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Allrounder hit his fifth century to etch his names in record books

Sampath Bandarupalli11-Feb-20245 – Hundreds by Glenn Maxwell in T20Is. He now shares the record for most centuries in the format with Rohit Sharma, who scored his fifth hundred last month.241 for 4 – Australia’s total in the second T20I against West Indies is now the highest by any team on Australian soil. Australia’s 233 for 2 was the previous highest – against Sri Lanka in 2019 – also at the Adelaide Oval.4 – Maxwell’s T20I hundreds out of five while batting at No.4. He now has the most hundreds at No.4 or lower in T20Is, going past Suryakumar Yadav’s three.Related

Magnificent Maxwell's record-equaling century sets up series win

Maxwell also holds the same record in all T20s, having scored five hundreds while batting at No.4. He surpassed David Miller, who has four T20 centuries at No. 4 or lower.120* – Maxwell’s score at the Adelaide Oval is now the highest individual score by a No. 4 in T20Is. It is also the second-highest T20I score at No. 4 or lower, only behind Shaheryar Butt of Belgium, whose 125* against Czech Republic in 2020 came at No. 6.Glenn Maxwell made another record•ESPNcricinfo Ltd1 – Maxwell’s 120* is also the highest individual score against West Indies in T20Is. The previous highest was 119 jointly held by Faf du Plessis (in Johannesburg in 2015) and Phil Salt (in Tarouba in December last year).1 – Players with a higher score in men’s T20Is in Australia than Maxwell’s 120* on Sunday. Shane Watson scored an unbeaten 124 against India at the SCG in 2016. It was Maxwell’s second T20I century at home and his fourth in all T20s in Australia, which are the most by any batter.68 – Runs scored by Australia in the death overs (17-20) are the joint-most by them in a men’s T20I during this phase. They had also scored 68 in the last four overs against Sri Lanka in Pallakele in 2016.448 – Runs aggregated at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday are the most for any T20I hosted by Australia. The previous highest was 415 runs in the first match of the ongoing series in Hobart.

The occasion – a home Test against Australia – was great. But the game itself fell flat

Danyal Rasool08-Mar-2022Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique got together in the middle, and had a little chat and a fist-bump. It ended as it had begun with Pakistan’s openers at the crease and Australia’s bowlers toiling away. If something happened in the middle, you’d be forgiven for forgetting it; history certainly will.Five days, 1187 runs, 14 wickets, and lots of existential dread after this history-making Test started, the umpires put the players out of their misery. If Pakistan believed the reticence of the so-called Big Three (Australia, England and India) to visit this part of the world was detrimental to Test cricket, the last five days were an odd way to make the point.It was wholesome enough watching Australia touch down on Pakistani soil for the first time in overs 23 years, have the touring party gush over the hospitality and food, and listen to the CA and ACA chief executives talk about how safe everyone felt here. But the real proof of a corner being turned – and Pakistan Cricket’s end-goal – isn’t the wall-to-wall coverage of a box office side playing Test cricket in Pakistan. It’s for tours like this become so routine they no longer make newspaper headlines.The PCB might be relieved we’re not at that stage yet or the scrutiny on this surface would have been significantly more forensic, the criticism much more pointed. That the cricket is still secondary to the event has been the saving grace of the past week. Because, while Australia’s visit has been handled almost to perfection, the preparations for the cricket – you know, the reason they were here in the first place – have been rather more ham-fisted.Related

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There are myriad factors contributing to the orgy of ennui that consumed the ether around the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, but what’s most unforgivable is how utterly unnecessary this was. Pakistan cricket may have a million issues, but the Pindi pitch isn’t one. There have only been two other Test matches where a side had a worse strike rate than Australia’s 478 balls per wicket and they happened 64 and 50 years ago respectively. It’s little short of travesty that Rawalpindi will now rank so high up in a list it has no business belonging to.Recall that the most recent Test on this surface was one of the matches of 2021. South Africa’s stockpile of quality seam bowling is more intimidating than perhaps any other nation’s and so there was substantial angst about whether there was any home advantage to speak of. But despite Pakistan’s efforts to tame the natural predispositions of the strip, the need to ensure a quality contest was always at the forefront. In a game where the momentum ebbed and flowed, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi took nine of the ten South Africa wickets in the fourth innings, a time when the home side might have wanted the surface to start breaking up.Injuries to Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf may have played a part in Pakistan sedating their most lively pitch•PCBThe memories of that game had left a particularly tantalising aftertaste, and the brouhaha of the context of Australia’s visit aside, it was the prospect of similarly engrossing cricket that made the first Test feel like such a grand occasion. Australia’s well-rounded pace attack was equipped to adjust to the varying conditions Pindi throws up, and since Faheem Ashraf’s return to the Test fold, Pakistan’s inveterate problems with balancing their side appeared to have melted away. If you enjoyed the buzz around an Australian visit, there was plenty in it for you. And if you wanted to nerd out over Test cricket, you were still nicely sorted.However, as Pakistan’s injury list piled up, the furtiveness around the pitch grew. Haris Rauf contracted Covid-19 and was ruled out. Hasan Ali, Test player of 2021 for Pakistan, was also injured. And, it appears, once Ashraf’s absence became official, so too did any realistic hopes of a positive result for Pakistan in Rawalpindi. When the covers were removed on the morning of the first Test, they revealed a flat, dried out husk of a deck, not a blade of grass in sight.After becoming PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja had singled out the state of domestic pitches as one of the key reasons holding Pakistan cricket back. “Until the pitches are fixed in Pakistan, our cricket won’t rise. Pitches must be competitive, and there must be a balance between bat and ball. My mission statement is that I want Pakistan to defeat Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.” With a reputation for micromanagement, Ramiz went on to say he thought of himself as a curator and had a brochure he read every day called “How to Prepare a Pitch”. Turns out it might take more than a brochure to become a curator.Sports fans have fickle memories, and if Pakistan find themselves in the World Test Championship final, the decision to sedate the liveliest pitch in Pakistan might look like a masterclass rather than a miscalculation. But where Pakistan have yelled themselves hoarse reminding other nations of their wider obligations to cricket, they would do well to remember they are not exempt from those very obligations.Ultimately, the expense, the hassle, the stress, the inconvenience to residents, commuters and spectators, the security risks are all considered a fair trade in Pakistan so people can throng stadiums and huddle around TV screens enjoying what most countries take for granted: international cricket in their nation. Tour dates are announced with breathless excitement; every update is a headline, every press conference a moment. Ticket websites crash as they are overwhelmed; fans line up hours ahead of the start and brave excessive security measures.It’s hard to argue those crowds – it was one of the best-attended Test matches in Pakistan in ages – weren’t heavily short-changed. Even a captain as diplomatic as Pat Cummins couldn’t stop himself saying “it was probably clear” there was an “effort to nullify the pace bowling”, and that it wasn’t a fair contest between bat and ball.There has been reputational damage to Test cricket in general and the Pindi pitch in particular. This is the surface Pakistan supporters have used as evidence that the country offers a diversity of conditions not seen elsewhere on the subcontinent to this degree. They might find it’s suddenly become much harder to make that case after what the cricket world was subjected to over the last five days.It seems like a fair bit to lose for four World Test Championship points.

While South Africa are better remembered for their heartbreaking losses in World Cups, there have been some moments to celebrate too

Firdose Moonda23-Apr-2020Don’t say the words “Cricket World Cup” around South Africans too loudly. Whether it’s the rain rules getting the better of them, as in 1992 and 2003, sudden collapses, as in the 2011 quarter-final, or falling just short, as in the 1999 and 2015 semi-finals and the 2017 Women’s World Cup semi-final, the World Cup always seems to leave South Africans heartbroken. But rather than relive that pain, let’s talk about five times South Africa actually had World Cup performances their fans remember for the right reasons. v Australia, Sydney, 1992
After 21 years of sporting isolation, South Africa arrived at their first World Cup as an unknown force and stunned the hosts, Australia, in their opening match. A 25-year-old Allan Donald should have had a wicket with his first ball, but the umpire did not hear what seemed to be a clear edge. He still ended up with 3 for 34 in ten overs, keeping Australia to 170 for 9. The chase was managed with relative ease by Kepler Wessels, who scored 81 not out, and Peter Kirsten, 49 not out. Wessels had played 54 ODIs for Australia, his adopted country, but now captained the country of his birth. v Pakistan, Nottingham, 1999
The 1999 World Cup will forever be remembered for Lance Klusener’s late, under-pressure hitting. And this Super Sixes match produced, probably, his best performance in the tournament. Chasing 221, the top order had crumbled, and Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock had to rescue the team from 58 for 5. Their 77-run partnership had kept South Africa in the game, but when Pollock was out for 30, Klusener faced a situation of needing 86 to win off 83 balls. He had already made significant contributions against Sri Lanka (52*), England (48*), and Zimbabwe (52*), and here he smashed 46 not out off 41 balls, including three sixes and three fours, to give South Africa the two points that would prove crucial to their qualification to the semi-finals.Sune Luus and Shabnim Ismail completed a memorable chase for South Africa against Pakistan in the 2017 Women’s World Cup•International Cricket Council v West Indies Women, Pretoria, 2005
In the days before women cricketers were professionals, South Africa struggled for consistency. They hosted the 2005 Women’s World Cup and started with a no-result against Ireland. Then, against West Indies, they slid to 19 for 4. Opener Cri-zelda Brits’ 72 took them to a respectable 169. She then played a major role in defending the total, first getting involved in an early run-out and then taking four wickets, three of them in a crucial phase between the 32nd and 38th overs. Despite those quick strikes, West Indies remained in the hunt until the final over, when Brits struck her final blow and secured a one-run win. That was South Africa’s only victory of the tournament. v India, Nagpur, 2011
South Africa and India were the two favourites to top Group B at the 2011 World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag laid into South Africa’s attack early, getting to 142 within 18 overs. Tendulkar made 111, but after his dismissal, Dale Steyn put on a masterclass at the death, ending up with 5 for 50, having sparked an India collapse that saw them go from 267 for 1 in 39.4 overs to 296 all out in 48.4. South Africa kept pace in the chase thanks to half-centuries by Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers, but strikes at regular intervals kept India in the hunt. When Johan Botha was dismissed in the 48th over, South Africa needed 18 off 13 balls. Zaheer Khan bowled a brilliant 49th over, giving away just four runs. A thick inside edge, a massive hit over cow corner, and a smash through the covers, all from Robin Peterson, gave South Africa victory. v Pakistan Women, Leicester, 2017
In their first 50-over World Cup as fully contracted professionals, the South African women’s team announced themselves with a thrilling win against Pakistan. They struck regularly through Pakistan’s innings, with left-arm seamer Moseline Daniels’ 2 for 21 in ten overs the standout performance. Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt, all of 18 years old, got the chase of 207 underway with a stand of 113 inside 26 overs. But once they were gone, South Africa lost wickets rapidly and found themselves needing 30 to win off the last five overs with just three wickets left. Sune Luus and Shabnim Ismail, who scored 22 off 16 balls, completed the chase with an over to spare. South Africa went on to reach the semi-finals, where they lost to England in another tight finish.

Marc Guehi has given a surprising verdict on his failed summer switch from Crystal Palace to Liverpool. The defender looked set for a transfer deadline day move to the Premier League title holders but the Eagles pulled the plug on the deal at the 11th hour. Now, the England international has reflected on what might have been for him amid ongoing links with the Reds.

Guehi's uncertain future

Guehi was primed to join Arne Slot's side this summer, only for Palace to decide against completing the £35 million ($46.6m) deal as they couldn't find a replacement for the 25-year-old. He has since been linked with Real Madrid but Liverpool are not giving up on the former Chelsea man. But with his contract set to expire next summer, Liverpool risk losing him to a rival in 2026 on a free transfer. 

Incidentally, Palace boss Oliver Glasner recently denied claims that he would leave the FA Cup holders if Guehi was sold. 

He told reporters earlier this month: "I told you with Marc Guehi, everybody said I threatened to step down, it’s completely wrong. I just said if you sell Marc Guehi and we don’t have the right replacement, we could struggle. If you are fine with this for Crystal Palace – not for Oliver Glasner, never – for Crystal Palace, sell him. If you don’t want that situation, you have to keep him, and the chairman decided that Marc stays. It’s the same here, I give my advice, but it’s never a wish, it’s nothing to do with we have to buy players [so] that Oliver Glasner signs a new contract. It’s just if we want to progress in the Premier League environment."

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesGuehi responds to Liverpool links

England star Guehi has claimed that "God has a plan for me" following the collapse of his Liverpool move. And it seems having team-mates such as Maxence Lacroix, who is also a Christian, is helping him be at peace on the matter. 

He told Sky Sports: "I think everyone has this perception that it was difficult. Actually, it wasn't difficult. It wasn't difficult at all. Because when you're focused on what's the most important thing, it becomes easy. I know that God has a plan for me, and whatever that plan will be, will come into fruition at some point. But, the goal and the focus has always been playing football and trying to do the best I can. And fortunately for me, I get to do it with people like Max."

January exit unlikely

According to Palace chairman Steve Parish, it is more likely that Guehi leaves for free next summer rather than departing in January, which would give the Croydon outfit some sort of transfer fee. Moreover, it seems very remote that he will stay at the Eagles, who are competing in the Conference League this season, with the defender showing no signs of extending his stay.

In November, he told the Men in Blazers podcast: "We needed to keep Marc because the difference between us having a stellar season and having a relegation-threatened season is us winning five games or not. So the margins in the Premier League are very tight and you have to remember that Michael (Olise) has gone, we’re OK, Ebbs (Eberechi Eze) has gone, we’re OK, Wilfred (Zaha) went, we’re OK. There’s a limit to how much you can keep doing that before you break down the fabric of the team."

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(C)GettyImagesWhat comes next for Guehi?

For the time being, Guehi will be focusing on doing the best he can for Palace, who sit sixth in the Premier League at the time of writing. Next up is a trip to London neighbours Fulham on Sunday afternoon, with the Eagles potentially climbing up to fourth with a victory at Craven Cottage. The games are coming thick and fast for Glasner's side as on Thursday night they are away to Shelbourne in European action, before hosting Manchester City in the league a few days later.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo está interessado na contratação de Maycon, volante que pertence ao Shakhtar Donetsk e está emprestado ao Corinthians. O clube ucraniano aceitou uma oferta de seis milhões de euros do Rubro-Negro pelo atleta. As informações são dos sites “Goal” e “ge”.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Flamengo

O Shakhtar irá comunicar a decisão ao Corinthians, que, por sua vez, tem 48 horas para igualar a oferta e manter o jogador em definitivo. O empréstimo de Maycon ao Timão vai até o fim de 2024, e seu contrato com o clube ucraniano se encerra em dezembro de 2026.

A janela de tranferências do futebol brasileiro se encerra no dia 7 de março, próxima quinta-feira. Mesmo Maycon atuando pelo Corinthians e disputando o Paulistão, há o entendimento por parte do Flamengo de que, por se tratar de uma negociação com um clube ucraniano, a negociação deve respeitar o prazo desta semana. Por isso, há pressa para fechar a contratação.

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➡️ Flamengo tenta regularizar Léo Ortiz para semifinal do Carioca; saiba quando o zagueiro chega ao Rio

O jogador de 26 anos foi revelado pelo Corinthians em 2016. Foi vendido ao Shakhtar em 2018 e está emprestado de volta ao Timão desde 2022, ano em que lidou com lesões consecutivas. Mesmo assim, teve seu empréstimo renovado por mais uma temporada. Em 2023, foram 57 partidas e três gols. Nesta temporada, Maycon entrou em campo 11 vezes, com dois gols e duas assistências.

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CorinthiansFlamengoMaycon de Andrade Barberan

The word coming from FSG’s camp is that Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool’s head coach is not immediately under threat.

However, the owners who watched as Liverpool dominantly conquered the Premier League last season are now staring down the barrel of a gun regarding the Dutchman’s future at the helm, with nine losses from 12 matches in all competitions an inexplicable slide in form.

Liverpool’s crisis of confidence has left their title defence in tatters, and Slot is now facing a fight to save his position at Anfield, with the upcoming run of league fixtures – West Ham United, Sunderland, Leeds United – over the next week sure to shape the narrative and whether this rut deepens.

FSG might feel that Liverpool’s title-winning boss still has some credit in the bank, but that will change if things don’t improve, and sporting director Richard Hughes has already compiled a list of potential replacements.

Hughes begins search for Slot successor

While Liverpool are not ready to pull the trigger, they would be remiss not to sound out a few options in the event that things continue to deteriorate on Merseyside.

Earlier this week, Spanish sources suggested Jurgen Klopp is back in the mix as Hughes looks for solutions, but this would not be the right path to travel back down. The legendary German departed Liverpool in 2024 after admitting he was tired from so many taxing years at the top.

However, the Reds might choose to move for another manager who is established as one of the best in the business, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique emerging as a contender.

Enrique, 55, was the man behind PSG’s incredible quadruple-winning 2024/25 season, previously reaping riches with Barcelona, and reports – via The Mirror – believe Liverpool have made him their long-term priority in the event of Slot’s dismissal.

The suggestion is that conversations have been held at boardroom level at Anfield, amid fears over whether Slot has lost the dressing room, hence why Enrique could be lined up as a potential successor.

Why Enrique could be perfect for Liverpool

Some critical observers would suggest that Liverpool started foundering after PSG knocked Slot out of the Champions League in the last 16. Certainly, the English side petered out as the season entered the business stretch.

An experienced and decorated manager, Enrique has been hailed as “the best manager in the world” by French journalist Julien Laurens for reaching unprecedented heights with PSG, creating a stable and multi-faceted attacking outfit that was practically invincible last season.

His fluid philosophy could be attracting Hughes’ interest. Enrique employs a 4-3-3 formation, but he’s experimental with his ideas, utilising full-back width and clever passing patterns in the build-up.

This could give rise to the qualities of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, but Alexander Isak might benefit most from this potential managerial switch.

Enrique’s teams score goals. Moreover, they do so with style. Ousmane Dembele would certainly attest to that.

The current crisis makes it easy to forget that Isak is one of the deadliest strikers of his generation, and Enrique’s acumen would surely see a system wrought to accommodate the 26-year-old’s qualities.

Isak looks a world away from that world-class striker who tore English football apart at St. James’ Park, but, as with several other summer recruits, he has struggled to adapt in a dysfunctional team.

Liverpool are hardly a hothouse for player growth at the moment, but that is why Enrique could be such an interesting pick.

They are hardly carbon copies, but Isak and Dembele share a likeness, and, considering this, Enrique could reshape the Swedish striker into a free-scoring superstar.

Goals scored

1.08

0.72

Assists

0.32

0.19

Shots taken

4.69

2.91

Touches (att pen)

7.94

5.93

Shot-creating actions

6.02

2.91

Pass completion

80.2

74.7

Progressive passes

7.46

3.25

Progressive carries

5.94

2.72

Successful take-ons

1.80

1.44

Ball recoveries

1.36

1.81

Tackles + interceptions

0.68

0.57

While it might look like Isak pales in comparison to the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient, different factors need to be considered. Isak plays in an ostensibly tougher league and was considered to be “the best striker” in England last season, as was said by pundit Jamie Carragher.

If anything, this bears testament to Enrique’s tactical prowess, and given the natural stylistic similarities, it could be the perfect move to finally unlock the latent qualities of Liverpool’s star striker.

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Worcestershire old boys increase threat of relegation as title-chasers take charge

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Sep-2025Nottinghamshire kept their Rothesay County Championship title challenge on track as they bowled Worcestershire out for 182 on the opening day at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Former Worcestershire seamers Dillon Pennington and Josh Tongue reduced their former team-mates to 53 for 6 before Gareth Roderick and Tom Taylor offered some resistance.Nottinghamshire closed the first day on 46 for 1 to lay a strong platform for a victory which would keep their surprise title-bid right on track – and pretty much relegate Worcestershire to Division Two.Nottinghamshire chose to bowl in anticipation of early life in the pitch. They found plenty to reduce the home side to 37 for 5 in the 15th over. Pennington struck the first two blows, unfurling a lifter to take Rehaan Edavalath’s edge through to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne and jagging one back in to trap Kashif Ali lbw.Three wickets then fell on 37. Tongue removed Jake Libby, caught behind, and Brett D’Oliviera, off stump flattened, with the last two balls of an over. When Pennington pinned Daniel Lategan (making his debut, the 556th player to play first class cricket for Worcestershire) lbw, three wickets had fallen in five balls.Tongue was mightily close to a hat-trick at the start of the next over when Roderick survived a huge lbw shout, but the next wicket wasn’t long coming as Worcestershire stirred some self-destruction into their difficult morning. Ethan Brookes played Pennington to mid-off, saw a single that wasn’t there and was well-beaten by Haseeb Hameed’s direct hit.When Matthew Waite clipped Lyndon James to midwicket just after lunch, it was were 86 for 7 but Roderick and Taylor rebuilt sensibly against strangely defensive fields. They added 71 in 17 overs and Taylor was deeply frustrated to sky a pull at Tongue and perish minutes before rain arrived to trigger an early tea.After a gloriously atmospheric hour, with forked lightning flickering amid the fusion of dark greys and greens of grass, trees, sky and cathedral at this dazzling venue, Nottinghamshire polished off the innings. Pennington pinned Ben Allison lbw and Roderick, having dug out a fighting 102-ball half-century, was lbw, sweeping, to Liam Patterson-White.Nottinghamshire lost skipper Hameed, bowled by Taylor, to the second ball of their innings. The pitch continued to offer some movement and good carry but Ben Slater and Freddie McCann, not without some playing and missing, added an unbroken 46 in 16 overs to the close to leave the east Midlands county still scenting a big first innings lead, a victory and, later this month, their seventh County Championship title.

Arsenal supporters, alongside Mikel Arteta in unison, all spend the international break the same way; praying all the players return to London Colney injury-free.

This desperation has been exacerbated further by the fact that Martin Ødegaard suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee against West Ham last weekend.

The Norwegian midfielder had been back to his dazzling best against Olympiacos three days earlier – supplying Bukayo Saka’s goal – but will now spend at least a few weeks on the sidelines, which could be a significant blow for the Premier League leaders.

So, which player should Arteta deploy in Ødegaard’s absence, and why could he be the man to get the best out of Arsenal’s most high-profile summer signing, Viktor Gyökeres?

Viktor Gyökeres' Arsenal form in numbers

Having arrived from Sporting Clube de Portugal for around £65m, one of the club’s biggest-ever outlays, scoring a whopping 97 goals in just 102 appearances for the Lisbon-based giants, sky-high expectations were placed on Gyokeres.

The widely accepted narrative was that all Arsenal needed to get to the next level is a top-class number nine, something they arguably have not had since the days of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Well, so far, in ten appearances, Gyökeres has scored just three times for the Gunners, bagging a brace during his home Premier League debut against Leeds, before also netting when Nottingham Forest visited North London.

However, the Sweden international has also missed four Opta-defined big chances in the Premier League, as well as three in the Champions League, evidence to the zeitgeist that he probably should have scored more goals.

Nevertheless, Gyökeres is a player who needs service to thrive, underlined by the fact that, of all Arsenal outfield players to have completed 90 minutes this season, he averages the lowest touches-per-90 at just 24.1.

Between this international break and the next, Arsenal’s four Premier League fixtures are against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland, so many will be expecting Gyökeres to rack up the goals, but which teammate can help get the best out of him?

Arsenal's sensational creator can get Gyokeres firing

In their most recent outing against West Ham, Arteta did what many were calling for by deploying Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze alongside each other for the very first time, both in a central role.

This experiment was short-lived, but came a week after Eze had got the nod through the middle at Newcastle, when many had believed Arteta would go for the more defensively solid trio of Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, as he had at Anfield.

Now with Ødegaard set for a spell in the treatment room, Eze has to be given the keys to this team, made a central figure with the Gunners likely to be tasked with breaking down a low block on a tri-weekly basis, a challenge that often proves to be their kryptonite.

When he signed for the club in August, Sporting Director Andrea Berta​​​​​​​ labelled the England international “creative and explosive”, while Arteta described him as “powerful and exciting”, noting that he “will give us a new dimension in our attacking game”.

Chalkboard

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

Meantime, speaking on talkSPORT, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish called his former star player “sensational”, praising both his quality on the pitch as well as character and dedication.

Well, since making the move from South London to North, Eze has already shown his quality, scoring his first goal for the Gunners during last month’s EFL Cup tie at Port Vale.

The statistics below also give a sense of what Eze has added to his new team.

As outlined, despite limited minutes, Eze has instantaneously established himself as a creative force in this Arsenal team.

Shots

2.8

1st

Shots on target

1.13

1st

Shots on target %

46.2%

5th

Progressive passes

5.23

8th

Shot-creating actions

3.83

3rd

Goal-creating actions

0.68

4th

Successful dribbles

1.3

3rd

Take-on success %

61.5%

1st*

*minimum 10 take-ons attempted.

No player averages more shots on target on a per-90 basis, while he also ranks highly in terms of chance creation and dribbling.

At Crystal Palace last season, he created 11 big chances in the Premier League, while his ability in this department has been best showcased in Arsenal colours so far by his jaw-dropping assists for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal to salvage a draw against Manchester City.

This pass underlines exactly how he can get the best out of Gyökeres​​​​​​​. The Swede thrives when he has open space to run into, his first goal against Leeds Exhibit A in that regard, but teammates have often been hesitant to play the early pass, as they are still adapting to having that sort of striker transplanted into the team.

Well, Eze, a new arrival himself of course, appears best-equipped to provide Gyökeres with the services he requires.

At Craven Cottage on Saturday, Eze needs to be utilised high and centrally, getting as close to Gyökeres as possible, because getting the best out of both will be key to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes.

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2 Oct 7, 2025

The opener was one of three half-centurions at Canterbury after signing a new three-year deal

ECB Reporters Network29-Jun-2025Kent 325 for 4 (Bell-Drummond 66*, Compton 66, Guthrie 2-54) vs NorthamptonshireBen Compton celebrated being handed both his county cap and a new three-year contract by making 66 on day one of Kent’s Rothesay County Championship game with Northants at Canterbury.The hosts were 325 for 4 at stumps, with Tawanda Muyeye hitting 58 and captain Daniel Bell-Drummond unbeaten on 66.Liam Guthrie took 2 for 54 but it was a gruelling day in the heat for the visitors, who used seven different bowlers after losing the toss and being asked to field.The 173rd Canterbury Festival continued with an immaculate minute’s silence for Wayne Larkins before the start of play and both sides wore black armbands in honour of the former Northamptonshire and England opener, who passed away yesterday at the age of 71.Kent chose to bat in already sweltering heat, with Jaydn Denly driving a regal six through point early on, but his stylish innings came to an end when Guthrie had him caught by Justin Broad at gully for 35 off 36 balls.It was 110 for 1 at lunch, at which point Compton was awarded his county cap by the former England seamer and incoming Kent president Richard Ellison at a ceremony in front of the pavilion.His partner, Ekansh Singh, was playing only his second first-class game, but he looked as assured as Denly had, only to fall a run shy of his 50 when Dom Leech had him caught behind.Compton did pass 50 in Leech’s next over, carving a no ball through point for four, but he nicked Broad behind, leaving Kent on 207 for 3 at tea and the hosts chose this moment to announce that he’d also agreed a new deal that will keep him at the Spitfire Ground until the end of the 2028 season, ending speculation he was moving to Essex.Muyeye then reached 50 with an elegant flick of the wrist for a single off Calvin Harrison but Guthrie got him lbw with the new ball.Bell-Drummond became the third Kent player to make a half-century when he hit Guthrie for four through cover and he was joined by Joey Evision, who had reached 29 not out by stumps.

Going big on youth can certainly be risky, but Chelsea have done it anyway.

Fortunately, even though it’s still early on in the club’s plan, it looks to be a risk that’s panning out for Enzo Maresca’s side.

For example, in the squad this season, the likes of Jorrel Hato, Andrey Santos, Roméo Lavia and more are all 21 and under, and there are even more talents coming in the summer.

Moreover, Estevao is still just 18 years old and looks like a superstar in the making, and even he might be outshone by another youngster set to dazzle Stamford Bridge and the Premier League at large next season.

The increible talents joining Chelsea for next season

While Estevao is grabbing the headlines so far this season, and justifiably so, Chelsea have more brilliant youngsters set to join the squad in the summer, like Denner.

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The 17-year-old left-back is currently plying his trade in Brazil, with Corinthians, and while he might not be a particularly well-known name among English fans at the moment, he will be.

Described as a “marauding LB with so much quality in the final third” by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the Brazilian gem has already produced four goal involvements in 13 games this season and could provide Marc Cucurella with some real competition next year.

Likewise, the 26/27 campaign could finally be the one in which Kendry Páez announces himself to the Premier League.

The Ecuadorian midfielder, who already has 20 senior caps to his name at just 18 years old, is spending the season on loan with Strasbourg and has already netted his first goal for the side.

Lastly, while he is on the older side of this conversation, fellow Strasbourg star Emanuel Emegha will be making his way to West London in the summer, and he could be an instant hit.

For example, in 29 appearances last season, the “simply phenomenal” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 14 goals and provided three assists, and then this season, he’s put the ball in the back of the net four times and provided two assists in just six games.

With all that said, there is another gem set to join the Blues, perhaps the most exciting of the lot and someone who could end up being better than Estevao.

The gem who could be better than Estevao

While there are other players set to join up with Chelsea in the summer, the most exciting, and the one who has the best chance of actually being better than Estevao, is Geovany Quenda.

At least the club will be hoping that is the case, as they paid a whopping £44m for the then-17-year-old in March of this year.

Fortunately, based on his performances last season and so far this year, it certainly looks like the West Londoners have got their hands on someone truly special, or as Kulig puts it, “one of the most exciting teenagers in World football.”

Now, that might sound like hyperbole, but at just 18 years old, the Portuguese wonderkid has already made 65 appearances for Sporting CP’s senior side, totalling 4322 minutes, in which he has scored four goals and provided 12 assists.

Moreover, with 12 games played in the Champions League, in which he’s produced three goal involvements, he is already more experienced at the top level than Estevao.

Described as a “relentless” and “highly unpredictable” winger by Mattinson, the youngster is also producing some impressive underlying numbers in the Primeira Liga this year.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of wingers and attacking midfielders for expected assisted goals, key passes, through-balls, goal-creating actions, carries, and so much more, all per 90.

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.43

Top 3%

Key Passes

2.52

Top 3%

Live-ball Passes

39.57

Top 3%

Through Balls

0.97

Top 3%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.97

Top 3%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.97

Top 3%

% of Dribblers Tackled

80.0%

Top 3%

Touches (Def 3rd)

8.15

Top 3%

Carries

35.69

Top 3%

Passes Received

38.41

Top 3%

Ball Recoveries

6.79

Top 3%

Ultimately, it may well still be early in his career, but Quenda already has plenty of experience in European football, and it looks like Chelsea have another superstar on their hands.

Value has risen by 228%: Chelsea star looks like "Lampard, Drogba & Hazard"

The world-class Chelsea star could become a legend under Enzo Maresca.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 9, 2025