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There was a “significant technical failure” at the stadium, an official statement said

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2025Thursday evening’s IPL 2025 match in Dharamsala between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) has been called off midway “due to a significant technical failure” at the stadium.”Due to a power outage in the area, one of the light towers at the HPCA stadium malfunctioned. BCCI regrets the inconvenience caused to the in-stadium attendees,” an official statement said.Only 10.1 overs of the first innings had taken place in the game, after PBKS had opted to bat. Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh had put on a century opening stand in that time, and Arya had just been dismissed for 70 off 34 by T Natarajan before the match was halted as three floodlight towers went off around 9.29pm IST. Around 11 minutes later, it was learnt that the match had been called off.The toss and start of the match had also been delayed by rain. The toss took place at 8.15pm IST, instead of 7pm, and the game started at 8.30pm IST, but without any overs lost.PBKS’ next match against Mumbai Indians (MI) has been moved from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad.

Over the last couple of years, Arsenal have been known to offload players off their books, but numerous of which have caused controversy with the fanbase.

Alexis Sanchez is arguably one of the biggest examples in recent history, with the Chilean a star man before his controversial departure in January 2018.

The attacker racked up 80 goals in his 166 appearances for the Gunners, but would depart in a player swap deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan – subsequently seeing the former join Manchester United.

In the present day, boss Mikel Arteta must wish he had a player of his calibre within his first-team, with a prime Sanchez one of the scariest prospects in the Premier League.

However, he wasn’t the only player to make a huge impact at the Emirates before leaving in somewhat controversial circumstances despite their impressive form in North London.

The real reason why Aaron Ramsey left Arsenal

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey was a hugely influential figure during his time at Arsenal, featuring in over 350 games for the club after joining Cardiff City back in 2008.

His rise to stardom in North London was all the more impressive considering the Welshman suffered a horrific leg break under Arsene Wenger against Stoke City in 2010.

Despite being a deep-lying option, the 34-year-old managed to pop up with key goals in vital moments – none more so than the winner in the FA Cup final against Hull City.

However, he would depart the Emirates in controversial circumstances, subsequently leaving on a free transfer to join Italian giants Juventus in the summer of 2019.

Many thought he left after rejecting a new contract to stay with the Gunners, but in an interview after his departure, Ramsey explained all about his move away from the club.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he stated: “I wanted to commit to Arsenal, but then, for whatever reason, the new manager came in and then the contract wasn’t there anymore.

“When Juventus came calling then in January, you know, I had to sort of think about life after Arsenal and secure that as well. It was an experience I was excited about.”

However, in the present day, Arteta may have his own version of his former teammate in his quest to land the club’s first Premier League title in over two decades.

The Arsenal star who’s a Ramsey-type talent

In their attempts to end their unthinkable wait for a league triumph, Arsenal have spent big in recent times, with the board handing Arteta over £200m worth of funds this summer alone.

The likes of Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze have all arrived in North London, massively improving the quality and depth at the manager’s disposal.

Such additions appear to have had the desired effect, with the Gunners currently sitting top of the pile at the second international break of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, other players already at the club will also have a part to play in the coming months, with Mikel Merino undoubtedly a star with a huge part to play between now and May.

The Spaniard joined the club from Real Sociedad last summer, looking to provide added depth and quality to the club’s already stacked midfield department.

He started 2024/25 in such a position, but was rapidly catapulted into a somewhat unfamiliar role as a centre-forward amid the unthinkable injury crisis that plagued Arteta’s squad.

However, he took to the position like a duck to water, subsequently ending his debut campaign on nine across all competitions, six of which came as a striker, sitting third in the club’s top goalscoring charts.

Such a quality is similar to that of Ramsey, who had a habit of popping up with key goals in vital moments – as previously mentioned with his FA Cup-winning effort.

Merino has demonstrated a box-crashing ability to ghost into the opposition box and find the back of the net.

Games played

9

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

80%

Dribble success

100%

Fouls won

1.9

Tackles won

1.9

Recoveries made

5.7

Possession won final third

1.1

He’s already showcased his goalscoring ability once again this season, scoring the equaliser in the victory over Newcastle United.

Remarkably, he’s also scored six goals in four World Cup qualifying matches for Spain, notably bagging a hat-trick in the European champions’ win over Turkey. He then also scored twice in a 4-0 win over Bulgaria during the present international break.

In the words of Arsenal writer Adam Keys, “Arteta has unlocked a magnet in the box” and his move to join the Gunners has evidently been an exceptional one to date, with the former Sociedad star showcasing a similar ability to Ramsey with his goalscoring exploits.

Should he continue on such a path and continue to pop up in key moments, there’s no reason as to why he can’t make himself a fan-favourite and lead the club to further silverware.

Arsenal's "legend in the making" is their own Kane and it's not Gyokeres

Arsenal already have their answer to Harry Kane in the form of one star, but it’s not Viktor Gyokeres.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 15, 2025

Former Germany midfielder Didi Hamann criticised the match officials after Luis Diaz was wrongly deemed onside before scoring the equaliser, which proved to be the turning point in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Koln. Hamann argued that the absence of VAR until the third round of the DFB-Pokal is unfair to teams that have been eliminated due to refereeing errors.

Diaz and Bayern benefit from lack of VAR in Koln win

Koln took the lead through Ragnar Ache after making a strong start to the game, testing Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig on multiple occasions. The turning point came in the 36th minute when Diaz scored the equaliser in controversial fashion. Konrad Laimer drove forward into Koln’s half and laid the ball off for Josip Stanisic, whose shot was saved by goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler. However, Zieler could only parry the ball into the path of Diaz, who tapped it into an empty net. Replays later showed that Diaz was in an offside position before scoring, but with VAR only available to referees from the third round of the DFB Pokal, the error went uncorrected and the goal stood. Bayern went on to win the match 4-1.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHamann argues Koln could have won

Former Germany and Liverpool midfielder Hamann, in his column for , criticised the officials for failing to spot Diaz’s offside goal, which he believed was the decisive moment of the match, saying: “To beat them [Bayern], everything has to fall into place. But if the 1-1 hadn't counted, then perhaps the second goal wouldn't have been scored either and Cologne would have gone into the break with a lead.”

He added: “It's all hypothetical, but when you concede a goal like that, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to beat Bayern. That's not to detract from the winners' achievements. Bayern played a great game in Koln.”

Bayern take charge with Harry Kane double

The officials’ mistake proved costly, as just two minutes after Diaz’s equaliser, Harry Kane showcased his trademark off-the-ball persistence by dispossessing a Koln defender inside the box before turning and firing home to give Bayern a 2-1 lead. The England captain doubled his tally in the 62nd minute, rising highest to head in Joshua Kimmich’s corner and make it 3-1.

With Koln chasing the game, they pushed players forward, leaving gaps at the back. In the 72nd minute, Michael Olise sparked a swift counterattack, finding Aleksandar Pavlovic, who carried the ball the length of the pitch before switching it to Diaz on the opposite flank. Diaz then squared the ball back to Olise, who calmly slotted it past Zieler to seal a 4-1 victory for Bayern. The victory marked Bayern’s 14th win in 14 games across all competitions, surpassing a record set by AC Milan in the 1992-93 season. Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok praised Bayern’s relentless form, saying he sees a strong sense of determination within Vincent Kompany’s side to chase another treble, a feat the Bavarians last achieved in the 2020-21 season. 

However, Hamann argued that their treble hopes may have been dashed this week had VAR been in effect, instead of only being implemented from the third round of the DFB-Pokal. The ex-Liverpool player said the system’s partial use is unfair to teams like Koln, who have been eliminated in earlier rounds due to refereeing errors.

“The crazy thing is that teams have advanced in the DFB-Pokal due to the absence of VAR, but may benefit from it in the next rounds. That's hard for the eliminated clubs to accept,” Hamann said.

“How do you intend to explain to Koln, now that they have been eliminated, that VAR will be used from now on? That won't do them any good.

“It is not acceptable to only use the technology from the third round onwards. Either you play the entire competition with VAR, or you play the entire competition without it.”

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Getty Images SportBayern out to dismantle Bundesliga rivals this weekend

Bayern will aim to make it 15 wins in 15 games when they face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, as Vincent Kompany’s men look to build on their strong momentum from recent victories.

Charlie Dean takes 4 for 9 but visitors pinch points in last-over finish at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jun-2025Ailsa Lister held her nerve to stage a match-winning innings of 28 not out from 19 balls as Lancashire Thunder beat Somerset by four wickets in a thrilling Vitality Blast T20 contest at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Chasing 133 to win, Thunder looked to be cruising when Emma Lamb and Eve Jones put together an opening stand of 60. But Somerset fought back, Charlie Dean claiming 4 for 9 to threaten a startling turnaround in fortunes.Needing eight off the final over, Lister edged Alex Griffiths for four through fine leg and then hit the winning runs with two balls to spare to see the northern county home by the skin of their teeth.Lancashire’s decision to bowl first paid dividends, Kate Cross claiming 3 for 21 and Sophie Morris 2 for 33 to restrict the home side to 132 for 7 from their 20 overs. Deep in trouble at 85- for 6, Somerset were indebted to the seventh-wicket pair of Amanda-Jade Wellington and Griffiths, who staged an exciting stand of 45 to at least make a game of it.This might have been the first time Somerset had staged a standalone women’s game under lights, but they will not look back on the occasion with any great fondness after coming off second best. The Cider county have now lost four of their five Blast outings this season, the other game having been washed out. As for Thunder, a third win in six games keeps them in the hunt for a top-four finish.Put into bat and missing injured England stars Heather Knight and Dani Gibson, Somerset made an inauspicious start, Amelie Munday missing a straight one from Cross and departing bowled without scoring, and Bex Odgers being stumped by Ellie Threlkeld off the bowling of Morris for 18 as the home side slipped to 26 for 2 in the seventh.Fran Wilson suggested a change in the balance of power, helping herself to a brace of boundaries at the expense of Morris to rouse an audience of around 3,000 – a record for a women’s match at Taunton. Cheers quickly turned to groans, though, Niamh Holland paying the price for hesitation and being run out for 10 by the ubiquitous Morris with the score 45 for 3.Charged with the task of rescuing a parlous situation, the experienced pair of Wilson and Sophie Luff combined deft placement and quick running to breathe new life into Somerset’s ailing innings, the fourth wicket pair adding 24 from 20 balls. But when Wilson was bowled by Morris for 25, Somerset were 69 for 4 with work still to do. Worse followed, influential captain Luff sending a leading edge to extra cover off the bowling of Tara Norris and Dean attempting to ramp a Cross bouncer and offering a catch behind as Somerset lurched to 85 for 6 in the 16th.Attempting to break the stranglehold, the hard-hitting Wellington plundered 25 from 14 balls, including five boundaries, to put the Lancashire bowling under pressure for the first time. Encouraged by the success of her partner, Griffiths opened her shoulders in raising 27 from 18 balls as the seventh-wicket alliance yielded 45 crucial runs in 4.3 overs at the death.There is something about playing at Taunton that brings out the best in Lancashire, who defeated Somerset in a 50-over contest on this ground earlier in the season and then beat The Blaze and Surrey to lift the Vitality County T20 Cup last month. Sure enough, their reply was afforded reassuring early impetus, Jones and Lamb taking advantage of some short and wide bowling to raise 50 in 6.4 overs and set the tone.The partnership was worth 60 when Jones, having scored 28, was pinned lbw by Dean in the ninth over. Lamb then went for 32 in the next over, held at short fine leg off the bowing of Ellie Anderson to give Somerset a glimmer of hope. When Wellington induced Seren Smale to hole out to long-off for 11 in the fourteenth over, Thunder were 91 for 3, requiring a further 42 to win off 39 balls.Dean bowled Threlkeld for 1 with the score 96 for 4, at which point the game was in the balance. But Lister calmed any nerves, hoisting Griffiths for sixes over long-on and midwicket in the 18th to put Thunder back in the box seat.Dean was still not done, bowling Fi Morris for 22 and then having Alana King held at point without scoring to leave Thunder needing eight off the final over. Lister then demonstrated nerves of steel to settle the issue.

Saudi Arabia's efforts to make waves in the sporting world look set to continue when the wealthy Gulf nation hosts the 2034 World Cup. But a football stadium 350 metres off the ground seems ambitious even for them following the viral emergence of concept designs for a brand new venue dubbed the NEOM Stadium. A list of 15 host stadia complete with concept art was first revealed in the summer of 2024.

'Most unique stadium in the world'

It's certainly out there to want to construct a football stadium in the sky, but fans on social media can't get enough of the idea. The so-called NEOM Stadium could, one of 11 new venues planned for construction over the next eight years to complement four existing stadiums that will be renovated already has a big reputation to live up to.

Saudi Arabia's bid book submitted to FIFA stated: "Neom Stadium will be the most unique stadium in the world. With a pitch situated more than 350m above ground, stunning vistas and a roof created from the city itself, the stadium will be an experience like no other.

"Within The Line, mass transport and personal transport will be enabled by a network of tram-like Autonomous Rapid Transit vehicles and Personal Rapid Transit, operating on five primary horizontal transport corridors."

'The Line', announced in 2021, is a proposed smart city in a single long building measuring 170km by 200 metres and up to 500 metres high, designed to have no cars, streets or carbon emissions, and be big enough to house nine millione people, a quarter of Saudi Arabia's existing population. Although already under construction, full completion of the city itself is not actually expected until 2045, 11 years after the World Cup.

What isn't clear is if the new concept images doing the rounds are part of any official plans, as the stadium doesn't appear to be incorporated into what 'The Line' would look like.

AdvertisementAFP350m in the air

NEOM Stadium proposes to accomodate 46,000 fans from is vantage point 350 metres above the ground. The other proposed venues for the World Cup will be spread across four existing cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar and Abha. But all are set to incorporate unique architecture and themes, including one dazzling with colour, another made up of crystal-like shards and another built specifically from locally-sourced materials.

Saudi Arabia stood unopposed in bidding process

Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host nation for the 2034 World Cup during an Extraordinary FIFA Congress on December 11, 2024. Despite FIFA lowering the existing stadium capacity requirements from seven with 40,000+ to just four, there were no other bidders. FIFA's rotation policy, which ensures that World Cup tournaments are spread evenly around the planet, meant that only bids from Asia or Oceania would be accepted anyway. Potential hosts were also given just 25 days to express an intent to host, which only Saudi Arabia did.

It will be the third World Cup in Asia in the 21st century, following from South Korea and Japan's joint effort in 2002, and Gulf neighbour Qatar in 2022. Saudi Arabia will actually end up being the first single host nation since Qatar by the time 2034 rolls around, due to 2026 being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and 2030 being the shared responsibility of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with games also being staged in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of FIFA's World Cup centenary celebrations.

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gettyWorld Cup plans between now and 2034

Saudi Arabia still has the best part of a decade to plan and build and/or renovate its venues for the World Cup. But the eyes of the world are unlikely to pay too much attention until much nearer the time. For now, the 2026 World Cup in North America is just over seven month away from its opening match on June 11. As many as 48 countries will compete for the first time following the tournament's expansion, including debutants Jordan, Uzbekistan and Cape Verde, but fans will need to wait another five weeks until December 5 for the group stage to take place and the fixture list be revealed.

2026 could very likely be the last dance at the World Cup for both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly a massive admirer of one France international star, who sporting director Andrea Berta has already led an approach to sign, according to a new report.

Arsenal make Premier League return away to Fulham

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to Fulham, a fixture that offers the Gunners a golden chance to extend their impressive seven-game unbeaten run and solidify their position at the top of the table.

Since their narrow 1-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier in the season, Arsenal have been near-unstoppable, navigating all competitions without tasting defeat – a testament to their growing maturity under Arteta.

This unbeaten streak has been built on a foundation of solid defensive performances and a willingness to battle to the end, with Arsenal’s blend of youthful energy and experienced leadership helping to power them through tough fixtures.

Arsenal’s dramatic 2-1 win away to Newcastle was testament to this, with defender Gabriel clinching all three points through a last-minute header which silenced the boisterous St. James’ Park crowd.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Premier League

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Champions League

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Premier League

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Carabao Cup

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Premier League

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Champions League

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Premier League

Arteta’s side now sit pretty at the Premier League summit, taking advantage of big-spending Liverpool’s slip in momentum, but Marco Silva’s Fulham won’t be pushovers this weekend.

The West Londoners will be looking to spoil Arsenal’s rhythm on their home turf. Silva’s men have shown resilience this season, despite finishing last summer’s transfer window as the top flight’s lowest-spending team.

Team

Spent

Received

Net Spend

Brentford

£85,000,000

£134,000,000

-£49,000,000

Brighton

£69,000,000

£133,000,000

-£64,000,000

Crystal Palace

£47,000,000

£63,000,000

-£16,000,000

Aston Villa

£37,500,000

£47,000,000

-£9,500,000

Fulham

£34,500,000

£9,000,000

£25,500,000

via Every Premier League Club’s Net Spend

In truth, Silva has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget during his time at Craven Cottage, and Arsenal have won just one of their last four meetings against Fulham — including a draw and a defeat the last two times they travelled to play them.

As Arteta prepares for a tough test, Berta is working on the club’s squad long-term.

The Italian has already tied down Gabriel and William Saliba to long-term contracts since his arrival in March, with talks held over extensions for Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Berta, despite a big-spending summer, could also enter the transfer market once again.

Arteta is a "huge" fan of Khephren Thuram with Arsenal approach made

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, as written in a piece for TBR Football, Arteta is personally a “huge” fan of Juventus star Khephren Thuram, who’s worked his way into the France national team squad after an excellent start to the season in Turin.

The 24-year-old is now deemed “untouchable” by Igor Tudor’s side alongside Kenan Yildiz, with Bailey reporting that Arsenal had a summer approach knocked back for Thuram as well.

The former Ligue 1 sensation racked up 10 goal contributions in 35 Serie A appearances for Juve over his debut season, leaving little wonder that the Old Lady are desperate not to lose him.

Even though Berta has already signed Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard to bolster Arsenal’s midfield, the latter will stay for a maximum of three years before potentially returning to Brondby in Denmark, as confirmed by the player himself.

Thuram would be an exceptional long-term replacement for Norgaard, and amid reports Arsenal are looking at signing another midfielder to challenge Zubimendi, perhaps Berta could test Juve’s resolve in 2026.

Four India A batters scored half-centuries in the second dig after Lions took a 30-run first-innings lead

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Jun-2025In the end, the first unofficial Test in Canterbury was mostly an extended batting session for both teams with bowlers toiling hard on a benign pitch. After England Lions were bowled out on the cusp of the lunch break on Monday having taken a 30-run lead, four India A batters scored brisk half-centuries before the teams agreed to a draw an hour after tea.Those picking some easy runs included the India A opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, as well as Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Jaiswal and Abhimanyu got off to aggressive starts and got to the 50-mark without breaking much sweat. While Jaiswal would be slightly disappointed about playing a loose stroke for the second time in the match, he did not berate himself on his way out like his captain did.For Abhimanyu, tour matches are a sort of litmus test. He might have played for India A for several years, might have played 100-plus first-class matches, might have been picked in the India squad many times over the last few years, but his Test debut still remains a fair distance away. On the first day, after being asked to bat, Abhimanyu was back in the dressing room about half-hour into the morning, trapped lbw for 8. On Monday, he clipped a four off his legs and looked determined to score quickly and score big.Abhimanyu Easwaran played a stroke-filled innings•Bipin PatelLunging forward, he would hit successive fours through the covers against Lions’ seamer Zaman Akhter to move close to a half-century, which he reached with a steer for a single. On 68, though, Abhimanyu attempted to reverse a delivery from legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who pitched it outside leg. It was an erroneous decision as he saw his leg stump uprooted.Jurel, who walked in at one-down, and Reddy enjoyed some batting time before the game was called off. Both players are in the fray for spots in the first Test in Leeds starting June 20. Having missed out on the century by a mere six runs on the first day, Jurel once again showed his free-flowing strokeplay, and is likely to be competing against Karun Nair for a specialist batter’s position in the middle order.Reddy, on the other hand, will look to build on his bowling in the second match against Lions that starts in Northampton from June 6. Though cleared to play in March by the BCCI medical staff after he suffered a side strain, Reddy started to bowl only in the past few weeks and has been since then gradually building his workload. He bowled 14.5 overs in Canterbury while picking up one wicket, that of tailender Eddie Jack.

Monday’s Major League Baseball action features a shorter slate with several teams traveling, but that’s not going to stop us from diving into the prop market – especially with some of the starting pitchers in action. 

There are two starters that have been red hot that I’m looking to target on Aug. 12, and one of them – New York Yankees rookie Luis Gil – has arguably the best matchup in baseball tonight. 

Let’s break down these prop plays and their odds for tonight’s action. 

Best MLB Prop Bets Today for Monday, Aug. 12Luis Gil UNDER 4.5 Hits Allowed (-160)Blake Snell OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-190)

Luis Gil UNDER 4.5 Hits Allowed (-160)

All season long, Luis Gil has been a tough pitcher to get to, giving up just 73 total hits in 117.2 innings of work. Even though he’s struggled with command at times, he still has an ultra-impressive 1.11 WHIP this season. 

Now, Gil gets a crack at the worst team in baseball – the Chicago White Sox – who rank dead last in OPS and batting average and 29th in the league in total hits. 

Gil has allowed four or fewer hits in 16 of his 22 outings this season, including just two hits across five innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels. 

It’s possible that New York limits the innings of the young starter down the stretch to make sure he can pitch in the playoffs, and Gil’s elite strikeout stuff makes him a tougher pitcher to get to regardless. 

With Chicago’s offensive struggles in 2024, Gil is a must bet at this number on Monday. 

Blake Snell OVER 17.5 Outs Recorded (-190)

San Francisco Giants lefty Blake Snell threw a no-hitter back on Aug. 2, and he’s been on fire since returning from the injured list in early July. 

Snell has made six starts over that stretch, allowing just 12 total hits and posting a 1.15 ERA across 39.0 innings of work. 

After being limited to just 73 pitches in his first start back (he still got through five innings), Snell has thrown six or more innings in the other five outings, including two games with seven or more innings pitched. 

Even though the Atlanta Braves aren’t an easy opponent, Snell is too hot to fade right now when it comes to an outs recorded prop. If he continues to limit baserunners, it would be very surprising to see him pulled before clearing six innings on Monday.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso says it is just a "matter of time" before Florian Wirtz delivers for Liverpool after a tough start to life at Anfield. The Germany international swapped Bayer Leverkusen for the Reds in a £116 million deal in the summer but so far he has flattered to deceive for Arne Slot's team. Ahead of a reunion with ex-Leverkusen boss Alonso, the Spaniard has backed the 22-year-old to come good.

Wirtz struggling at Liverpool

There was a great deal of hype when Liverpool finally got their man for a then-Premier League record deal in June. Wirtz came with a big reputation after starring at Leverkusen, with Alonso getting the best out of him as they won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. The German playmaker managed to chalk up 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 games for the German side but at Liverpool, he is struggling to make an impact. In 14 appearances, the attacking midfielder is yet to score a goal and has three assists, one of which came in the Community Shield. But ahead of the Reds taking on Alonso's Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, the ex-midfielder has sung the praises of the "special" youngster. 

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWirtz has Alonso's backing

"I have no doubts, it's just a matter of time," Alonso said in a pre-match news conference on Monday, when asked about Wirtz. "It's a big chance for him, coming to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, and being there his whole life."

Alonso added that Wirtz inadvertently played a role in Madrid appointing him to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Santiago Bernabeu.

"He needs to adapt, but he's a really special player," Alonso added. "He's competitive. One of the reasons I am here is because of Flo. Hopefully not tomorrow (Tuesday), but I hope soon he'll show his quality and his class."

Slot defends Wirtz's start at Liverpool

Despite being their second most expensive Premier League purchase of all time, behind the £125m ($169m) signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United this summer, Wirtz is not a regular in the Liverpool starting XI at present. Indeed, he has started six of their 10 Premier League games as his teething period continues. However, manager Slot is also content with what Wirtz has produced so far.

"You can say he’s started one of the last four [two of the last four] but you can also say he’s started 10 already this season," said the Dutchman. "I’ve said this quite a lot, not as an excuse but just how it is; many times we have to play three games in seven days with only two days’ rest in between. For a player who comes from a different league, which is a very good league by the way, nine out of 10 people would agree the Premier League is a bit more intense in all the games. If you look at that then he already played a lot. He has had his impact in a lot of games but has been unlucky with the end product either by himself or his teammates. For me, he brought exactly what we expected, a player who created a lot for the team. He will have his goals but I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone that if you’re 22 or 23 and come to a different league that you might need some time to adjust to that intensity if you play every three days. Ryan Gravenberch was sitting here before and it took him a while to adjust to the intensity, maybe even longer than it is going to take Florian."

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IMAGO / DeFodi ImagesWirtz under pressure to deliver

Ahead of Madrid's trip to Liverpool on Tuesday, which will also see the return of former Reds star Trent Alexander-Arnold following his switch to the Spanish giants this summer, many will wonder whether or not Wirtz starts against his former manager. Los Blancos are flying high in Europe and La Liga, so Slot will want to be at full strength for this one, although they are without Isak, Alisson, and Jeremie Frimpong. If there is a time to deliver, it will be now for Wirtz. If not, he could become a benchwarmer.

It is an excellent time to be an Arsenal fan at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side still have a long way to go, but after another practically perfect weekend, they remain atop the Premier League table, now six points clear of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool.

Moreover, while the North Londoners could still improve in some areas, such as scoring from open play, they currently look the best they have been in a very long time.

EPL

C. Palace

1-0 (W)

UCL

Atlético

4-0 (W)

EPL

Fulham

1-0 (W)

EPL

West Ham

2-0 (W)

UCL

Olympicacos

2-0 (W)

As if that isn’t enough, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny that more than a handful of Arteta’s players now rank among the very best in the league, including one who is becoming even more influential than Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

Arteta's Arsenal leaders

During the final years of Arsène Wenger’s reign, and even under Unai Emery and early in Arteta’s time at the club, it wasn’t uncommon to hear fans and pundits alike lambast Arsenal for a lack of leaders in the team.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, over the last few years, such accusations have become far less prevalent, so much so, in fact, that to say such a thing today would be considered by many to be patently incorrect.

Arteta has helped turn the Gunners from a soft side that opposition teams loved playing against into a monstrous side that few, if any, teams look forward to playing.

From front to back, there are now leaders and mentality monsters all over.

For example, while he had a poor season last year, Martin Odegaard has been the club captain since the summer of 2022 and has been Norway’s captain for even longer.

Often alongside him, Declan Rice was the captain of West Ham United before his move, has now captained England on occasion and is often seen as the most vocal and ‘old-school’ leader in the squad.

Even Saka, who is still just 24 years old, has become a real leader in recent years, wearing the armband in Odegaard’s absence and keeping the side’s attack competitive when his fellow forwards have underwhelmed.

With all that said, there is another star of this Arsenal team who is not just becoming one of the most influential players at the Emirates, but within the entire league.

Arsenal's most influential player

When it comes to other leaders in this Arsenal team, it is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the utterly superb Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian international first joined the team in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £27m, and for the first couple of years, was seen as something of a liability at times.

However, over the last few years, the former LOSC Lille gem has managed to rid his game of the silly mistakes that were holding him back and transformed into one of the very best centre-backs in the Premier League, if not the world.

That might sound somewhat hyperbolic, but the facts suggest otherwise: since the 23/24 season, the Gunners have had the best defence in the Premier League, and over those campaigns, the 27-year-old has made 36, 28, and nine appearances, respectively.

Moreover, as things stand, the North Londoners have conceded just three goals across all competitions this year, one of which was Dominik Szoboszlai’s outrageous free-kick at Anfield.

So, there is a very real chance that the Sao Paulo-born titan could play a crucial role in breaking Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 goals in a Premier League season this year.

Finally, while the 6 foot 3 wall’s most important job is keeping other teams from scoring, he has also become a serious threat in the opposition’s box over the years, and has been a massive reason why the Gunners are now the best set-piece team in the world.

For example, since moving to the Emirates, the towering “colossus,” as dubbed by Arsenal writer Adam Keys, has scored 22 goals and provided seven assists in 223 games, and as things stand, is now the 100th top scorer in the club’s history.

Ultimately, when you take into account his incredible defending, outrageous goalscoring threat and sensational leadership qualities, it’s impossible to disagree with Jamie Carragher’s claim that he’s “the most influential player in the Premier League right now.”

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