One figure who has gone down in history at Leeds United is former manager Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine manager is adored by the Elland Road faithful, after spending three and a half successful years at the club between 2018/19 and 2021/22.

Of course, he was the man in charge when the Whites were promoted back to the Premier League for the first time in over a decade, and he helped them survive comfortably.

That initial campaign back in the top flight in 2020/21 saw the Yorkshire side come ninth in the table.

Statistically, they were one of the most exciting teams to watch in 2020/21. They certainly stack up well against their start to this season.

How Leeds’ key stats from 2020/21 compare to 2025/26

We are seven games into the new season, and Leeds, now managed by Daniel Farke, have impressed fans and pundits with how well they’ve played.

Many people, including Bill Connelly of ESPN, had them down to be relegated, predicting they’d finish 18th.

Yet, at the October international break, the Whites have done well to keep themselves above the relegation zone. They have eight points to their name and sit 15th in the table.

The expected points tally, as per Understat, has them on 9.96xPTS, suggesting they’ve played better than their current tally suggests.

Seven games into the 2020/21 campaign under Bielsa saw Leeds doing slightly better than their current points total. At the same stage that season, they had ten points to their name and were 12th in the top flight, again impressing given they’d only just been promoted.

Whilst the squad five seasons ago had outscored Farke’s team seven games into the season, the current Leeds side are more defensively sound. They’ve conceded 11 goals this term, with an expected goals against total of 8.87xGA.

In comparison, Bielsa’s men had let in 13 goals in seven matches, at 12.85xGA according to Understat.

With that in mind, there is one man from the current Leeds side who would have surely made Bielsa’s team stronger.

The current Leeds player who'd strengthen Bielsa’s team

There have been several standout players in a Leeds shirt this season. New signing Sean Longstaff has transitioned to life at Elland Road seamlessly.

He’s already created 13 chances in the top flight, averaging 2.5 per 90 minutes.

However, it is defensively that the famous 2020/21 side could have done with reinforcements. That is why current Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu would have slotted seamlessly into Bielsa’s squad.

The Welshman is an “indispensable” member of Farke’s side, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

His entire Elland Road career has come under the German’s tutelage, racking up 91 appearances and even chipping in with a couple of goals back in his first season at the club.

One of the great things about the Whites number four is his versatility. He’s equally adept at playing as a centre-back and the base of the midfield, operating as a number six who can screen the back four.

In a Leeds shirt, he’s played 48 times in the latter role, and 40 at the back.

The above graphic shows Leeds’ most common starting lineup from the 2020/21 campaign. It is easy to imagine Ampadu slotting into the back four next to then-club captain Liam Cooper, displacing Diego Llorente.

Alternatively, he could have played alongside Kalvin Phillips in midfield to make them even more defensively astute. That is a duo which would have won plenty of duels in the middle of the park.

Some stats show Ampadu’s quality, too. Last season in the Championship, and this term in the Premier League, he’s been extremely consistent.

For example, in 2024/25, he made 5.1 ball recoveries per 90 minutes on average, which has slightly dropped to 5 each game in 2025/26.

Pass accuracy

90.44%

86.01%

Duels won

5.9

4.8

Clearances

3.5

2.5

Interceptions

1

1.3

Ball recoveries

5.1

5

It is certainly not too far-fetched to imagine Ampadu operating in this successful Bielsa side. Knowing the versatility he offers, as well as the quality he can bring to a side on and off the ball, he would have made a fine addition to a heavy-metal, transitional team.

Of course, we’ll never know how well this could have worked out, but Ampadu’s contributions could have made Bielsa’s famous Leeds side even better.

Cost £0, now worth more than Okafor: Leeds have hit gold on "crucial" star

Leeds United have hit the jackpot on this star who is now worth even more than Noah Okafor.

2 ByDan Emery Oct 11, 2025

IPL’s breakout star produces another fast-paced innings after Rocky Flintoff top-scores for England

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Jun-2025

Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 48 off 19 balls•Bipin Patel

India U19 178 for 4 (Suryavanshi 48, Kundu 45*) beat England U19 174 (Flintoff 56, Mohammed 42) by six wicketsIndia’s 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 48 from just 19 balls as India’s Under-19 side made short work of beating England in the first of five Youth ODIs at Hove.Suryavanshi, who became the youngest-ever century maker in men’s T20 when he hit 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL earlier this year, made a startling debut to competitive cricket in England, putting on 71 in 7.3 overs with his captain, Ayush Mhatre as England were overwhelmed, losing by six wickets with 26 overs to spare.The young India side have made a memorable start to their tour of England. Three days earlier they had won another 50-over game, against a Young Lions Invitational XI at Loughborough, by 231 runs.Here, Suryavanshi was the star attraction, bludgeoning five sixes and three fours. Jack Home’s first over cost 21 runs as the left-hander top-edged his pull shot for six before driving over mid-on and pulling to cow corner for other sixes. But when slow left-armer Ralphie Albert came on Suryavanshi immediately skied to point.It was a different game after that, with India losing three more wickets before crossing the line, keeper Abhigyan Kundu leading the way with an unbeaten 45.England had been bowled out for a disappointing 174 in 42.2 overs, with only Rocky Flintoff (56) and Isaac Mohammed (42) reaching the 20 mark.There was a constant cloud cover and a green tinge to the pitch but it was India’s spinners, Mohamed Enaan and Kanishk Chouhan, who caused most problems, sharing five wickets and proving the most economical of the bowlers.England, who had chosen to bat, had started so positively, with Ben Dawkins and Isaac putting on an aggressive 39 for the fist wicket. The left-handed Isaac, one of two debutants in the team, along with French, was particularly exciting, pulling Henil Patel over square-leg for the first of his four sixes – there were also three fours in his 28-ball innings.The 17-year-old is related to England’s Moeen Ali and Worcestershire’s assistant head coach Kadeer Ali. He signed a three-year contract for Worcestershire from the Warwickshire Academy earlier this month.England lost their first wicket in the eighth over when Dawkins edged to first slip. But Isaac responded by striking Yudhajit Guha for successive sixes to bring up the 50 in the ninth over. Isaac then pulled Enaan over square-leg and out of the ground for another six. But three balls later he was caught at backward square-leg going for another big hit.Flintoff, the youngest player to score a century for the side, again looked in fine form. But his efforts were compromised by the constant fall of wickets at the other end. Ben Mayes looked in good touch when he drove through mid-on for four, but he was caught behind next ball to make it 80 for three and then captain Tom Rew was caught behind third ball.Flintoff, unsure whether to stick or twist, waited for some decent company but it didn’t arrive. Joe Moores and Albert fell cheaply to the off-spin of Chouhan and then Home was run out for five to make it 129 for seven. Flintoff was finally forced to hit out, and there were three sixes and three fours in his 90-ball innings before he was last out, going for another heave.

Xavier Bartlett walked out at No. 8 against MI New York, with San Francisco Unicorns at 108 for 6 in 12.2 overs, still 74 behind. Before this game, he had a T20 batting average of 14.10 and a strike rate of 108.50. On Sunday, he smashed a bowling attack headlined by Trent Boult, Naveen-ul-Haq, Michael Bracewell and Ehsan Adil for four fours and five sixes on his way to an unbeaten 25-ball 59. And with it, Unicorns snatched a win that was MINY’s for the taking, and were three wins out of three and strong at the top of the MLC 2025 points table.For Unicorns, chasing 183 for victory, Finn Allen was gone in the second over, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Sanjay Krishnamurthi in the third and fourth respectively, and Cooper Connolly on the last ball of the powerplay, which ended at 42 for 4. MINY were very much on top and it felt like their first win of the season was just a matter of time.But Hassan Khan, who had earlier conceded 54 runs in his four overs, then joined Tim Seifert. Seifert had been waging a lone battle till then, but Hassan provided the impetus, contributing 43 runs in 17 balls in their 64-run stand in just 31 balls. Despite that, when Bartlett walked out and Unicorns lost captain Corey Anderson soon after, MINY were still favourites. Till they were hit by the Bartlett blitz.Earlier, after being asked to bat, MINY rode on Quinton de Kock’s 38-ball 63 at the top of the order and cameos from Kieron Pollard and Sunny Patel to get to a competitive total.De Kock scored his 63 from just 38 balls, but there was little from the other end while he was around, and when he was dismissed in the 12th over, with the scoreboard reading 102 for 4, it seemed like MINY would stop under par. But Pollard slammed four sixes in a nine-ball 16th over from Hassan to turn the tide and Sunny chipped in with an unbeaten 11-ball 20 from No. 8. For a long time, it seemed like the total would be enough but Bartlett ensured it wasn’t so.

Oman Cricket says the delay “was procedural, dependent on formal post-event clarifications from the ICC”

Osman Samiuddin23-Jun-2025Oman Cricket (OC) has finally agreed to pay the members of its men’s T20 World Cup squad the prize money due to them from that tournament, claiming that the long delay in clearing the dues was “procedural”. In a statement put out on Monday, OC said the US$225,000 amount would be disbursed to the squad and support staff by July 2025.ESPNcricinfo had reported earlier this month that players from the Oman squad had not been paid, a year after the event held in the USA and the Caribbean in June 2024.Agreements participating boards sign with the ICC for events stipulate that prize money must be disbursed to players within 21 days of the board having received it from the ICC. That money, the ICC confirmed, had been sent to OC on time, though the latter claimed in its statement “that the delay in disbursement was procedural, dependent on formal post-event clarifications from the ICC, which are typically received after global tournaments”.The players raised the issue of non-payment not long after the event, and matters came to a head last October, at the emerging teams Asia Cup, when the Oman players resolved to take unified action. That led to the players threatening to not play and being told to leave a day before the tournament began.Eventually, 11 of the players from that 15-man squad had their central contracts suspended and most had to leave Oman. As with most Gulf states, residency in the country is tied to employment and, in this case, a number of players had their employment revoked, compelling them to leave the country.Oman Cricket acknowledged that players had raised the matter but said that officials, including chairman Pankaj Khimji “had repeatedly assured the players that payments would be made in full following the ICC’s confirmation of the allocation and structure.” The players contend that the board’s assurances – by that stage already four months late on the payments – had begun to sound hollow.The board blamed the players for escalating the situation and refusing to play, which they claimed put Oman’s international commitment “at serious risk”.”The players had every right to seek clarity, and we were transparent about the timelines involved,” Khimji said in the statement.The players sought help from the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) after being made aware of the avenue by players from Canada and Nepal – who had faced similar difficulties. Khimji criticised WCA’s involvement, saying the global players’ body “misled” the players and “encouraged them to abandon their duties under the guise of advocacy.”The WCA CEO Tom Moffat told ESPNcricinfo: “We are pleased to see that Oman Cricket has put a timeline on paying the players the prize money almost a year after they received the money from the ICC, and almost a year after it should have been paid to the players under the ICC terms of participation.”Every player in the world should be afforded a safe space to raise concerns and advocate for themselves. It’s incredibly sad that the majority of Oman’s men’s World Cup team have lost their careers, employment, and were in turn forced to leave the country for doing so. WCA will always assist players who come to it for help, especially those who are vulnerable or who face with extremely imbalanced and unhealthy power dynamics.”Oman Cricket said it had constituted an internal committee to investigate “the communication gap” around issues of prize money as well as to avoid such a situation in the future. “This was an isolated incident, but it showed us the need for stronger systems,” the board treasurer Alkesh Joshi said in the statement. “We will ensure that players are never left uncertain about their entitlements — but also that professional commitments are never compromised.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Na quinta-feira (14), o São Paulo anunciou o final do vínculo com a atual patrocinadora, no caso, a Adidas. Agora, quem deve assumir o patrocínio do Tricolor é a New Balance.

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A atual fornecedora tem vínculo até o final do ano e veste o São Paulo desde 2018. Mas a relação sempre foi conturbada entre as partes. Em julho de 2018, um dos primeiros problemas apareceram. No lançamento de um uniforme de treino, em julho daquele ano, as peças incomodaram alguns torcedores. Com um escudo dourado, estavam foram do padrão – o que foi justificado pela empresa alemã que teve um ‘prazo curto’.

Uma questão que sempre foi levada em consideração é a diferença de valores pagos e tratamentos concedidos a outros times que a patrocinadora também está presente, como Flamengo e Internacional. No lançamento da terceira camisa de 2022, feita em homenagem à conquista de 1992, o São Paulo viu sua relação com a marca alemã estremecer mais ainda.

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Isso porque o uniforme ‘sumiu’ das lojas ainda no primeiro lote e demorou para ser reposto. A promessa era que retornasse em 15 dias. Mas, no fim, demorou quase três meses. Com este problema,a previsão do marketing são-paulino é que o clube tenha deixado de arrecadar mais R$ 6 milhões com a peça devido às listas de espera de clientes feitas por lojas.

Em dezembro do ano passado, uma situação envolvendo o uso de uniformes na pré-temporada com a estampa de outro patrocinador que tinha rompido o contrato há meses também entrou em questão. E agora, o problema mais recente aconteceu com o lançamento do novo terceiro uniforme do time, feito em homenagem a Muricy Ramalho. Como no ano passado, mais uma vez a remessa das camisas esgotou ainda no primeiro lote.

Em março deste ano, a fornecedora lançou uma campanha mundial da nova coleção de uniformes inspirados em vestimentas dos anos 1990 virou motivo de mais reclamações nos bastidores do São Paulo. Tudo porque o Tricolor foi ‘esquecido’ no post que anuncia a coleção nas redes sociais, em que modelos vestem a camisa dos principais clubes e seleções atendidos pela multinacional alemã. Entre selecionados e equipes europeias, somente três sul-americanos aparecem na campanha: Flamengo e a dupla argentina River Plate e Boca Juniors. Único tricampeão mundial do futebol brasileiro, o São Paulo foi completamente ignorado.

O vínculo com a atual está valendo até o final do ano, as vendas das camisas que foram lançadas continuarão sendo comercializadas nos meios oficiais.

عاد ألفارو كاريراس ظهير مانشستر يونايتد السابق إلى إنجلترا هذا الأسبوع، للمشاركة في مباراة ريال مدريد وليفربول في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقد مر عامان تقريبًا، منذ أن قام مانشستر يونايتد بإعارة ألفارو كاريراس المعروف أيضًا باسم ألفارو فرنانديز إلى صفوف بنفيكا.

وكان مانشستر يونايتد قد قام ببيع ألفارو مقابل 5 ملايين جنيه إسترليني فقط، وقد تألق في البرتغال وانضم لصفوف ريال مدريد مقابل 43 مليون جنيه إسترليني هذا الصيف.

ولم يثير كاريراس إعجاب إريك تين هاج مدرب مانشستر يونايتد السابق، وأصبح هناك ندم كبير داخل النادي الإنجليزي على بيع اللاعب الذي أصبح أساسياً تحت قيادة تشابي ألونسو.

اقرأ أيضاً.. تقارير: ليفربول يحدد بديلًا جديدًا لـ محمد صلاح حال رحيله

وخاض ألفارو كاريراس 90 دقيقة في ملعب أنفيلد، حيث شارك في الهزيمة بهدف نظيف أمام ليفربول، وكان في اختبار مواجهة النجم المصري محمد صلاح.

وقد علقت وسائل الإعلام الإسبانية على أداء كاريراس، حيث وصفته صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” بـ”الشجاع” وكتبت: “لقد خاض مبارزة مثيرة مع صلاح وأزعجته قدر الإمكان، ورغم أنه لم يخترق دفاع ليفربول كما فعل في مناسبات أخرى لكنه قدم أداء قويًا وسدد كرة واحدة على المرمى”.

وأشادت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية بأداء كاريراس ضد صلاح أيضاً، حيث ذكرت: “كان منتبهاً للغاية منذ صافرة البداية وسعى لإيقاف الفرعون، ولم يعاني أمام صلاح إلا في اللحظات الأخيرة، كان فعالاً في المواجهات الثنائية وقوياً”.

وأضافت: “مرر بعض التمريرات الخاطئة لكنه قام بعدة انطلاقات خطيرة نحو الأمام، وفي إحدى المرات كاد أن يحصل على ركلة جزاء وفي أخرى أتيحت له فرصة بعد انطلاقة رائعة وقام بمنع هدف بواسطة اعتراض حاسم”.

Is there anything more exciting than the long ball in baseball? 

I may have something – betting on a player to hit a home run, and it actually comes through!

That’s what our team attempts to do every day by picking the best home run prop bets in Major League Baseball, and there are two players that I’m eyeing for Sunday, June 9. 

Can these two American League sluggers close out the weekend strong?

Best MLB Home Run Picks Today, Sunday June 9

• Jose Ramirez to Hit a Home Run (+450)
• Gunnar Henderson to Hit a Home Run (+265)

Jose Ramirez to Hit a Home Run (+450)

Jose Ramirez has a great matchup on Sunday against struggling Miami Marlins lefty Trevor Rogers, who has allowed seven homers on the season, including at least one in six of his last eight starts.

The Cleveland Guardians All-Star is having a great series, homering on Saturday – his second long ball in three games. Can he do it again today?

I love taking Ramirez against any left-handed pitcher, as he’s destroyed them in 2024. The switch hitter is posting an impressive .320/.381/.587 slash line against lefties with five homers in just 75 at bats. 

With 18 home runs already in 2024, I love taking Ramirez in this favorable spot on Sunday. 

Gunnar Henderson to Hit a Home Run (+265)

This home run prop isn’t going to bring the greatest return, but I can’t pass it up in this matchup. 

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has Tampa Bay Rays starter Zack Littell in his MLB career, going 4-for-7 with two homers against him. 

Littell allowed 11 hits the last time he played the O’s and Henderson (20 homers on the season) has been red hot as of late, picking up a hit in 10 of his last 11 games.

Henderson – like Ramirez – also homered on Saturday, but I expect him to stay hot against Littell. The Rays starter has allowed at least one long ball in four straight starts.

A “tremendous” Manchester United player “will leave” the club at the end of this season, according to a new claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Lammens enjoying life at Man Utd

It’s fair to say that too many signings have underwhelmed at Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, but Senne Lammens has made an encouraging start to life at the club.

The 23-year-old has come in as United’s next starter in goal, and he impressed in the 2-0 win at home to Sunderland last weekend, not least keeping an important clean sheet. Lammens is clearly enjoying life at Old Trafford currently, and former Red Devils defender Wes Brown has heaped praise on his impact.

“I think there were a couple of positive things. First of all, and maybe the most important, was Senne Lammens, the goalkeeper. He gave a very confident display, and I think that gives encouragement to the rest of the team. We had more consistency and what I mean by that is the defence was solid, and the keeper was solid.”

While Lammens’ United career is only just getting started, it looks like one of his teammates is on the verge of moving on to pastures new.

"Tremendous" Man Utd player will "100%" leave

Speaking on his YouTube channel [via Manchester World], Tyrell Malacia will depart Manchester United next summer when his contract expires.

Next summer feels like the natural time for Malacia’s career to come to an end, even though Rio Ferdinand lauded him in the past and some impressive form.

“Malacia today was tremendous, outstanding. He reminds me of Patrice Evra in many ways. He’s athletic, he looks like a pound-for-pound strong kid. There aren’t many left-backs in European or world football in the last four or five years who have gone out of a game and kept Mohamed Salah quiet. Luke Shaw’s going to have to do something to get back in this team now.”

Sadly, it just hasn’t quite worked out for Malacia at United, though, with the 26-year-old Dutchman restricted to only 47 appearances for the Red Devils in total, despite arriving from Feyenoord three years ago, and being loaned out to PSV Eindhoven earlier this year.

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Injuries haven’t helped, in fairness, but his performances have also too often flattered to deceive, and it doesn’t make much sense to offer him a contract extension – his current deal is £75,000-a-week which works out at £3.9m per season – instead allowing him to leave on a free transfer and enjoy a new challenge.

Ruben Amorim has admitted that his Manchester United side 'still have a lot to do' after their 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Saturday. Matthijs de Ligt scored a late equaliser at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League's lunchtime kick off as the spoils were shared in north London. While United can take solace from the commendable point, Amorim still believes there is more to come from his side.

AFPUnited rescued a late point at Tottenham

United went ahead on the half hour mark at Tottenham through Premier League Player of the Month for October Bryan Mbeumo, who was on hand to head Amad Diallo's cross past Guglielmo Vicario. Amorim's side went in at the break ahead, prompting the home fans to boo the players off as they looked to improve upon their dire home league form.

Spurs were level in the 84th minute as substitute Mathys Tel saw his effort deflect past Senne Lammens, the Belgian having denied both Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha earlier in the second half as Thomas Frank's side pushed for an equaliser. And the north London side thought they'd won it in second half injury time as Wilson Odobert's effort came off Richarlison's head and past Lammens.

However, United drew level in the 95th minute as De Ligt rose highest at the back post to meet Bruno Fernandes' corner to rescue a point for the visitors.

Advertisement'We have a lot to do'

While pleased with the result, Amorim believes his United side 'have a lot to do' as they look to build upon Saturday's stalemate. "During the game we felt like the three points were there to take home. But then with everything that happened, Harry Maguire and Casemiro coming off and conceding two goals… we scored again and it's a point," Amorim told TNT Sports after the game.

"When you cannot win you don't lose, once again we did that. We have so much to grow as a team, because today was our day to win this game. We need to look at ourselves, we were not pressing with the same intensity, we felt comfortable but we need to understand that if we had more bravery we kill the game. But sometimes this happens, you have a better first half than second.

"We believe in our capacity to score goals until the last minute. It's a little frustration, but also pride at the response of the players at the response to second goal of Tottenham.

"This is the tip of the iceberg, we are at the beginning of becoming a strong team, so we have a lot to do."

Getty Images SportAmorim praises Lammens after draw

Amorim also praised Lammens following the draw at Spurs. The Belgian could do little to prevent Tel and Richarlison from scoring a quickfire debut but managed smart stops to prevent Romero and Palhinha from scoring early after the restart.

"He is doing really well, he understands in a game a lot of things can happen, but as a goalkeeper you have to move on. It's a like a new game every time the ball is on the pitch," Amorim said of the summer signing.

And on Benjamin Sesko, who took a knock after a fine last ditch Micky van de Ven tackle, the United boss added: "We have to see, we think he has a problem but let's see."

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United looking to extend unbeaten run vs Everton

United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham means they are now unbeaten in five heading into the international break, though have drawn their last two at Nottingham Forest and Spurs. They return to domestic duties later this month with the welcome of Everton, before travelling to Crystal Palace at the end of November.

Tottenham, meanwhile, face a testing trip to north London rivals Arsenal when they return to league action in two weeks' time. Frank will hope to recover key men for the North London Derby as the Dane looks to improve upon a run of two wins in their last seven Premier League outings, both victories of which came away from home as Spurs beat Leeds and Everton, respectively.

Certain pundits and fanbases might be trying to hold their set-piece dominance against them, but it’s currently an excellent time to be an Arsenal fan.

Mikel Arteta’s side are undefeated in the Champions League, flying high at the top of the Premier League, and look like the best defensive side in world football.

Yet, the Gunners cannot rest on their laurels as their next opponent is the always dangerous Brighton & Hove Albion in the Fourth Round of the League Cup.

With that said, Arteta will need to make some changes to his team for the game, including dropping the talismanic Bukayo Saka.

Why Arteta should drop Saka

Now, there is undoubtedly an argument to be made that Arteta should keep Saka in the team for Wednesday’s game in a bid to help him build up more match fitness and momentum.

Chalkboard

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

However, such an argument loses a lot of weight when you consider that the Gunners’ next three games are against Burnley, Slavia Prague and Sunderland.

In other words, while those won’t be easy matches, they should be that bit more straightforward than a clash with the Seagulls and, in turn, even better opportunities for the 24-year-old to find some rhythm.

Moreover, and this interlinks with the main reason the manager should be dropping the Hale Ender: they are far more important games.

Following the last three years of almost getting there, it is far more important for Arsenal to win the Premier League or the Champions League; therefore, they need to play their best players in those competitions, not risk injury in lesser competitions.

25/26

26 days

6

24/25

122 days

25

23/24

36 days

10

21/22

6 days

1

20/21

13 days

2

19/20

13 days

0

Were this a couple of years ago, then perhaps it would be fine to play the Hale Ender in all four games.

Still, after he missed almost four months of action with a hamstring problem last season, and has already missed a month of action this year with another, it would be unwise to do so today.

Furthermore, with Noni Madueke and now Gabriel Martinelli out of action, risking the Ealing-born gem feels like it would be even more foolish than usual.

Finally, Arteta can happily rest Saka for the game against Brighton because, even with the other injuries, there is one player who could step in.

The Arsenal player Arteta must start over Saka

With Madueke and Martinelli out, the player who should and probably will come in for Saka against Brighton is Ethan Nwaneri.

The Hale End gem might be seen more as a central player in the long term, but last year proved he is more than capable of filling in for Saka on the right.

For example, in 37 appearances, totalling 1378 minutes, the “phenomenal” game-changer, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, managed to score nine goals and provide two assists.

That works out to a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or more crucially, one every 125.27 minutes, which is a rate of return many seasoned professionals can’t even match.

Moreover, the manager knows he can deal with the Seagulls, as the Enfield-born gem scored a brilliant goal at the Amex in the league last season.

Additionally, it’s not like he was just lucky last season, as the 18-year-old’s underlying numbers were just as impressive as his output.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league last season for successful take-ons, the top 6% for take-ons attempted and carrying distance, the top 8% for crosses, the top 9% for non-penalty goals and more, all per 90.

Goals – xG

+0.28

Top 1%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.28

Top 1%

Successful Take-Ons

3.72

Top 2%

Successful Take-On %

59.7%

Top 2%

Take-Ons Attempted

6.23

Top 6%

Total Carrying Distance

286.79

Top 6%

Crosses

5.43

Top 8%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.40

Top 9%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.60

Top 9%

Touches (Att 3rd)

34.09

Top 9%

Progressive Passes Rec

11.36

Top 11%

Progressive Carrying Distance

133.64

Top 11%

Goals

0.40

Top 12%

Goals/Shot

0.17

Top 12%

Goals/Shot on Target

0.44

Top 12%

Passes Completed (Short)

21.72

Top 12%

Carries

36.70

Top 12%

Finally, regardless of the rest of the team, the manager should be looking to start the teenager in this game, as he needs more minutes to keep him content with his squad role at present.

Ultimately, Arteta should drop Saka for the game against Brighton and start the incredibly exciting Nwaneri in his place.

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