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In this excerpt from Alex Blackwell’s new book, she looks to the future with optimism

Alex Blackwell19-Feb-2022Fair GameIt’s been a hard road for women’s cricket to get where it is today and there is still a long journey ahead. But if we continue the trajectory from that incredible moment at the MCG, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Although I’m stepping back from the game, I will always remain connected to it. Cricket has shaped so many aspects of my life and has been hugely positive. I want more people to have the opportunity to experience the joy that playing this wonderful sport brought to my life. From the moment I received my first proper cricket bat with the intense smell of linseed oil on English willow, to the sensation of hitting my first six right out of the sweet spot of that bat, to learning the difficult art of bowling a wrong’un or learning how to take a two-handed diving catch and finish the move with the tumbling roll, these physical sensations kept me wanting more. But it is the amazing friendships I have formed with women and men from all over the world, through this special game called cricket, which I will treasure the most.Related

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So I want to finish by imagining an ideal future for cricket. If I was suddenly transported 20 years into the future and was checking in on the state of the game, what would I hope to see? What does a cricket utopia look like?It looks like a completely level playing field between men and women. There’s no longer any sense that the men’s game is of any higher priority or importance than the women’s game. Men’s cricket is no longer the default. The media coverage and public interest is split equally – and sometimes the women are ahead in this regard. Thanks to incredible marketing efforts and increased media coverage, sponsors have flocked to women’s cricket, realising what a hot commodity it is and wanting their businesses to be associated with something so special.Blackwell gets a guard of honour in her last WBBL game, in 2019•Getty ImagesAll players in the Australian women’s team are household names. The team is made up of women from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and they are equally adored and celebrated. The players feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to cricket – their differences and quirks are embraced and incorporated into the team culture. The Australian public loves them, not just for their amazing feats on the field but because they are interesting people with lives and passions away from sport who set a great example in so many different ways. Past women’s players are held in equally high regard as their male counterparts and the history of the team is regularly celebrated by administrators and current players. Past female legends of our game are lead commentators in men’s and women’s cricket, not just for radio but also front and centre on our screens, with their naturally grey hair and sun-aged skin.In boardrooms across the country I see equal numbers of men and women discussing the game and working to keep making improvements. Women can afford to commit to these roles because their time is valued as much as men’s and they have been paid equally for many years now. I can see many past players among these board members, leading discussions through their knowledge, experience and passion. When they speak, everyone stops to listen and their opinions are respected and acted upon.I can see women in leadership positions in the Cricket Australia headquarters too. Past players haven’t been lost to the sport due to burnout, domestic players have degrees in a whole range of specialties after being supported to study during their careers. They’re energised and excited to bring their unique skill sets to the organisation that supported them and continue to drive things forward for the next generation. The halls of our great stadiums are adorned with portraits of past players – male and female legends of the game appear side by side. Those past female players, the invisible giants of our game, are now recognised and celebrated regularly for the contributions they made to our sport against the tide. The rich history of gay women in cricket and their positive impact in the evolution of the women’s game is spoken about openly and celebrated.As I walk past the nets at the SCG prior to the New Year’s Test I can see the Australian men’s Test team being put through their paces by head coach Ellyse Perry. This group of young men are awed to be in her presence and have so much respect for this incredible cricketer they grew up watching dominate the domestic and international arenas. No one asks the players any questions about what it’s like to have a female coach; it’s no longer an anomaly or a novelty.Looking around at the elite men’s and women’s teams across the country, I can see a diversity that truly reflects the Australian population. Players whose heritage lies in the cricket-loving South Asian nations are flourishing and the sport has also attracted many people with backgrounds that haven’t been traditionally associated with cricket, such as Thailand and Sudan. In the media I see beautiful photos of the most recent Allan Border Medal winner celebrating with his husband and their daughter. They walked into the event with pride and were captioned correctly as husbands in every photo.What if the likes of Ellyse Perry went on to coach top men’s teams and having female coaches in men’s cricket was normalised?•Matt King/Getty ImagesAll over the world I can see our players proudly representing themselves and their country. Global tournaments for women have exploded and alongside the WBBL and the Hundred, the women’s Indian Premier League has expanded rapidly and attracts talent from all over the world. The Caribbean Premier League also has a thriving women’s competition, and the FairBreak Global tournament has become the key event in the calendar – this two-week invitational tournament has become the highest-paying T20 tournament for women in the world, and women from Associate cricket nations such as Botswana, Oman and China are stars of the show.Recently retired women’s international cricketers continue to make a great living from playing in short T20 tournaments all over the world. The television and live-stream coverage is excellent – of better standard than the men’s because the women have been quicker to embrace the use of cutting-edge technology which has enhanced the viewer experience. This was a big step to achieving equality with the men’s game, because more and more viewers tuned into women’s cricket to witness the interaction with artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies. The success in the women’s game convinced the men to be open to the opportunities as well and interest has risen across the board. There is all kinds of data available that helps fans understand the sport better – from the heart rate of a bowler in the death overs in a tight T20 match to the fatigue levels of a player batting out two full days of a Test. All games are accessible on demand for viewers everywhere.Stepping back to the grassroots level, I can see that cricket has embraced all different forms of the game. Modified formats like indoor cricket and Last Man Stands (which was renamed to Last Player Stands, and not one single person kicked up a fuss, because gender-neutral language is just expected now) all fall under the Cricket Australia banner and it has helped the sport to thrive. Cricket is no longer just for those who have an entire weekend day available to play each week. Instead there are people taking part on weeknights, parents playing alongside their kids in social competitions, and competitive grassroots leagues that can be played with rubber cricket balls, encouraging more people to play, with fewer concerns about concussion and injuries.I see mums coaching their sons’ teams, boys and girls sharing training facilities equally and cheering each other on during matches. The diversity that is now present at the top levels of the game is visible here too. Cricket teams are made up of people from all different cultures and all walks of life, brought together by a love for the game.The final of a Sydney women’s social competition is held during a lunch break at the New Year’s Test match at the SCG. The leaders of our game recognise that it’s not just kids who will relish that opportunity and understand the importance of engaging adult women and the benefits that will come from these opportunities. Most importantly, community cricket is a space where people of all genders feel safe and welcome and everyone is able to play in a team that matches their gender identity without fear or anxiety.Blackwell with her partner, the former England medium-pacer Lynsey Askew, at the 2016 Allan Border Medal ceremony•Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesThere is a strong link between elite and grassroots cricket. Reduced training loads for professional players to foster better work-life balance have not only allowed players to gain qualifications and experience that prepare them for life after cricket, they have also given them more time to reconnect with their clubs. Community cricketers know the players who have come through the pathways they are a part of now and regularly go to games to support them. When professional players are introduced to the field – at the ground and on TV – they are identified by their club as a way to acknowledge that lifelong connection. Elite players take the time to attend club training sessions, where they can enjoy quality facilities and coaching in addition to giving back to the community that set them on the path to where they are today.Premier cricket competitions across Australia are stronger than ever before. The number of teams in each grade has been reduced and club cricketers are playing alongside elite players during the regular mid-week matches held under lights. These matches are the highlight of training each week for elite players who are spending less time in the nets and more time playing matches. The club players are genuine team-mates with some of the best elite players in the country and they see a definite pathway to the next level.Access to the best grounds is shared equally between the men’s and women’s teams and fixturing takes into consideration the opportunity for players to support other teams from their club and the WBBL and MBBL teams from their state. There are strong and definite pathways from junior cricket through to premier cricket for women and men, with shared high-performance hubs and facilities to build the connection. The ease of live streaming and the plethora of streaming services available means that grade competitions are now broadcast and the increased visibility leads to better sponsorship deals at this level. This allows for better facilities and more ability for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to participate without having to navigate a large financial barrier. The aspiration to reach the premier level has increased – particularly for women – and these reinvigorated competitions keep people engaged in the sport longer and make the elite levels stronger.Hachette AustraliaEven though things have changed significantly for the better, no one is letting their guard down. They recognise how easily things can slip back into the status quo and they keep on working to make sure the doors open even wider and let more people in.This all feels like a distant dream, but 20 years is a long time. Who would have imagined 20 years ago, when my elite cricket career was just getting started, that we would have reached the great heights we have now? I experienced so much positive change throughout my two decades in the sport and I know what is possible.In the future, I hope I’m sitting down to read a book by my former Sydney Thunder teammate Phoebe Litchfield – who was 20 years my junior when we first formed a match-winning partnership together – charting the amazing changes she has experienced since her debut. I hope her story describes something like I have imagined in this chapter, but who knows? It could be even better.

Seven from Asian teams figure in a well-balanced XI, complete with three top allrounders

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom11-Feb-2020Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Five 50-plus scores in the tournament – including a hundred in India’s semi-final win over Pakistan – Jaiswal was by far the most consistent batsman going around. He displayed a solid defence and showed that he becomes more and more fluent the longer he stays in the middle. As a useful add-on, he can bowl a few quick overs too.Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)
The 73* against South Africa in the seventh-place playoff was his best innings, but even outside of it, the Afghanistan Test opener was the rock that almost always led the way in giving the bowlers something to play with. Afghanistan were at their best when Zadran batted long and became the pivot around which the others did their stuff.ESPNcricinfo LtdMahmudul Hasan Joy (Bangladesh)
He really made it count in the semi-final against New Zealand, where his 100 took Bangladesh to their maiden final, which they went on to win. Quite often, he played the role of the anchor, holding the middle-order together, after starting the tournament slowly.Akhil Kumar (Canada)
Kumar finished joint second on the list of highest wicket-takers, his medium-pace bowling accounting for 16 wickets, but he was also Canada’s dependable top-order batsman. In the tournament’s official fantasy cricket system, he had the most points entering the final, before being overtaken by Jaiswal and Ravi Bishnoi. His four-for rocked South Africa in the group stage while his three-for created a flutter in the Zimbabwe ranks in the playoffs, and his 3 for 37 and 37 with the bat helped Canada finish 13th with a win over UAE.Akbar Ali (Bangladesh – captain, wicketkeeper)
He didn’t need to do much with the bat before the final, but when the onus was on him, he delivered, and how. His captaincy and wicketkeeping had been impressive already, and in the final against India, with his team in a hole at 65 for 4, Ali showed the way, and led Bangladesh to the title with an unbeaten 43.Dan Mousley showed off his range of shots•ICC via GettyDan Mousley (England)
The team’s floater, Mousley first struck a 44-ball 51 from No. 7 against Australia, in a game they lost in a thrilling finish. He then opened the batting against Sri Lanka in the Plate final and scored a fluent 111. In between, he crunched a 36-ball 57 against Japan. If he had opened from the start of the tournament, England’s tournament might have been different.Nyeem Young (West Indies)
Two Player-of-the-Match awards in two tough group games made everyone sit up and take notice of Young. Against Australia, the allrounder struck a patient 61 during a testing period to win his team a close game. Then, against England, he hammered a quick 66, leaving a few windows broken in Kimberley while doing so, and followed it up with 5 for 45 – perhaps the best all-round effort of the competition. He played a big role in his team staying unbeaten all the way to the quarter-finals, where they lost.Kristian Clarke (New Zealand)
Clarke took seven wickets in four games, including a four-for against West Indies in the quarter-final, but what he did with the bat in that game stood out more. His unbeaten 46* from No. 10 rescued New Zealand from certain defeat as they eked out a two-wicket win. Earlier, in what was a crucial group-stage game against Sri Lanka, he was the man of the moment again, hitting a six in the final over to knock their opponents out.Shafiqullah Ghafari takes off in celebration•Getty ImagesShafiqullah Ghafari (Afghanistan)
Ten of his 16 wickets came against one team. In the tournament opener, Ghafari lit up the stage with 4 for 15 to defeat South Africa. After that, South Africa won every game, until they met Afghanistan in the seventh-place playoff. There he ran through South Africa again, conceding 15 runs again but this time for six wickets. In between, his 5 for 23 floored UAE in the group stage.Ravi Bishnoi (India)
The tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 17 strikes, and a close contender for Player of the Tournament, Bishnoi certainly made a big splash. Even if you take the legspinner’s 4 for 5 against Japan out of the equation, every time he came in to bowl, you felt a wicket was around the corner. Importantly, he did well in high-pressure matches: four crucial wickets in the middle overs against New Zealand to help India finish group toppers, 2 for 46 in the win over Pakistan in the semi-final, and then, when he nearly won India the final with 4 for 30 against Bangladesh. In between, there was the crucial 30 with the bat against Australia in the quarter-final.Kartik Tyagi (India)
Tyagi was among the wickets in each India game except the final, when he was wayward. But, whenever he had the ball in his hands, you had to save your toes because his yorkers were so accurate. One of the tournament’s fastest bowlers – he hurt Japan with 3 for 10 and was on the money against Pakistan in the semi-final where he collected two important wickets for only 32 runs. But he will remember the Australia game the best – his three wickets in his first two overs pretty much set up India’s victory.

Manchester United managed to return to winning ways in the Premier League last night, after a dominant 4-1 thrashing of bottom-placed side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ruben Amorim’s men produced one of their best performances of the campaign to date, to put themselves into sixth place and just a point off the top four.

Hearts will no doubt have been in the mouths of all supporters at the break, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde ensured the game was level going into the break.

However, three goals in the second half secured a seventh league victory of the 2025/26 campaign for the Red Devils – now extending their run to just one loss in the last nine outings.

One player deserves massive credit for his showing at Molineux on Monday night, with the first-team member massively excelling during the well-deserved triumph.

Bruno Fernandes’ stats against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has often struggled throughout the ongoing campaign, as Amorim has decided to utilise him in a deeper-lying midfield role rather than the number ten position.

It’s required the Portuguese international to think more defensively, which has no doubt had an effect on his output within the final third in the Premier League.

However, his showing against Rob Edwards’ men was arguably his best of the season to date, with the 31-year-old notching two goals and an assist in the triumph.

Such a tally takes him to 10 combined goals and assists in his first 15 appearances of the season, but it was his underlying figures that highlighted his impressive display.

He featured for the entirety of the contest and registered 55 completed passes, whilst creating five chances for his teammates – with both the highest of any player in the meeting.

Bruno also completed 12 passes into the final third, and only misplaced eight passes in total, further highlighting his incredible performance with the ball at his feet.

However, without the ball, the midfielder was just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 100% tackles won, seven recoveries made and a total of five combined aerials and ground duels won.

The United player who is as undroppable as Bruno

As seen by his tally of 15 starts out of a possible 15 in 2025/26, there’s little denying that Bruno is undroppable and certainly one of Amorim’s most important players.

Numerous other players are starting to force themselves into such a bracket, with Bryan Mbeumo just one player who should be a starter week in and week out.

The Cameroonian international netted once again in the clash in the West Midlands, subsequently taking his league tally to six this campaign – the most of any player in the squad.

He registered four shots on target against the hosts, whilst also completing two dribbles – largely being a menace to the Wolves backline during the victory last night.

However, the backline has been a cause for concern over the last couple of weeks, especially with the absence of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the last two matches.

As a result, youngster Ayden Heaven has been thrown in at the deep end, but he’s managed to impress – with his showing at Molineux certainly one to remember.

It was just his second start of the season, but the 19-year-old appeared unfazed and produced numerous impressive figures that could make him undroppable within the manager’s current side.

The teenager registered 36 passes during his minutes on the pitch, subsequently achieving a completion rate of 100% – the highest of any player who started the match.

Minutes played

69

Touches

49

Passes completed

36

Pass accuracy

100%

Blocks made

1

Clearances made

7

Duels won

100%

Fouls won

2

He also made seven clearances, three of which were with his head, whilst making three recoveries, which enabled him to be in the right place at the right time when called upon.

Heaven’s dominance at the heart of the three-man defence was further highlighted by his impressive tally of six combined duels won – also at a success rate of 100%.

It’s no mean feat for such a young defender to start in the middle of a Premier League defence, but Heaven has made it look routine over the last couple of weeks.

Given his tender age, expectations will no doubt need to be managed by Amorim, but it is certainly hard not to get excited by the youngster after his showing at Molineux.

He’s certainly done enough to cement his place in the starting eleven for the run-up to Christmas, potentially being a huge asset for the club in their hunt for Premier League glory in the years ahead.

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While many would blame Russell Martin, the primary reason behind Rangers’ catastrophic start to this season is poor recruitment.

In attacking areas, Cyriel Dessers, Hamza Igamane and Václav Černý, who scored 63 goals between them last season, have all departed, replaced by Djeidi Gassama, Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti, who are simply not of the same quality.

Elsewhere, Joe Rothwell has been cast aside since the appointment of Danny Röhl, while defence remains a major issue too, with Max Aarons and Jayden Meghoma appearing out of their depth, while a solid and reliable central partnership is yet to be unearthed.

So, when the Gers return to action against Livingston after the international break, should Röhl ditch an error-prone defender and begin to entrust his “colossus”?

Nasser Djiga's Rangers career so far

Nasser Djiga arrived at Rangers with a pretty decent reputation; a Burkina Faso international joined on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had signed him for around £10m from Crvena zvezda as recently as January.

Well, he certainly did not make the ideal start to life in Glasgow, sent off on his home Premiership debut during a dismal 1-1 draw with Dundee at Ibrox.

Just ten days later, Djiga was then at the scene of a catastrophic error.

The centre-back seemingly denounced any responsibility as the ball bobbled through the heart of the Rangers defence, allowing Romeo Vermant to open the scoring, the first of nine goals Club Brugge would bag across the two legs of the harrowing and ignominious Champions League play-off tie.

Djiga thereby found himself out of the team for a few weeks thereafter, albeit he has been reintegrated for recent matches by Röhl, after he switched to a back three, requiring a third member of this back-line alongside Derek Cornelius and John Souttar.

Nevertheless, he has not impressed, with the Scotsman labelling him ‘unconvincing’ following Rangers’ recent Europa League defeat to Roma, having previously outlined that the defender endured a ‘really difficult’ afternoon against Celtic at Hampden in the League Cup semi-finals a few days earlier.

That has sparked suggestions that his season-long loan could be terminated as early as January, a scenario that could well be sped up if Röhl gives one of Rangers’ forgotten summer signings an opportunity to stake a claim.

Rangers' forgotten colossus deserves a chance

Considering Rangers signed 12 players in the summer, a few of these new recruits have been overlooked and forgotten about.

Well, this is certainly the case when it comes to centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez.

The 24-year-old had already bounced around numerous lower league English clubs, Sheppey United and Spalding United to name just two, before making the move north of the border from Peterborough United, following an outstanding campaign in EFL League One.

He cost a reported £3.5m, a not insignificant fee for Rangers, but has barely featured for the Glasgow giants.

Fernandez made his debut against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, marking the occasion with this towering header in front of the Broomloan Road Stand, starting at St Mirren the following weekend, but seeing a mere one-minute cameo at Easter Road since 24 August, an unused substitute on 12 occasions in total.

Upon his arrival, then-manager Martin labelled Fernandez a “commanding defender” who boasts a “strong physical presence”, while Darragh MacAnthony, Chairman of his former club Peterborough, described him as a “colossus”, adding that the “gentle giant” is a “great organiser and talker”.

So, let’s assess his statistics from EFL League One last season.

Fernandez 2024/25 stats

Stats

Fernandez

League 1 rank

Goals

5

2nd

Tackles (per 90)

1.24

63rd

Interceptions (per 90)

0.91

46th

Clearances (per 90)

6.83

19th

Passing accuracy %

85.35%

20th

Passes (per 90)

65.93

5th

Aerial duels won (per 90)

4

27th

Aerial duels won %

62.24%

25th

Ground duels won (per 90)

2.87

35th

Note: rankings are defenders only.

Stats via SofaScore

As the table documents, despite only seeing 2,380 minutes of action out of a possible 4,140, Fernandez boasted pretty impressive statistics at Posh last season.

He scored five goals, including this rocket at Exeter City, while also ranking highly when it came to clearances, passing and aerial duels, helped by the fact that he is 194 cms (6 ft 4 in) tall when it comes to the latter.

So, given a chance, Fernandez could really flourish at Ibrox, hoping to replicate the career Calvin Bassey enjoyed in Glasgow.

When Bassey arrived at Rangers from English football in 2020, costing a mere £230k in compensation, he had never previously played senior first-team football, having merely plied his trade in Leicester City’s youth teams.

Initially signed as Borna Barišić’s left-back deputy, Bassey would ultimately become the club’s best central defender, a key figure in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team that won the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League Final in 2021/22.

That summer, the Nigerian international was sold to Ajax for around £20m, which remains the club’s biggest sale of all-time.

Fernandez is certainly more experienced now than Bassey was when his Rangers career began five years ago, given that he has a full season in EFL League One under his belt, a division that Global Football Rankings believes is comparable in level to the Scottish Premiership, just eight spots below.

Thus, considering the scarcity of other options, especially with Röhl electing to deploy a back three, Fernandez certainly deserves an opportunity to stake a claim, likely to prove more reliable than Djiga in the long run.

Bassey emerged from obscurity and the periphery to flourish at Ibrox – why can’t Fernandez now do the same?

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Danni Wyatt-Hodge fifty sets hosts up for success

ECB Media10-Aug-2025Southern Brave made it two from two in this year’s competition, as Sophie Devine starred in a 15-run victory over Birmingham Phoenix in front of a record crowd at Utilita Bowl.A crowd of 11,167 turned out in the Hampshire sunshine to see the home side prevail in a game which see-sawed throughout but was ultimately decided by the regular wickets Brave took throughout the Phoenix run chase.Both teams came into today’s game off the back of strong opening wins, with Phoenix winning the toss and opting to field. Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 59 from 39 balls was the foundation for the Brave’s total of 139, ably supported by Laura Wolvaardt (28) and Devine (27).After a good start from Brave, Phoenix came back into the first innings, restraining the home side in the last 25 balls. At one stage, a big score was on the cards but, led by Megan Schutt (2 for 23 from 20 balls) and then Em Arlott (2 for 19 from 20 balls) at the death, Brave faltered to 139 with only 19 coming from the last 15 balls.Southern Brave took the early wickers of Emma Lamb and Georgia Voll, both of whom had done well in the Phoenix’s first game. Ellyse Perry and Amy Jones then steadied the ship and looked comfortable in their efforts to knock off the total.When Jones was out for 20, Sterre Kalis took over the charge to the finish, with Phoenix needing 45 from the final 30 balls. However, when Perry was caught well in the deep by Mady Villiers for 26 from 21 balls, Kalis accelerated but ultimately ran out of support, and Phoenix were bowled out with two balls to spare, 15 short.The Brave bowling performance was headlined by Lauren Bell taking 3 for 17 from 19 balls, with Devine’s 2 for 28 and Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s 2 for 16 also doing damage.With her 27 runs, two wickets and a run out, Devine, the Meerkat Match Hero said: “I’m really pleased about the result. Danni (Wyatt-Hodge) was outstanding. The way she set up the game, it was trickier than she made it look. It was a great game for us and nice to do it in front of the home crowd.”It is always nice to perform against teams you have previously played for. Every game is on the line and you have to be good. We have to keep sharp and keep learning. I have not played a lot of cricket over the last few months and was probably swinging like a rusty gate. I’ve played enough cricket to know that it will come. When you have someone like her (Wyatt-Hodge), it makes easier. If I can contribute in any way, that is what I am here for.”

“He may be cast in bronze, but he’s still capable of producing truly golden moments”, were the words Jon Champion cried when Thierry Henry scored that goal for Arsenal.

Titi, as he became known, had been there and done it all with the Gunners.

A Highbury legend, the great Frenchman is the club’s all-time record goalscorer, he holds the record for the most assists (20) in a single Premier League season and has countless honours to show for his efforts.

He is a multiple Golden Boot winner, a league winner, an FA Cup winner and he even has a World Cup winner’s medal. He is, arguably, the greatest player never to have won a Ballon d’Or.

So, when he returned on loan from New York Red Bulls during Arsene Wenger’s final years in north London, he was only going to deal in one currency: goals.

While he may have been reduced to a bit-part player, the magic was still there, netting that vintage goal against Leeds in the FA Cup to which we’ve already referred, before scoring a winner against Sunderland.

Henry joins fellow club legends Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams in having been cast as a statue outside the Emirates Stadium.

Since those memories were erected, supporters have longed for similar times. They have not won the league since the Invincibles side of 2003/04. How they would love for that to change.

21 years on and there is a sense this is their greatest chance of winning it since. The likes of Bukayo Saka and Co may well find themselves cast in bronze outside the stadium before too long.

Why a statue awaits Bukayo Saka

Has the Emirates era ever seen a more dazzling player than Saka?

The likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez would all have something to say about that but none of them were loved quite as much as Saka.

He is Arsenal through and through. Born in London, raised in Hale End. The winger has been with the Gunners since he was a wee lad and has been the poster boy for Mikel Arteta’s project.

Saka’s emergence came under Unai Emery but it’s Arteta who has helped him become a household name, Arsenal’s talisman and one of the first names on the team sheet for England.

The 24-year-old’s rise to stardom has been quite something. Starting out in the senior ranks as a makeshift left-back, he is now ranked among the best wingers in the world. He’s done it Gareth Bale style and he’s now got the numbers to showcase why he’s quickly becoming an Arsenal legend.

No player has appeared more under Arteta than Saka and overall, he has now been seen decked in Arsenal colours on 272 occasions, scoring 73 and assisting 71 goals.

Arteta’s most used players

Player

Games

1. Bukayo Saka

252

2. Gabriel

221

3. Gabriel Martinelli

218

4. Martin Odegaard

204

5. Thomas Partey

166

6. Ben White

163

7. Eddie Nketiah

149

8. Granit Xhaka

147

9. William Saliba

144

10. Leandro Trossard

133

Saka only has one trophy to his name, an FA Cup, but if Arsenal’s vice-captain can help lead them to Premier League or Champions League glory, then he will surely be immortalised alongside Henry and Co outside the stadium.

Alongside him could well be the club’s new Adams.

Arsenal’s new Tony Adams is heading towards statue territory

Without Saka in recent years, Arteta’s attack would have lacked sparkle. After all, it is in the final third where their biggest problems have been found.

Largely due to Saka and Kai Havertz’s long-term hamstring injuries, the 2024/25 campaign was the first since 1923/24 that an Arsenal player failed to score double figures in the league.

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So what has the bedrock of Arteta’s success been built on? The defence.

When the Spaniard first took charge of Arsenal, the backline was a mess. His opening match in charge against Bournemouth saw Saka fielded alongside a pairing of Sokratis and David Luiz, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles featured at right back.

Sokratis and Luiz are far from the worst defenders Arsenal have had; think the likes of Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi in that regard.

That’s a sign of just how far the Gunners have come under Arteta’s stewardship. For those who criticise them for being boring, just think of what it used to be like.

Mikel Arteta’s first Arsenal XI

GK – Bernd Leno

RB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles

CB – Sokratis

CB – David Luiz

LB – Bukayo Saka

CM – Lucas Torreira

CM – Granit Xhaka

CAM – Mesut Ozil

RW – Reiss Nelson

LW – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

CF – Alexandre Lacazette

The year before Arsenal’s former skipper returned to manage the club, 2018/19, the Gunners shipped 51 goals, the most they have ever conceded across a single Premier League campaign.

Fast forward to the present day and there is arguably no better defensive side in Europe. They are yet to concede across their three Champions League ties and have conceded just three goals in the Premier League, only one of which has been scored from open play. That came courtesy of Erling Haaland and we can excuse that. The man is a machine.

As a result, they are on course to concede just 14 league goals, thus bettering that remarkable campaign by Chelsea in 2004/05 when they let in only 15. That statistic still defies belief.

Arteta has strengthened his backline enormously and in Gabriel Magalhaes, he has found a player who may well be worthy of a statue once all is said and done. Indeed, he is the Tony Adams of the present day.

A ferocious leader, a damn good defender, and a scorer of goals, there isn’t a lot the Brazilian can’t do.

To think he once cost only £27m is incredible. He now looks every bit a £100m centre-back.

Over the last few years, it’s William Saliba who’s gained the most vocal praise from pundits. The French superstar is a Rolls-Royce defender but onlookers are quickly realising that it is indeed Gabriel who is the glue of this team.

Saliba oozes class and composure but Gabriel is certainly more of a leader of men. He not only does that with his talking but his actions speak a thousand words.

It was Jamie Carragher who admitted last season that the French defender looks a little lost when his partner in crime isn’t playing but the same cannot be said for Gabriel who is becoming Mr Reliable.

To rubber-stamp just how good the former Lille star is, he has won 77% of his ground duels in the league this season. For context, of English top-flight defenders to win more than ten ground duels, he ranks joint-fifth for percentage of ground duels won, sitting level with the great Virgil van Dijk.

But, it’s Gabriel’s offensive record that is the most striking. If a corner or free-kick gets swung, you can bet your house on the fact that the big Brazilian is likely to score a header from it. As Arsenal writer Adam Keys put it, he is a “colossus”.

He was involved in two of the goals against Atletico Madrid during the 4-0 win earlier in the week. Declan Rice’s swinging free-kick was nodded home to open the scoring and Gabriel then provided the assist from Rice’s corner for Viktor Gyokeres to bag his second of the evening.

The simple fact of the matter is that Gabriel is a clutch player. No centre-back in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more goals than his tally of 22 since 2020/21.

In league football alone, he has scored 18, a tally that places him second behind Laurent Koscielny (22) for goals scored by an Arsenal defender in the Premier League.

He is a modern-day great, a pillar of solidity, a warrior, a leader, a titan. Should Arsenal go on to create a title-winning dynasty, then Gabriel will surely be in with a shout of being cast in bronze. He is that good.

Former midfielder Jamie O’Hara has slammed two Tottenham Hotspur stars in the wake of the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, branding their performances “painful”.

Spurs fall to sixth after Aston Villa defeat

Tottenham suffered their second Premier League defeat of the season at the weekend, suffering a 2-1 loss at home against Villa, which means they have now fallen to sixth in the table.

On the balance of play, it was a relatively even game, with very few big chances being created by either side, but the visitors were ultimately more clinical, and Morgan Rogers’ first-half goal was particularly eye-catching.

Thomas Frank admitted the loss was a fair result in his post-match interview, saying: “I don’t think we did enough. If we’d done enough we wouldn’t have lost this game. I don’t think we gave too much away, they scored two goals from outside the box. But I think we can also create more for ourselves.”

As you’d probably expect, O’Hara was a little more scathing in his assessment of Spurs’ performance, taking to X to single out two players in particular for heavy criticism.

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The former midfielder said: “We’re so frustrating to watch it’s painful, why is Tel playing? Why is Odebert starting? They are not good enough, we need more than just long throws, our home form needs to be million times better.”

Tottenham must improve ahead of tricky run of fixtures

Frank’s side’s fixtures have been relatively kind on paper so far this season, but things are about to get more difficult, with upcoming Premier League opponents Everton still undefeated at home since their move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Everton (a)

October 26th

Chelsea (h)

November 1st

Manchester United (h)

November 8th

Arsenal (a)

November 23rd

Fulham (h)

November 29th

As such, Spurs must start showing signs of improvement soon, and O’Hara is right to be concerned about Odobert’s performances, with the winger still yet to register a single goal or assist in eight Premier League games this season.

Tel has also disappointed since his arrival, scoring just four goals in 28 outings, and the 20-year-old struggled once again on Sunday afternoon, receiving a 6.1 SofaScore match rating before being withdrawn on the hour mark.

Consequently, Frank could do with Dominic Solanke returning sooner rather than later, and the Tottenham boss recently provided a promising update on the centre-forward’s return from injury, saying: “The good thing is it’s positive, he’s progressing now. But he’s still training on his own. I don’t want to be too excited or too negative either way, so I’m actually taking it a little bit day-by-day and week-by-week to see how quick he progresses.”

تعرض منتخب الإمارات تحت 17 عامًا، للخسارة أمام كرواتيا، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما في دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا. 

وواجه منتخب الإمارات نظيره كرواتيا، في الساعة الخامسة وربع مساء بتوقيت القاهرة، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، التي تقام في الدوحة. 

طالع.. ترتيب مجموعة تونس في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا بعد الخسارة أمام الأرجنتين

وتلقى منتخب الإمارات الخسارة بثلاثية نظيفة، وأحرز أهداف المنتخب الكرواتي كل من تينز كوزانوفيتش في الدقيقة 30 من الشوط الأول، وجابريال سافيتش في الدقيقة 36، ورادوس في الدقيقة 89. 

وبهذه النتيجة رفع منتخب كرواتيا رصيده إلى 4 نقاط في صدارة ترتيب المجموعة، بينما توقف رصيد منتخب الإمارات عند نقطة وحيدة في المركز الأخير. 

يذكر ان منتخب الإمارات يقع في المجموعة الثالثة في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، مع منتخبات كرواتيا والسنغال وكوستاريكا. 

وتقام بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا في قطر خلال الفترة من 3 إلى 28 من شهر نوفمبر الجاري.  أهداف مباراة الإمارات وكرواتيا اليوم في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا 

 

“It was a big moment,” as Stephen Fleming put it, and CSK lost it because of their batters – Dewald Brevis and Ravindra Jadeja – not being alert enough

Ashish Pant04-May-20253:10

Brevis’ late review down to lack of game awareness?

On an evening where the contest ebbed and flowed all the way through, there was also a contentious decision, which led to a long argument in the middle at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.The incident took place on the third ball of the 17th over of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) chase of 214 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Lungi Ngidi bowled a knee-high full toss on middle and leg stump. Dewald Brevis missed, and was hit on the pad. The umpire’s finger went up in a jiffy. As per the rules, the ball became dead at that point, and the 15-second timer kicked off.However, Brevis and his partner Ravindra Jadeja, seemingly unsure of what was happening, continued running the single, and the fielder fired in a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from the point region. After a bit, Brevis chatted with Jadeja and asked for a review only to be told that the 15-second time limit had elapsed.Related

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It led to an argument with Jadeja and Brevis on one side and the on-field umpires Nitin Menon and Mohit Krishnadas on the other. Eventually, a disgruntled Brevis had to walk back for a first-ball duck. To add to CSK’s misery, replays confirmed that Ngidi’s delivery was comfortably sliding down leg and Brevis would have been saved had he taken the review on time.”Yeah, it was a big moment,” Stephen Fleming, the CSK coach said after the game. “In talking to Jaddu [Jadeja] and Brevis, there was a lot going on with running straight away. I think they saw the ball ricochet and actually went to the boundary for four. And lost in that was whether Brevis took the review in time. I don’t know the answer to that. He wasn’t sure, given that they were running at the time.”As soon as you’re given out, I understand the timer starts. There was a fair bit eaten up with the play still being completed, and whether they just ran out of time… in the umpire’s view, it did. The other part about it, because he was given out, we wouldn’t have got the runs. While we would have maintained the wicket, it certainly wouldn’t have given us the five runs, which would have been nice.”But it’s a big moment in a big game. There was twists and turns all the way through.”According to the IPL 2025 playing conditions, “The total time elapsed between the ball becoming dead and the review request being made shall be no more than 15 seconds. If the on-field umpires believe that a request has not been made within the 15-second time limit, they shall decline the request for a player review.”Dewald Brevis is struck high on the pads off a Lungi Ngidi full toss•BCCI

ESPNcricinfo’s match experts felt that it was a case of “lack of awareness” on Brevis and Jadeja’s part.”Why are you saving your reviews? Do you cash those in? Do you get some money at the end of the game?” Danny Morrison said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, while suggesting that it was a “mistake” from Brevis and Jadeja to not go for the review right away.Piyush Chawla had a similar view, especially with Brevis being an in-form batter.”You don’t need to discuss. Three-and-a-half overs left, two reviews remaining, you could have gone for the review straightaway,” he said. “When you are batting, with the angles, as a batter you also know it might slide [down the leg side] because of the rule sometimes when it hits directly onto your pads, from there they take it straight with the tracker.”Brevis had scores of 42 and 32 in two innings coming into the game. When he fell, CSK required 42 off 21 balls, but they fell short by two runs in a tense finish.

We are only three games into the season, and there are already so many things to talk about around Arsenal.

One of the more positive developments has been the emergence of Max Dowman, who, after being talked about for almost a year, finally made his Premier League debut against Leeds United in gameweek two.

He looked right at home in senior football, won a penalty and impressed Mikel Arteta enough to earn a substitute appearance away to Liverpool the following week.

It certainly feels like the youngster is destined to reach the top of the game, and it appears that Hale End has another gem on their hands in a 16-year-old who could be the perfect replacement for William Saliba.

William Saliba's Arsenal career

Arsenal signed Saliba from Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2019 – under Unai Emery – but as we all know, he wouldn’t get his chance to play for the club until three years after that.

Instead, the young Frenchman was sent on three season-long loans, to his former club, OGC Nice and then finally Marseille, who even tried to sign him permanently due to his hugely impressive performances.

However, Arteta and Co. very wisely made it clear the Bondy-born monster was not for sale, and as he was named the Man of the Match in just his first game for the Gunners, it was instantly apparent to English fans why he was so highly rated in France.

Since then, the 24-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has amassed 137 appearances for the North Londoners, in which he’s scored seven goals and provided two assists.

He has also been named in the PFA Team of the Year for three seasons on the bounce, which just goes to show the level of player Arteta has in his squad.

Appearances

137

Starts

135

Minutes

11968

Goals

7

Assists

2

Points per Game

2.06

However, while a new contract is reportedly in the works, his current deal expires in two years, and Real Madrid have constantly been linked with him over the last couple of transfer windows.

While Arsenal will be hoping Saliba remains at the club for years to come, if that’s not the case, they might already have the perfect replacement brewing in a Hale End talent who could be a bit like Dowman.

Hale End's perfect Saliba replacement

It should go without saying that, at this very moment in time, Arsenal fans shouldn’t expect an academy gem to come in and perfectly replace Saliba.

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Now, that might sound like hyperbole, but we promise you it’s not, as there is an enormous amount of excitement around the youngster from those in the know.

For example, Hale End expert Will Balsam has described him as the academy’s “best defensive prospect in recent memory,” which is almost as bold as respected analyst Ben Mattinson, who’s claimed the 16-year-old is the “best CB Hale End has produced.”

Moreover, he shares plenty of the same characteristics as the French international, with Balsam pointing out his “composure under pressure and ability to read the game”, which pair brilliantly with his “mix of control and aggression.”

It’s not just outsiders who have high hopes for the youngster, either, as the club has already moved him up the U21s and Arteta gave him a run-out against Newcastle United and AC Milan in pre-season.

Finally, on top of everything we’ve already talked about, one of the biggest strengths of the Gunners’ number two is his passing range, and according to Rising Stars XI, the Hale Ender is also more than accomplished at that.

Ultimately, Arsenal should do whatever they can to keep Saliba on the books for as long as possible, but they can rest assured that in Salmon, they’ll have an ideal replacement a few years from now.

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