 Opta-defined big chances, which, statistically speaking, is a lot!

Nevertheless, Guirassy’s form at Westfalenstadion​​​​​​​ led to Germany’s all-time record appearance holder Lothar Matthäus asserting that he has become “one of the best strikers in Europe”, underlining how highly rated he is by regular Bundesliga observers.

Thus, should Guirassy arrive at Arsenal in January, he would undeniably have a massive impact, one that could fire Arteta’s team to that elusive first Premier League title in 22 years.

Rice & Merino hybrid: Berta now exploring Arsenal move for £70m "monster"

Declan Rice & Mikel Merino remain two of Arsenal’s most important players, so is Andrea Berta now targeting a monster hybrid of of the two worth £70m?

ByBen Gray Nov 21, 2025

A 92-ball phase saw Hope turbocharge WI’s innings before Seales blew away Pakistan’s specialist batters

Danyal Rasool12-Aug-2025

West Indies won their first men’s bilateral ODI series against Pakistan since 1991•AFP/Getty Images

Knowing when it’s time to go is a valuable trait, and if Pakistan were in any doubt their time in the Caribbean was up, West Indies quashed them and sent the visitors out of town with a comprehensive trouncing.Jayden Seales’ six-wicket haul – the joint second-best figures by a West Indian in men’s ODI cricket – and an unbeaten hundred from Shai Hope put Pakistan to the sword in each innings. It was more than enough to secure West Indies’ first ODI series win over Pakistan in 34 years with their biggest ever win over Pakistan, scything through them for 92 having set them 295 to win.It was a 15.2-over passage of play straddling both innings which lay at the heart of West Indies’ dominance, a stunning inversion of a script Pakistan thought they had been writing all along. West Indies struggled to get going on what looked a tricky pitch to negotiate against the slower bowlers, with Mohammad Rizwan greedily getting through as many of their part-time fifth bowling options as possible.West Indies appeared to have sacrificed an ambitious innings total in exchange for conservatism that at least preserved their wickets, but as a result, they hadn’t yet crossed 200 by the start of the 44th over. It took one ball to change that, a smeared six from Hope off the first ball from Mohammad Nawaz bringing up that milestone. A second six off the next delivery emphasised his intent, and Pakistan watched frozen as West Indies shuffled themselves off the canvas and began landing body blows Pakistan one after the other.Shai Hope remained unbeaten after making his 18th ODI ton•AFP/Getty Images

Rizwan immediately turned to Abrar Ahmed, so effective through the middle of the innings that he’d conceded just five off his first six overs. But West Indies’ captain had redlined his game, turbocharging to a gear Pakistan believed he wasn’t capable of achieving on this surface. He would bleed a further 18 off the mystery spinner, with Justin Greaves bursting into life from the other end, flaying Hasan Ali for as many. Naseem Shah, trying his best to land the kind of reverse swinging yorkers that had put paid to Roston Chase earlier, could not escape Hope’s wrath as he bore down on three figures, getting there with a crunching cover drive that put him third on the all time West Indian ODI centuries list.That was just the start of a 21-run over, and by the time he caressed Hasan Ali over backward point off the final ball of the innings, 100 had come off the final seven. As Pakistan walked off dejected muttering amongst themselves, it was hard to escape the feeling this was about as poor a passage of play as they could endure.And yet, Seales spent the next 8.2 overs disabusing them of that notion. For the third time in the series, the right-arm quick exploited the angle moving away to Saim Ayub, who nicked off in the first over. His fellow opener, Abdullah Shafique, would also leave without troubling the scorers, trying to whack Seales over mid-on, but couldn’t take into account the heavy ball he was bowling, ballooning it to Gudakesh Motie stationed perfectly in position.Jayden Seales finished with a career-best six-for•AFP/Getty Images

But it was the third of his six which will serve as the jewel in the crown. Rizwan can be tricky to settle on a length to for all his fidgetiness, and as he took a step out, he determined the fourth-stump line on a hard length was safe to leave on both counts. As he shouldered arms, he would have heard the mildest clink behind him, like ice-cubes tinkling in a glass. The ball had seamed back in and kissed the off bail without even touching the stumps; it could not have been dislodged more clinically if someone picked it up and set it on the ground.A punch-drunk Pakistan were already dreaming up wild scenarios for how this match could turn, and it’s safe to say they all involved Babar Azam. Babar, though, was a mere plot-point to Seales’ perfect day as he trapped him in front with the batter still in single figures to leave Pakistan reeling at 23 for 4.It was those 92 balls that defined the game. Pakistan may have started well, but it barely feels like it matters now. The cracks and weaknesses were apparent even then, when Rizwan turned to Hussain Talat for his first deliveries in international cricket after the first powerplay saw them constrict West Indies, only for Evin Lewis to pick him up for two sixes and break the shackles. Abrar was so accurate and menacing he often appeared on the verge of running through West Indies early, and the hosts spent much of the innings batting at a glacial pace well under four runs per over. It did not matter now.Mohammad Rizwan looks back after Jayden Seales’ sorcery dislodged the bails•AFP/Getty Images

Neither did whatever happened after that fourth Pakistan wicket fell. Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz had little ambition beyond stealing a few singles each over, even if that made the ultimately Herculean task even more insurmountable as the asking rate spiked. That Pakistan had stripped their side of full-time bowlers for superficial batting depth hardly seemed to matter. They knew they were never getting there anyway, and when the spin of Motie and Chase accounted for them in quick succession, West Indies could see the finish line.To do the honours, they handed that baton to none other than Seales, who blew past Naseem and Hasan Ali before Abrar jogged through for a single that was never on. Chase effected a direct hit, that sharpness depriving Seales the opportunity to bag the best ever bowling figures in men’s ODIs by a West Indian. For all of the young speedster’s brilliance, the fact Pakistan ensured they had a final say in their own downfall felt somewhat apt.

أعلن وليد الركراكي، المدير الفني لمنتخب المغرب، اليوم الخميس، القائمة النهائية المستدعاة للمشاركة في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.

ومن المقرر إقامة بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025 في المغرب، خلال الفترة من 21 ديسمبر 2025 إلى 18 يناير 2026، بمشاركة 24 منتخبًٍا مقسمة على 6 مجموعات.

طالع.. سبب استبعاد محمد عبد المنعم من قائمة منتخب مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا

وضمت القائمة 28 لاعبًا، بينهم لاعبين في القائمة الاحتياطية، مع تواجد محمد الشيبي الظهير الأيمن لفريق بيراميدز.

ويبدأ منتخب المغرب البطولة بمواجهة منتخب جزر القمر في المباراة الافتتاحية يوم 21 ديسمبر الجاري، ضمن المجموعة الأولى التي تضم أيضًا منتخبات مالي وزامبيا. قائمة المغرب لـ كأس أمم إفريقيا

حراسة المرمى: ياسين بونو – منير المحمدي – المهدي الحرار.

خط الدفاع: أشرف حكيمي – محمد الشيبي – جواد الياميق – رومان سايس – عبد الحميد آيت بودلال – نايف أكرد – آدم ماسينا – نصير مزراوي – أنس صلاح الدين.

خط الوسط: أسامة ترجالين – سفيان أمرابط – إسماعيل الصيباري – بلال الخنوس – نائل العيناوي – عز الدين أوناحي.

خط الهجوم: إبراهيم دياز – إلياس أخوماش – شمس الدين الطالبي – يوسف النصيري – أيوب الكعبي – سفيان رحيمي – عبد الصمد الزلزولي – إلياس بنصغير.

القائمة الاحتياطية: حمزة إكمان – يوسف بلعمري.

Daniel Farke has reportedly been handed an ultimatum by authoritative figures at Leeds United, with a new report revealing that the German head coach could risk losing his job if he doesn't manage to eke out a win in his side's upcoming fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea this week. Farke has been under tremendous pressure in recent weeks after Leeds dropped into the relegation zone.

• Farke walking a tightrope at Leeds United

  Senior figures at Leeds United expect Farke to lose his job if he cannot inspire his team to turn their fortunes around this week, according to a report from . The club will host title contenders Chelsea and reigning champions Liverpool at Elland Road on Wednesday and Saturday, but failure to win either game could jeopardise Farke's position at the club. 

  There is "sympathy for him in some quarters owing to a belief that results have not reflected some positive performances," which could be suggestive of the notion that the German head coach's job hangs in balance. Leeds collected eight points from their opening six league encounters, but are since experiencing a barren stretch of results which has seen them lose six of their last seven outings – four of them in succession. 

  Despite being backed with a £100 million (€114m/$132m) summer investment, Leeds find themselves battling for survival after a 100-pointer campaign in the Championship last season, which saw them win the second-tier. Following their most recent loss, a gut-wrenching 3-2 defeat at the Etihad against Manchester City, they are left languishing in 18th position on the Premier League. The good news is that a few positive results will give them breathing room and buy Farke the leeway he requires to save his job. The bad news? There's not much time – or hope – left for that to happen, with Chelsea and Liverpool's challenges on the horizon.

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  Fans have started losing patience with Farke

  On November's penultimate weekend, Leeds hosted Aston Villa after slipping into the relegation zone for the first time this season, following Nottingham Forest's shock 3-0 shellacking of Liverpool at Anfield and West Ham's draw with Bournemouth. 

  Things looked bright for the home side afer Lukas Nmecha fired his team into the lead in the eighth minute. However, all the hard work was undone courtesy a brilliant second-half brace from the magnificent Morgan Rogers. 

  While the loss undeniably soured the mood, the real spectacle came courtesy of a 61-year-old passionate Leeds fan. Seething with anger, he stormed from the stands and onto the pitch midway through the match, trying to confront Farke near the Leeds dugout, before being escorted off by stadium stewards. The fan got to within several yards of the technical area to bawl out at the 49-year-old, but the Leeds boss was totally unaware of everything else that had been unfolding before his eyes at Elland Road that day.

  "Everyone is disappointed," Farke told reporters after the game. "I don't want one change in our supporters. I don't want them to be happy after (we have lost) and to give some plaudits. 

  "We have a very passionate fan-base, and this is what we want – it's a privilege. I don't want our supporters to change one per cent. They should be angry and disappointed. I feel exactly the same, and for that, we would expect it, that it's like this. I totally understand this."

• Farke wants to keep Leeds 'in the promised land'

  Ahead of Leeds' opening day encounter against Everton in August, Farke made a determined vow to lead the club back to where it belongs – among the best in the Premier League. “I’ve always been in the mindset not to do the selfish things in my career, but to do things when I’m convinced ‘I need to do this’,” Farke said. “I want to leave this club in a better place than when I arrived. I’m just focused on taking the next step for Leeds United. I want to keep this club in the promised land. It’s a club which belongs in the Premier League. The fanbase is second to none.”

  However, the reality stands in stark contrast, far from anything imagined more than three words since that promise, with Leeds ominously navigating relegation waters and Farke on the verge of being relieved of his duties.

  In any case, Farke remains committed to the cause and has shown enough conviction to turn things around, at least as far as his words are concerned. "No. We don't have to speak about this topic, because this is not a topic I think one second about, really not," he responded when asked if he has received any reassurances from Leeds' hierarchy.

  "It's not the question I am worried one second about. If you can't handle the heat, don't become a manager of Leeds United."

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  Speculation suggests Leeds are already looking for replacements

  According to the rumour mill, Leeds have started preparing for life after Farke. Two prime candidates who could be approached by the club in the near future are Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou. 

  Rodgers stunned Celtic supporters last month when he announced that he would be stepping down from his job at Parkhead. If reports are to be believed, he is eager for a Premier League return. 

  On the other hand, Postecoglou has had an exhausting past six months. He was sacked by Spurs right after they won the Europa League, but made an immediate return to coaching by taking over a struggling Nottingham Forest side following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo. The Australian, though, lasted only eight winless games before being let go of. It is said that he's not aiming for a return to managerial duties at the moment, but the Leeds job could interest him nonetheless.

Ollie Price illuminated the final day of the Towergate Cheltenham Festival, scoring a superb hundred as Gloucestershire beat Derbyshire Falcons by 59 runs to make a winning start to their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.The Oxford-born batter posted 103 from 115 balls and staged stands of 141 with James Bracey and 97 with Ben Charlesworth for the second and third wickets respectively as the home side ran up an imposing 341-8 at the famous College Ground. Promoted to open the innings, Bracey contributed an enterprising 83, while Charlesworth and skipper Jack Taylor weighed in with half-centuries.Brooke Guest raised a brilliant 86 from 88 balls and shared stands of 64 with Matt Montgomery and 76 with Amrit Basra, who scored 42 and 40 respectively, as the Falcons made a decent fist of chasing. But paceman Zaman Akhter returned figures of 4 for 47, including a decisive spell of three wickets in six balls, to swing the contest back in Gloucestershire’s favour and ensure Derbyshire were dismissed for 282 in 45.5 overs.Derbyshire won the toss, elected to field and saw debutant Rory Haydon remove Australian Test batsman Cameron Bancroft lbw in a tidy new-ball spell of 1-16 from six overs with one maiden. Driving and cutting fluently, Bracey and Price found runs easier to come by against Ben Aitchison from the Chapel End. these two matching one another blow for blow as boundaries began to flow. When Nick Potts replaced Aitchison, Bracey hoisted him high over mid-wicket for six to bring up the half century stand, twice repeating the feat with further effortless pick-ups a few overs later to afford the innings added impetus.Bracey went to 50 via 40 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes and then smashed Potts for another six over mid-wicket as the innings assumed three figures. Potts was withdrawn after conceding 42 from three overs, but there was no reduction in the rate of scoring from the Chapel End, Price reverse sweeping Montgomery’s off spin for four to raise the hundred partnership in just 15 overs. He brought up his 50 via 59 balls soon afterwards.Derbyshire desperately required a breakthrough and Montgomery obliged, bowling Bracey via an inside edge with the score 148-2 in the 23rd. Bracey had dominated a stand of 141, his aggressive knock spanning 66 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes and affording his side an excellent platform. Price and Charlesworth consolidated thereafter, adding 50 for the third wicket in 63 balls in the face of accurate bowling from Joe Hawkins and Basra.A bumper Festival audience rose to acknowledge Price’s fourth List-A hundred, the 24-year-old reaching the landmark in 111 balls with a swept single behind square off Montgomery. Having hit 10 fours and a six, he was then bowled by Andersson. But there was no respite for the visitors, Charlesworth moving seamlessly to a run-a-ball half century with 4 fours and a six.Aitchison had Charlesworth held at long-on for a 59-ball 60 and Graeme van Buuren caught at the wicket for eight as Derbyshire briefly applied the brakes, only for the experienced Jack Taylor to combine power and deft placement in raising a quickfire 67 from 37 balls with 10 fours and a six to carry Gloucestershire out of sight.Forced to score briskly from the outset, Derbyshire lost Harry Came to scoreboard pressure in the seventh, the opener driving a length ball from Matt Taylor straight to mid-on with 24 on the board. But Caleb Jewell and Montgomery made amends, finding the boundary with sufficient regularity to advance the score to 53 at the end of 10 overs.Returning to Gloucestershire on loan seven years after leaving to join Warwickshire, Craig Miles struck an important blow when persuading Australian Jewell to cut to Charlesworth at backward point for 35 with the score 61 for 2. But the visitors continued to make a fight of it, Montgomery and Guest bringing up 100 inside 18 overs to keep the required rate at around 7.5 an over. The 50 partnership occupied 55 balls, the third wicket pair establishing themselves in a manner which suggested Gloucestershire might not have things all their own way.Having accrued a six and 5 fours in raising a 39-ball 42, Montgomery blotted his copybook, playing back to van Buuren’s slow left arm and chopping on to terminate a partnership of 64 in 11.3 overs as Falcons slipped to 125 for 3. Akhter and van Buuren applied the squeeze during the middle overs and Jack Taylor benefited, having Martin Andersson held at extra cover with the score 152 for 4.Derbyshire were still in with a chance while Guest remained at large, the captain going to 50 from 61 balls, while debutant Basra demonstrated clever improvisation to hit the ground running, plundering sixes at the expense of Jack Taylor, Josh Shaw and Miles to keep the reply on track.Gloucestershire needed a wicket and Akhter responded by taking three in the space of six balls. He bowled the combative Basra for a 31-ball 40, had Guest held at long-on in his next over and then removed Ross Whitely cheaply to reduce the Falcons to 234 for 7 and relieve pressure on his team. Requiring a further 107 from 11.1 overs, Derbyshire were never really in the hunt thereafter, Aitchison succumbing to Matt Taylor for 19 as the chase ran out of steam.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. crushed his seventh home run of this year's MLB playoffs on Tuesday night during Game 4 of the World Series.

Guerrero hit a 395-foot two-run homer in the third inning to put the Blue Jays up 2–1 over the Dodgers. This was a huge moment for Toronto, and it was also a huge career moment for Guerrero.

With his seven career homers, Guerrero officially surpassed Blue Jays legends Joe Carter and José Bautista for the most home runs hit in the postseason by a Toronto player, per Sarah Langs. Carter and Bautista each had six homers during their postseason careers with the Blue Jays. It took Guerrero 21 career playoff games to hit this milestone and make franchise history—though all seven home runs have come during this playoff run.

There will at least be one more World Series game (maybe more if Toronto wins Game 4 to tie the series), so Guerrero has the opportunity to continue adding to his record.

On Monday night, Guerrero and Alejandro Kirk made Blue Jays history by both having at least five home runs in a single postseason for the first time in team history. This year marks the most homers the Blue Jays have hit in a single postseason with 25 so far in 15 games. That total will likely continue increasing. Will Toronto be able to win its first World Series title since 1993, too?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been handed a major North London derby boost after an injury update from N5.

Arteta’s side welcome Tottenham to the Emirates on Sunday seeking to extend their remarkable dominance over their rivals.

The Gunners boast a formidable recent record in this fixture, even achieving something they had never previously done in the Premier League era earlier this year.

For the very first time since the division’s inception, Arsenal won three straight top-flight games against Tottenham, with victories in January (2-1) and September last year (1-0) following their 3-2 triumph in April 2024. The January win was enough for Arsenal to prolong their unbeaten run against Tottenham to six matches, having also done the double over Spurs in the 2022-23 campaign.

Since 1995, Arsenal have won 30 games to Tottenham’s 16 with 24 draws, highlighting their indisputable superiority in the modern era.

That being said, Spurs have been handed some encouragement by Sunderland’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal just before the international break — which ended their unbelievable winning run and proved they can in fact be broken down.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Some injury concerns also cloud Arsenal’s preparations.

Gabriel Magalhaes was injured during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal, since returning to London Colney, and it is likely that the centre-back misses at least a short stretch of games, including the North London Derby. The star centre-back is apparently a major doubt to face Tottenham this weekend, and his absence would be a real blow given his undoubted importance to the side.

The injury list extends beyond Gabriel too.

Captain Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli are all racing to be in contention to face Spurs after their own lay-offs, but the game comes too soon for Gabriel Jesus, who will be last to return to the field as he continues full recovery from an ACL injury (Simon Collings).

Arteta was also dealt a scare when Riccardo Calafiori nursed a hip problem on international duty with Italy, causing him to miss both of their World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway.

Mikel Arteta gifted Riccardo Calafiori boost with Arsenal star set to play against Tottenham

Following his return to London for assessments and checks on the problem, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed some positive news about the left-back.

Indeed, it is believed that Calafiori is set to be available for Arsenal’s clash against Tottenham this weekend, with no injury or overload.

Having the former Bologna star ready for selection is a major boost for Arteta.

He has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers this season, establishing himself as the undisputed starter at left-back ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly. The £42 million defender has transformed his fortunes after an injury-plagued debut campaign last season, when he was in and out of the starting 11 and struggled to build any consistent momentum.

Calafiori has completely turned around, becoming an absolutely crucial part of Arteta’s system, offering both defensive solidity and attacking threat from the left flank, chipping in with one goal and two assists from 11 games this season.

With Gabriel very likely to miss the derby, losing Calafiori, who’s been called one of their players of the season so far by Ray Parlour, would have left Arsenal dangerously exposed defensively.

However, the 23-year-old will instead return to the side for what is set to be a mouth-watering clash in the capital.

West Ham have now reached out to a striker ahead of the January window with injury-prone flop Niclas Füllkrug vying for the London Stadium exit door, according to a new report.

Fullkrug’s time at West Ham has been marked more by injury woes than by impact on the pitch, as persistent fitness problems have severely limited his ability to deliver the goals West Ham hoped for when they signed him.

Arriving with high expectations as a striker capable of adding much-needed firepower, especially after 16 goals in all competitions during his last season at Borussia Dortmund, Fullkrug’s tenure has been marred by repeated setbacks.

The 32-year-old, who cost West Ham chair David Sullivan and co around £27 million to sign in the summer of 2024, missed a combined 28 games for club and country last term through injury.

Achilles tendon

08/09/2024

02/12/2024

16

Hamstring injury

11/01/2025

01/04/2025

12

It’s led to critics like Gabriel Agbonlahor and many others questioning West Ham’s strange decision to invest that much money in a 30-plus-year-old forward with a history of physical problems.

Luckily for Nuno Espírito Santo, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has claimed that Fullkrug is due to return after the next international break and is actually ahead of schedule in his recovery.

However, the injuries have come far too frequently for West Ham’s liking, with Nuno left to pick up the pieces recently.

The Portuguese went with Lucas Paqueta as a false nine to cover Fullkrug in West Ham’s Premier League defeats against Brentford and Leeds, but Callum Wilson was given the starting spot for their 3-1 win against Newcastle last weekend.

Insiders suggest that Nuno actually doesn’t fancy Wilson at West Ham, but he’s left with little choice to select him as their only natural striker bar inexperienced youngster Callum Marshall.

West Ham’s shortage of striker options has led to credible reports that they’re in the market for another centre-forward in January, as well as a defender and midfielder (Sky Sports).

West Ham sound out Ivan Toney with Niclas Füllkrug 'determined' to leave

Now, according to TEAMtalk, there’s been an update on their pursuit of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney.

Journalist Alan Nixon has previously reported that West Ham have done some work on a deal for Toney ahead of January, with the Hammers still apparently in contention.

The 29-year-old, who’s poised for a tough battle to get into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup, has been largely excluded from the Three Lions set up since his move to Saudi Arabia.

Toney’s only been called up just once in that time, and with USA 2026 looming, he could well be tempted by the prospect of a return to Britain.

Al-Ahli want around £30 million to part ways permanently in the winter, but it is an asking price nobody is willing to pay right now, so the most likely solution is a loan to buy.

Even then, the Irons would have to find a way around his sky-high wages, with Toney earning north of £400,000-per-week in the Gulf.

Nevertheless, TEAMtalk state that West Ham have sounded out Toney about a potential January move, but they’re not alone, with Tottenham and Everton also circling.

All of this comes with Fullkrug described as ‘determined’ to leave the club mid-season, following what’s been a nightmare one-and-a-half year stay thus far. It is added that Nuno personally sees Toney as a “proven goal threat to ignite their season”.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Fullkrug has already informed West Ham of his decision to leave, so the signing of a striker is definitely one to watch in January.