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Arsenal are sitting pretty atop the Premier League ladder, but Mikel Arteta and his men have been here before, and he’ll know that the January transfer window could prove advantageous for the club in their pursuit of the title.

Especially when Manchester City are honing in on Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who has scored nine goals and supplied three assists in the league this term.

Semenyo, an Arsenal fan, has been on Andrea Berta’s radar, but the Gunners have now advanced their interest to match City’s own. Could that be because another star is in the sights?

Arsenal need to sign a forward

This is an elite outfit, but Arsenal’s interminable goalscoring problems have continued into the current campaign, albeit to a lesser degree.

Arteta needs to add firepower, and he must concede that Viktor Gyokeres has not been up to scratch since completing a £64m move to the Emirates from Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 97 goals from 102 matches.

But perhaps signing another big-money centre-forward wouldn’t be the most prudent route.

According to Spanish sources this month, Arsenal have subscribed to that notion, having made an opening offer for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who is discontented at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 24-year-old is overshadowed in Xabi Alonso’s frontline, but he is a world-class forward and would find the perfect home to further develop at Arsenal.

Los Blancos would consider his sale, but not for anything less than £75m. Arsenal’s offer totalled €60m (£51m).

How Rodrygo would enhance Arsenal's attack

Rodrygo did not have the best 2025, but he’s still an elite and multi-faceted forward who has scored 70 goals and supplied 55 assists for Real Madrid, probably the biggest football club in the world.

Only last year did teammate Jude Bellingham hail him as “probably the most gifted and most talented player in the squad”, with an underlying physicality to complement his more flashy side.

Indeed, across the past 12 months, the Brazil international has been “one of the best wingers in the world” in the words of analyst by Spencer Mossman, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

That’s an elite forward, one who could elevate Arteta’s burgeoning project. His pedigree on the grandest stages and ability to raise his teammates’ games might even see him draw Gyokeres out of his cave.

Gyokeres, 27, has scored five Premier League goals from 18 matches this season, 15 starts. But he’s not been good enough, at odds with the slickness of Arteta’s otherwise fluent frontline.

You don’t need your centre-forward to be a ballerina, but Gyokeres is struggling to latch onto Arsenal’s attacking efforts, and is enjoying only a minimal contribution each game.

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When looking at his metrics compared to last season, his deterioration only becomes clearer.

Viktor Gyokeres – Liga Portugal vs Premier League

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

18 (15)

Goals

39

5

Assists

7

0

Touches

40.0

19.1

Shots (on target)*

4.2 (2.4)

1.7 (0.6)

Big chances missed

23

7

Accurate passes*

15.0 (73%)

5.1 (61%)

Chances created*

1.9

0.6

Succ. dribbles*

1.8 (48%)

0.3 (21%)

Tackles*

0.3

0.2

Duels won*

5.5 (50%)

2.4 (34%)

Data via Sofascore

As you can see, since returning to English shores in July, the hulking forward has struggled.

It’s not all his fault, though. Gabriel Martinelli, for example, hasn’t been at his best this season and has gone ten Premier League matches without a goal involvement. Arsenal content creator James commented after the recent win at Bournemouth that the Brazilian winger was too one-dimensional”.

Rodrygo, his compatriot, would certainly prove an upgrade, and with such flair, versatility and innate creative qualities – he’s been described as a “special striker” who “can play in all positions” by former boss Carlo Ancelotti – it might be the perfect signing to keep Man City at bay and finally secure silverware and the Premier League title after two decades of searching.

Related Saved by Rice: Arsenal must bin dud who lost the ball every 3.5 touches

Arsenal battled their way to victory against Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

A Leeds United star was lauded by a TalkSport journalist after the 1-1 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Spoils shared as Leeds take point at Sunderland

The Whites are on a solid run in the Premier League, having now gone their last five games unbeaten, but they may feel a little hard done by to not have taken more from the trip to Sunderland on Sunday afternoon.

On the balance of play, Daniel Farke’s side were the superior team, recording an xG of 2.03, compared to 0.65 from the hosts, with Ethan Ampadu, Jayden Bogle and Brenden Aaronson all missing big chances.

Although Farke will be disappointed his side were unable to secure all three points, there is now plenty of breathing room near the bottom of the table, as they sit seven points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United, who lost 1-0 at home against Fulham on Saturday.

Key to their recent uptick in form has been summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the centre-forward bagging seven goals in his last six Premier League games, and he equalised just after half-time at the Stadium of Light, after a brilliant team move.

However, Calvert-Lewin has not been the only player to have impressed as of late, with TalkSport journalist Tom Clayton taking to X to praise Anton Stach after the draw against the Black Cats, claiming he’s in with a shout of being “signing of the season”.

Stach impresses as Leeds make it five unbeaten

The 27-year-old has been a very important player for Leeds this season, making 15 Premier League appearances since arriving from Hoffenheim, during which time he’s displayed a keen eye for goal, chipping in with three goals and two assists.

Although the central midfielder was unable to get on the scoresheet against Regis Le Bris’ side, he made a number of key contributions in both attack and defence, which earned him a SofaScore match rating of 7.9, the joint-highest of any player, alongside Simon Adingra.

Anton Stach’s key statistics vs Sunderland

Number completed

Key passes

3

Big chances created

1

Duels (won)

15 (10)

Tackles

5

Leeds will be frustrated they were unable to score the crucial second goal, but they remain in a strong position to avoid the drop, with West Ham struggling, and Stach could be key to their chances of retaining their Premier League status.

Related Rutter 2.0: Leeds battling to sign "exceptional" talent in January

This potential signing can strengthen Leeds ahead of their relegation fight

Posts ByJoe Nuttall

	Plans are underwayto increase the capacity and build a five-star hotel © AFP

The first international match in ten years at Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadiumheralds a potential return for a venue that, though not often used, is a significant one in Pakistan.The stadium has hosted only five Tests and six ODIs before Zimbabwe becamethe first international team to play here since 1997-98. But the venue isassociated with some key moments in Pakistan’s cricket history.This was the venue, for instance, when two Pakistan teams turned up toplay a Test against New Zealand in October 1976. The senior team was thenembroiled with the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP) in apay dispute and the chairman, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, had selected and sentan entirely separate XI to play the Test. The issue was eventuallyresolved just before the Test started and Pakistan went on to win by tenwickets, sealing a first series win at home since 1964-65.Niaz Stadium is also remembered for what was then a world-record equallingpartnership between Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar, against India inJanuary 1983. The pair scored double hundreds and put on 451 runs for thethird wicket equalling the stand set by Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford in1934. Miandad was famously left stranded on 280, after Imran Khan, thecaptain, declared Pakistan’s innings on the third day. Imran later rattledIndia with a celebrated spell of five for 8 in 23 balls, leading his sideto an innings triumph.The ground hosted what turned out to be Test cricket’s 1000th Test,against New Zealand in November 1984. That remains the last Test to beplayed here, though it later staged the opening match of the 1987 WorldCup, between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But since 1997, the ground has falleninto disrepair and at one stage, it was being used to host weddings. It also hosted the first hat-trick – Jalal-ud-Din against Australia in 1982.The current PCB administration has taken back control of the ground,however, and the successful hosting of the second ODI against Zimbabwe,said Nasim Ashraf, chairman PCB, is a sign that more international cricketmay be played here in the future. “We’re extremely proud that the stadiumhas been restored to international status. We’ve put in a fantastic newpitch and we’ve got this ground ready to host a game in four months. Thefacilities in the city and in the stadium are very good.”We want to develop a regional academy in the city and build more groundsto enable club cricket. Our policy now is to host matches on a rotationalbasis and we need to develop grounds in places like Sahiwal and Sialkot togive them more exposure.”The ground’s capacity is currently limited to only 7500 and it wasexpectedly full – and raucously so – for the match. But plans are underwayto increase that. There are also plans to build a five-star hotel, a keyICC requirement for any city hoping to stage international matches.”Crime is lower in Hyderabad than any other city in Sindh,” said KanwarNaveed Jamil, the city’s mayor. “The district government is planning tobuild a five-star hotel right next to the ground and that should attractmore matches in the future.”It may be hard to dispute that claim: despite worries before the match about whether the stadium – and the city – would be able to cope, the second ODI passed off without incident, in front of a healthy, appreciative crowd.

Anthony McGrath will, after all, be wearing Yorkshire colours in 2007 © Getty Images

Just two days after Darren Gough’s return as Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath has performed a u-turn over his decision to leave the club and will now play for them in 2007 and Yorkshire are hopeful he’ll see out his contract.For much of the winter McGrath had made it clear he wouldn’t be playing for Yorkshire again, but the club had refused to terminate his contract. The issue was due to go before a mediation panel at Lord’s today, but that has now been cancelled after McGrath made up his own mind, which he admits was influenced by Gough’s return to Headingley.”I have known Goughy for years and regard him as a mate as well as a great cricketer,” he said in a statement. “He will breathe new life back into the dressing-room and I know the lads will run through brick walls for him. I am really chuffed he is coming back and will back him 100 percent.”The club has shared with him [Gough] their vision for the future of Yorkshire,” added McGrath. “Having fully considered my position I have decided to withdraw from the mediation which was due to take place today. I want to remain as part of the Yorkshire team and do not want to leave only to then regret my decision as Yorkshire go from strength to strength.”McGrath explained that despite the legal process his relationship with Yorkshire had stayed amicable throughout and that his heart remained with the club. Recent developments with player signings, including Jacques Rudolph, investment in the support staff and a pre-season trip also made McGrath believed the club had turned a corner.The chief executive, Stewart Regan, is relieved about the outcome. “This is the piece of news that Yorkshire members and supporters have been waiting for. We have said all along that Anthony was an important member of our squad and we were not prepared to simply let him walk away from a contract with three seasons to run.”After a turbulent winter, which included Chris Adams’ decision not to come to Yorkshire, Regan is now looking to the future. “We have worked hard to turn things around at Headingley and bring in some exciting players and we have proved to Anthony that we are ambitious and determined to bring success back to this club.”Most importantly we will create the right environment in which he can play cricket to the highest possible standard and be happy in so doing. This is a very good week for Yorkshire.”

ScorecardConsistent bowling, encouraging batting and astute captaincy by Sylvester Joseph placed West Indies A in a dominant position on day one of their second unofficial Test against England A at the Beausejour Ground on Friday.England were dismissed for 201 and, by the close, the hosts had replied positively with 50 without loss thanks to the efforts of openers Lendl Simmons, who reached 28, and Sewnarine Chattergoon, who had made 18.Joseph won the toss and asked England to bat first on a well-grassed pitch: it proved a good decision as, at lunch, the tourists were in some bother at 69 for 3.They lost the opener Ed Joyce, who was smartly caught by wicketkeeper Patrick Browne off Richard Kelly for 7 with the score on 20. His opening partner Michael Yardy soon followed to a catch at slip by Joseph off the fast bowler Andrew Richardson for 9, leaving the tourists on 33 for 2.Captain Vikram Solanki (16) was the third victim as he holed out to Gavin Tonge square on the on side, off the left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds, just one ball before the scheduled lunch break.On resumption, Jamie Dalrymple joined Alex Loudon, who was then on 22. But Dalrymple departed before he could settle, caught smartly by Chattergoon at square leg for 22 as he attempted a pull shot off the medium-pacer Kelly.Rikki Clarke perished soon afterwards as he offered a simple return catch to Kelly, leaving England on 120 for 5. Loudon was next to fall, edging a lifting ball to Browne off Richardson for 48.Chris Read led England to 166 for 6 at tea but he fell immediately after the interval, edging Hinds to be caught at the wicket for 33 and giving Browne his third catch.The last three wickets then fell with the score on 201 as Alex Wharf was caught by Browne off Tonge for 21, Gareth Batty was trapped by the left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed for 14, while Sajid Mahmood fell to the next delivery, lbw to Mohammed.Kelly finished with 3 for 34, while Richardson picked up 2 for 32. Hinds, with 2 for 37, and Mohammed, 2 for 38, gave valuable support.The West Indies got off to an enterprising start with Chattergoon striking the first delivery off Wharf to the backward square leg boundary and Simmons likewise dispatched his first delivery, from Mahmood, for four.Both batsmen have so far struck three boundaries in their innings as the West Indies pressed home the advantage. Simmons had a slice of luck, however, dropped by Clarke at first slip off Mahmood, when he had reached 19.

Mithali Raj is the key player for India, as they enter their first World Cup final© Getty Images

On not letting the occasion affect the team
We are just taking it as another match. We have told the girls not to take it as a final because that would put extra pressure on them. At the same time the Australians will be under lot of pressure because they have already been champions, whereas this is our first time.On Australian strengths
They are very good side but we had the opportunity of playing a home series against them in December 2004. And having beaten them in the last three games of that series, though India lost 4-3, the girls know they can match the Aussies and that is an advantage for us. Though both teams are balanced on the paper the Australians are mentally stronger than us.On the factors that helped us beat Australia in the home series
We were just working on the confidence levels of the girls. They needed to believe in themselves and retain their spirit even if things didn’t go their way. And the end result showed that they were positive and they have carried the similar spirit in the World Cup so far.On the wicket
There is no grass on the wicket and that is a plus point for us. It looks like it is full of runs.On India’s weakpoint so far
We were a little worried about our opening stand – our two openers have not clicked together. We would like a good opening stand. And we gave extra time to the batters during the nets today.On the strategy
If we win the toss we will bat. We just don’t want the pressure of chasing especially since this is our first final. And we will retain the same winning squad. Each member of the team has so far understood her responsibility and they should continue in the same vein and if they give their 100 percent we should surely win.

The following two Christchurch Metropolitan teams have been selected to compete at the Canterbury Under-19 regional tournament to be held at Mandeville from Nov 30-Dec 2.Metro Red:T Astle, S Barry, J Bennett, H Fisher, M Goldstein, B Newton, L O’Sullivan, M Peacock, J Pearce, B Rad, C Small, J Vernall.Coach: Garfield CharlesMetro Black:K Ambler, J Baxendale, D Broom, P Carey, M Fielding, R Hurring, T Johnston, D Matthews, C Rennell, D Saunders, D Yesberg, A Young.Coach: Neville LyonsPractice for both teams at Christ’s College nets at 5.30p.m. on Wednesday Nov 26.

He’s been fighting bigger battles over the course of the last week, and there are undoubtedly bigger fish to fry over the months ahead. But there was no mistaking Steve Waugh’s pleasure after he guided New South Wales to an important seven wicket victory over Tasmania in an ING Cup match here at Devonport today.In truth, Waugh played a minimalist’s role amid an outstanding team effort, leaving his most telling contribution to be delivered in the form of a late batting cameo that guided the Blues past their victory target of 250 with ten deliveries to spare.Yet his involvement in helping the Blues move to within one point of Queensland and South Australia at the head of a congested table with only one round remaining in this season’s domestic one-day competition still made for a more than satisfactory day.”It was a very good win for us,” said Waugh after the game.”The batting, in particular, was consistent all the way through. It was a very good chase.”A score of 250 always represents a big chase. If you lose early wickets (pursuing a target of that size), you’re always pressure. So I’m very pleased with the way we won the game.”It has been an unusual week for the national captain, what with Australia’s failure to qualify for a home one-day international finals series for only the third time in 22 years having been followed by a hostile exchange with the press. That the run-in later spilled over in a series of articles questioning his longevity and challenging his legitimacy to any extension of his role as the country’s one-day leader only added to the drama.If signs of his mortality are manifest, though, then he found a good way of masking them here as he helped the Blues negate the effect of a good Tasmanian start and register an impressive win. At a moment of potential vulnerability, his leadership was as ruthless as ever.From a national point of view, Waugh was also able to derive pleasure from the play of an opponent.Before today, he had not been formally introduced to Shane Watson, Tasmania’s exciting 20-year-old all-rounder and a member of the Test squad that he will be taking to South Africa later this week. But he gained a pretty good insight into the youngster’s prodigious talents in the space of just seven hours as he watched him compose an excellent 96 and snare the wicket of Mark Waugh (60) amid a tight spell with the ball.Watson is a young man in a hurry, and it seems that he doesn’t mind cutting down a few tall poppies if it quickens the passage to his destination. He was forced into a cautious mindset early in dealing with the furious pace of national fast bowler Brett Lee (1/34), whose deliveries only intensified in velocity with each gust of a southerly breeze howling at his back. But, after overcoming Lee’s fire, he helped himself to his highest limited-overs score at domestic level with a mixture of scorching drives, cuts and pulls.With opener Michael Dighton (52) and fellow all-rounder Scott Kremerskothen (43*), he also made a mess of the leg spin of Stuart MacGill (1/72), and pace bowlers Stuart Clark (0/44) and Nathan Bracken (3/49) were similarly rendered less effective than normal.Though collected on an excellent batting surface, the Tasmanians’ total of 7/249 represented an excellent return in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting and Jamie Cox, their two most respected batsmen. Also welcome was the touch of stand-in captain Daniel Marsh, who won the toss – under sunny skies and in front of an excellent crowd of 4907 – where Ponting and Cox had been unable to achieve that feat as many as 12 of 15 times between them this season.Missed run outs, and a dropped catch that allowed Dighton to dodge a bullet at 19 helped too.But the favour was rapidly returned when Marsh spilled an early chance at slip as Corey Richards (60) and Mark Waugh embarked on an opening partnership of 116 in a brisk start to the reply. Their association went a long way toward shaping the game’s fate.New South Wales even appeared to have an eye on the extraction of a bonus point by the time that Richards lobbed a catch to mid on to help cap an encouraging return to state ranks for Gerard Denton (1/53) after 14 months away because of a back injury.It zoomed more clearly into focus as Nathan Pilon (28) – playing in his first domestic one-day match in the absence of the injured Brad Haddin – arrived with a licence to throw caution to the howling breezes.But, once Watson (1/43) had lured Richards’ fellow opener into outside edging a leg cutter, the Blues appeared intent merely on moving to within a point of the competition lead.Alas, all that was left was for Michael Bevan (62*) to join with Steve Waugh (32*) in a cool, methodical stand that ended the game.

Veteran recruit Colin Miller (3/51) has struck twice in the space of three deliveries to lead Victoria into a strong position by stumps on day two of the Pura Cup clash with New South Wales in Melbourne. Miller’s removal of dangermen Michael Bevan (39) and Brad Haddin (2) in a dramatic over in late afternoon helped the Bushrangers reduce the Blues to the first innings score of 6/183 by the time that an end to the first five hours of the rain-reduced match was called.That any play at all was possible at Punt Road after several days of drenching rain was, in itself, a remarkable tribute to the ground staff. Again, the saturated state of the bowlers’ run-ups saw to it that the second morning was wiped out just like the first. But this time, the absence of any more rain opened a window of opportunity, albeit a narrow one, and play duly began at just after two o’clock.By the time that it did, the Victorians had already struck a major blow by winning the toss. This gave them the opportunity to send the Blues in to bat and exploit their top and middle order in conditions which frustrated strokeplay and quick run-scoring. Michael Slater (13), despite being passed fit to play and not showing any outward signs of discomfort from the much-publicised finger injury he sustained two days ago, never really looked comfortable. He played several streaky shots and, after a wild pull at Paul Reiffel (2/31), had his knock abruptly ended for him. Captain Steve Waugh (13), the victim of a loose cover drive at Mathew Inness (1/54), did not take long to join him in the pavilion. And then even worse was to come when makeshift opener Corey Richards (30) played a frustrated hook at Reiffel, one completely out of character with his extremely patient batting until then, and picked out Miller at fine leg.In the most attractive partnership of the day, Mark Waugh (53) and Bevan then came together to add some respectability back to the New South Wales scoreboard. Waugh’s ability to conquer the brilliant leg spinning talents of Shane Warne (0/38) through the clever use of his feet in the midst of a tantalising battle was probably, in fact, the major highlight of the day. Although the latter was particularly uncomfortable early, and clearly nowhere near as assured against Warne, the Bushrangers found few answers to the pair’s steady accumulation of a priceless sixty-seven runs for the fourth wicket. A liaison, it should be said, which was worth considerably more than that in view of the snail-like pace of the outfield.But that was all before Miller, back in Victorian colours for the first time in fifteen long seasons, struck. By first encouraging Waugh to try and hit a delivery high and hard over the on side – and producing a towering shot for Warne to stand under and bobble at slip – the wily off spinner produced the most crucial dismissal of the day. And so it was that, in luring a horribly out-thought Bevan well out of his crease with a wild, airy swing and finding Haddin’s outside edge with a beautifully pitched off break, he was able to put some delightful finishing touches on what turned out to be a great start to the Bushrangers’ new first-class campaign.For the home team, Warne also bowled well. Until leaving the field for treatment on a finger after his juggled attempt to catch Waugh, he had beaten a succession of batsmen with glorious flight and turn on a receptive surface. Inness also performed creditably, although the Victorian pacemen as a group should, in truth, feel disappointed about the predominantly leg side line they bowled today.

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans for Allan Saint-Maximin… 

What’s the talk?

According to The Daily Mail, the Magpies are prepared to cash in on the Frenchman at the end of the season to increase the transfer pot that Eddie Howe is able to utilise.

The report claims that PIF will be willing to sell him in the summer if a club matches their £50m valuation of the former Nice man.

Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are one of the sides eyeing up a potential swoop for the mercurial winger, who is said to be one of ten players the Toon want to let go ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Disasterclass

PIF are now heading for a major Newcastle disaster-class over Saint-Maximin and must nip this idea in the bud before it comes to fruition.

Unless a ridiculous transfer offer – Jack Grealish’s £100m move to Manchester City for example – comes in, then they must keep hold of him. He is crucial to Howe’s attacking set-up and selling him this summer would be a huge error by the club.

The idea of selling him for £50m and replacing him with two or three new additions is all well and good in theory but Magpies fans know more than most that not every transfer works out, particularly when it comes to attackers.

Newcastle reportedly paid £40m for Joelinton and £20m for Miguel Almiron – both record deals at the time – and they have scored two goals in 49 appearances between them in the Premier League this season.

Therefore, the club spent £10m more than they want for Saint-Maximin on two players who are three goals behind him combined. The French winger has produced five strikes and three assists in the top-flight, whilst averaging an impressive SofaScore rating of 6.94.

Toon icon David Ginola recently dubbed him the club’s “jewel” and Danny Mills showered him with praise earlier this year, saying:

“He picks the ball up, runs with the ball, makes things happen and is exciting. All those types of things.

“One week you will think ‘Wow, sensational’ but then he might be quiet for two or three games.”

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This highlights why the fans enjoy watching him play as he gets them out of their seats in excitement with his play on the ball. He averages 4.3 dribbles per game as he consistently beats opposition players down the wing, which shows that he is direct and likes to be a difference-maker in the final third.

In conclusion, it would be a disaster-class because there is no guarantee that PIF will be able to find players for £50m to replace what he gives to the team. The club would also be selling a fan favourite, given how exciting he is to watch, and that may not go down well at St. James’ Park, which is another reason why they must avoid making this mistake.

AND in other news, Less touches than Dubravka: “Struggling” NUFC flop with 6 passes was useless yesterday…