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Diogo Dalot appeared to disagree with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag by suggesting he's concerned about their defence after the Bournemouth draw.

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Manchester United draw 2-2 with BournemouthTen Hag not worried about side's defenceDalot says they take 'too many risks' at the backWHAT HAPPENED?

United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at the Cherries on Saturday in another unconvincing display. The hosts had 20 shots on goal at the Vitality Stadium, meaning the Red Devils have faced nearly 600 efforts this season – the worst in the division on average. Defender Dalot highlighted how they are too open at the back, which somewhat flies in the face of what Ten Hag said last month when the Dutchman stated he was not concerned about the number of goals and chances they were conceding.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT DIOGO DALOT SAID

He told Manchester Evening News: "I think it’s a fact, something we are looking for. Maybe we are taking too many risks, sometimes the gap between the defence and midfield is a little bit too big. This is why we are sometimes getting the counter-attacks too many times and are conceding too many shots, but overall we are looking forward to taking this as a learning process and trying to do better. I’m disappointed. We wanted to come here and get the three points. We were down twice, so we had the hunger to fight for the game. I think we lost control in situations we shouldn’t and that was the script of the match. I mean, we lost a little bit of control, especially building up from the back in situations where we shouldn’t and we conceded two goals in the first half – we could have avoided that, but overall we have the attitude to fight for the result and that’s a positive to take away."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

While United have the fifth-best defence in the Premier League, they have still conceded 48 goals in 32 games and they are facing a similar amount of shots to relegation-threatened Luton Town and Sheffield United. This seems another reason why things are not rosy for under-pressure manager Ten Hag – whose side dropped to seventh in the table after Saturday's result.

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Getty Images'WE DON'T CONCEDE MANY GOALS'

After the 1-1 draw with Brentford in late March, where they had more than 30 shots on Andre Onana's goal, Ten Hag said: "As long as we get results, no. I explained it once more, we defended low at times and because Brentford are very direct we lost many many second balls and we had to defend the box. We had a great goalkeeper, he was brilliant tonight, we have to say that also. Our results are quite consistent from January on but we concede shots, but we don't concede so many goals."

A year on from an infamous incident in a bar in Perth, Duckett’s recall for the Lions tour is a sign of his second coming

Matt Roller07-Jan-2019Winter can be a strange time for county cricketers. Once a period of rest or temporary work, the off-season has turned into a six-month bonanza of opportunity for many: T20 franchises are desperate to spot hidden gems outside of the international set-up, representative sides tour ever more frequently, and there are chances to learn or to make a point at every turn.But for Ben Duckett, last winter could hardly have been worse. It included a fine and a suspension after pouring a drink over James Anderson during England’s ignominious Ashes tour; omission from the Lions squad to tour the West Indies in the spring, and surgery on his left hand which ruled him out of the North v South series. It was, he reflects, “the lowest point of my career”.Fast forward a year, and there is a chance for redemption. Named in the Lions squad to tour India despite an underwhelming season which he describes as “my worst so far on the pitch”, Duckett has the opportunity to pile on the runs, and make the case that his unquestionable talent rather than his unruly reputation should be what makes him stand out from the crowd.”People have opinions on me,” he admits, “and I completely understand why they do. Getting the call-up when I’ve not necessarily done that well over the last 12 months shows there’s backing from the selectors and the coaches – they want me in there, which is such a positive for me.”I’ve made mistakes in my past and I’d be the first to admit that. Every time I have, I’ve been furious with myself. The management have backed me and shown faith in me. That tells me that the past is in the past, and I’m not going to think about it too much – it’s done now, and there’s nothing I can do about it. But thankfully, I’ve been given a great opportunity to represent the Lions again, so now it’s just down to me to go and perform.”Duckett is in the squad for the duration of the tour, meaning he will have five 50-over games and two unofficial Tests in which to impress. The trip marks Duckett’s first return to the subcontinent since England’s 2016-17 winter tours, during which he won his four Test caps. Despite a fluent fifty in defeat at Mirpur, his method against offspin came under scrutiny in India after R Ashwin dismissed him three times in as many innings, and he was dropped two games into the series.That is not to say that Duckett is overly concerned about the challenge that spinning conditions will present. “I’ve spoken to a few people about it,” he says, “but the offspinner who I was struggling against was probably the best one in the world. Ashwin’s not just an offspinner, either – he’s got all these variations, and a lot of left-handers have struggled against him. I’m trying not to think too much about it. I know now why I struggled when I last went to India, so at least that’s a head start for me going out there this time.”Despite his disappointment at a county season which brought only one hundred across formats, compared to three in 2017 and seven the year before that, Duckett impressed with a match-winning 75 on debut in the Mzansi Super League, and played for a youthful Hobart Hurricanes side in the Abu Dhabi T20 immediately after the season’s end.”Playing in different teams and different conditions is great,” he says. “If I do play at that step above again, and I go and play abroad, then I can now say that I’ve played there and I’ll know the conditions well. You play with different players, different coaches, and feed off them – it’s a great experience.”2018 also saw a move to Nottinghamshire for Duckett, after 12 years at Northamptonshire. There was no shortage of suitors as he approached the end of his contract at Wantage Road – Yorkshire was mooted as another possible destination – but the decision ended up being an easy one.”As soon as Peter Moores came and spoke to me, it was easy. After I chatted to him I said to my agent ‘just get it done, that’s the place I want to be’. I’ve played against Notts a number of times in the past few years, and I get on with a lot of the guys there. I loved my time at Northants, but as soon as I knew Notts were keen and spoke to them, I was dead set.”Alongside the signings of Ben Slater, Zak Chappell, and Joe Clarke, Duckett’s move to Trent Bridge was highlighted by some as evidence of wealthy counties poaching talent from smaller rivals. But from the players’ point of view, the moves are evidence of a long-term vision for the club.”I think it’s great what Notts are doing,” Duckett says. “They’re finding young, English players who can form the core of a side over the next few years; who can step up and be at Notts for the rest of their careers.”I completely understand people having opinions, but we’re just trying to get the most dangerous squad we possibly can. There’s a great balance between the experienced players and the younger guys, and looking forward, we should be contenders for every trophy this year.”For years Duckett has been mentioned as a future England star, although his professionalism has been called into question since he was a teenager. It is clear to him as much as anyone that reputations are hard to shed, and it would surely benefit all parties – Duckett, Notts, and England – if his batting was the only thing to make the headlines in 2019.Yet it is easily forgotten that Duckett is still only 24; easier still to forget that beneath the reputation lies a man with immense talent, who could well become an all-format regular at international level.Of course, Duckett knows that competition for England places is fierce, and has few illusions about the length and quality of the queues he is trying to reach the front of. “In all formats, it’s so tough to break into the set-up at the minute: I’m not going to put any pressure on myself, and I’m not the type of person who thinks too far ahead.”For this year, the main thing is playing for Notts, trying to win games and a couple of trophies. If one day I do get the recall then I’d be chuffed. Whatever the format, if I do play for England again, I’ll be over the moon.”

Matt Turner has teased countryman Gio Reyna during Nottingham Forest training, saying his fellow USMNT star “wants to be a goalie so bad”.

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American stars at the City GroundBattling to avoid relegationHuge game against Everton next upGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Two United States internationals at the City Ground have not enjoyed the most productive of 2023-24 campaigns. Turner started the season between the sticks for Forest, following his transfer from Arsenal, but has lost his place to Matz Sels following a string of costly errors.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reyna, meanwhile, moved to England during the winter window, as a short-term loan deal was agreed with Borussia Dortmund. He had to make do with a number of substitute appearances before finally earning his first Premier League start in a 2-2 draw with Wolves.

WHAT TURNER & REYNA SAID

Reyna is hoping to keep his place for a crunch clash with Everton on Sunday, and has been put through his paces on the training ground. As he headed out for practice, Turner told the cameras that his 21-year-old compatriot “wants to be a goalie”, but Reyna responded by saying: “No way!”

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WHAT NEXT FOR FOREST?

Forest have five games left to take in this season, as they seek to avoid being relegated out of the Premier League. Reyna provided an assist when making his full debut against Wolves and will be hoping to make more positive contributions in the coming weeks – from his preferred position in a playmaking role.

Sunderland are reportedly in danger of losing a player who could “amass a lot of caps” for his country, with a number of clubs interested in snapping him up.

Sunderland transfer news

The Black Cats could be in the market for new signings when the January transfer window opens, in order to boost their chances of being promoted from the Championship this season. Tony Mowbray's side currently sit ninth in the league table, following their 1-1 draw away to Millwall on Saturday, and added quality and depth could help get them out of what is a dip in form that has seen the manager's future thrown into doubt.

Sunderland have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, with AFC Wimbledon forward Ali Al-Hamadi one player who is seen as a target for the Black Cats. Elsewhere, Peterborough United attacker Kwame Poku is considered another transfer target for Mowbray's men, as the club look to bring in attacking reinforcements.

On the flip side, however, Sunderland could keep it difficult to keep hold of certain players, one of which being Jack Clarke who has been linked with a winter window exit, and another update regarding a different individual.

Trai Hume could leave Sunderland

According to a worrying report from TEAMtalk, Sunderland youngster Trai Hume is wanted by a host of English clubs, ahead of a potential exit from the Stadium of Light, with the club tempted into selling due to the profit they can make.

"Burnley, Leicester City and Leeds United are among a host of clubs are looking at Sunderland full-back Trai Hume, TEAMtalk can reveal. Northern Ireland international Hume arrived at Sunderland from Linfield in 2022 in a bargain deal worth less than £200,000. The 21-year-old has impressed hugely and that has seen a host of clubs showing a strong interest in securing his services.

"TEAMtalk sources have told us that Premier League side Burnley, along with Championship promotion contenders Leicester and Leeds, are looking closely at Hume. Hume only signed a new long-term contract in the summer, now due to last until 2027 with the option of an extra year, but Sunderland will be tempted into a sale given the profit they can make on him."

Losing Hume could be a real setback for Sunderland, considering both the impact he is having at the moment and his long-term worth as a player. The 21-year-old's current influence is summed up by the fact that he has started all 19 Championship appearances so far this season.

Appearances

19

Tackle per game

3.3

Aerial duel wins per game

2.6

Clearances per game

1.6

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has heaped praise on his compatriot, too, saying he thinks he could be a regular for his country for years to come, along with Liverpool's Conor Bradley:

"I think Conor (Bradley has maybe more in his locker than just us seeing him as a right-back. The decision for me in the previous two games was that we played with a back three and I had seen Conor play consistently as a right wing-back for Bolton. Trai had played as a right-back or a left-sided centre-back in a three, but I see two very young players who I’d be very surprised if they don’t amass a lot of caps for Northern Ireland."

Sunderland appear to be in a strong position to retain Hume's services, as his Black Cats deal runs until the summer of 2027, but it'll be interesting to see if they are tempted to move him on at the right price.

Aston Villa’s recent victories over Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League has propelled them from a side who could potentially break into the top six to a club who could secure a place in the top four and, with it, a Champions League berth.

Unai Emery’s side have also secured progression to the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League as they prepare to take on Bosnian outfit Zrinkjski on Thursday evening.

A point will secure the Midlands side top spot in the group and this will ensure they face a slightly weaker side in the knockout rounds, so there is plenty of incentive tomorrow evening to secure a positive result.

Emery could still make a few changes to his squad, however, with a few players requiring a rest following their exertions against City and the Gunners over the previous seven days.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star

It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024

With this in mind, we at Football FanCast have predicted the Villa starting XI which will take to the field in Bosnia for their final group stage tie, with six changes to the one that started against Arsenal.

1 GK – Emiliano Martínez

The 31-year-old started the first four group stage matches of the campaign but was given a rest in place of Robin Olsen for the previous outing against Legia Warsaw.

Following consecutive clean sheets against the Champions and Mikel Arteta’s men in back-to-back 1–0 victories, Emery will stick with the ‘keeper ahead of the trip to Eastern Europe.

2 RB – Matty Cash

The defender has missed just one match all season – against City last week – and has been in wonderful form on the right side of the defence.

He has provided Emery with a solid attacking outlet from the back, scoring three goals along with chipping in with two assists, and he will be unleashed once again in the starting XI tomorrow evening.

3 CB – Ezri Konsa

The centre-back has taken full advantage of the injury to Tyrone Mings by becoming a mainstay in the Villa defence this term, only missing the away tie against AZ Alkmaar back in October.

The Englishman was a titan at the back while keeping City and Arsenal at bay and this renewed confidence is allowing him to thrive under the Spaniard, and he will keep his place for the Conference League tie.

4 CB – Clement Lenglet

Emery will likely keep Pau Torres and Diego Carlos on the bench for the tie tomorrow and this means Lenglet will be unleashed for the sixth straight European match this term.

The former Arsenal boss appears to be keeping the Frenchman specifically for the continental matches as he has yet to make an appearance off the bench in 13 Premier League matches so far during 2023/24.

5 LB – Lucas Digne

Alex Moreno returned from a long injury layoff during the previous Conference League tie against Legia Warsaw and marked his return by scoring the winner during the 2-1 victory.

Digne replaced him for the final ten minutes before subsequently starting the previous two league matches.

However, the Frenchman is suspended for the upcoming domestic clash against Brentford and this means he will start tomorrow evening, as Emery will keep Moreno fit for the league tie.

6 RM – Moussa Diaby

The £130k-per-week wizard has been benched for the previous three Premier League matches, but it is time he was given a start against the Bosnian side.

Villa’s record signing has been in decent form so far this term, scoring four goals and grabbing five assists, but there is certainly more to come from the French winger.

Hailed as “fearless on the ball” by journalist Arron Stokes prior to his move to England, Diaby will be unleashed tomorrow evening.

7 CM – Leander Dendoncker

The midfielder has played just ten times for the club this term, with three of those coming in the Conference League.

With a hectic spell to come, Emery may give the Belgian just his third start of the 2023/24 campaign, and it would allow the manager to rest players such as Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn.

8 CM – Douglas Luiz

The Brazilian has been in wonderful form this season, emerging as one of Emery’s most important players.

He has yet to miss a game either in Europe or domestically this term and has registered ten goal contributions – six goals and four assists – showcasing his attacking capabilities for the club.

Along with Digne, Luiz is suspended for the clash against the Bees on the weekend and this will mean he is deployed from the first whistle against Zrinkjski tomorrow evening.

9 LM – Nicolo Zaniolo

The on-loan Italian has not hit the ground running since his temporary switch from AS Roma in the summer as he has failed to score or register an assist in 17 appearances for the club.

Being utilised in a few different positions perhaps has not helped his cause, yet Emery will need to see more from him during the festive spell as he looks to maximise his entire squad.

The 24-year-old forward could replace McGinn for the European clash on Thursday evening as Emery will be keen to have the Scot fresh for the domestic tie on the weekend.

10 AM – Youri Tielemans

The Belgian midfielder is another player who has not quite demonstrated his true talents since arriving on a free transfer in the summer.

In Europe, however, the 26-year-old has produced one goal and one assist in his previous five matches and Emery may continue to utilise him in a more advanced role.

The former Leicester City gem was deployed as a number ten against City and Arsenal, and it worked rather well, therefore the Spaniard will continue with this system tomorrow evening.

Toby Radford and Esuan Crandon also named among coaching staff for England series

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2019Vasbert Drakes, the former West Indies allrounder, has been named as one of three assistant coaches for the forthcoming Test series against England by the interim head coach ,Richard Pybus.Drakes, who played 12 Tests and 34 ODIs between 1995 and 2004, was the head coach of West Indies women when they emulated the men’s squad in winning the 2016 World T20 in India – a tournament that Pybus oversaw in his role as Windies team director.Drakes will be working alongside the former Guyana allrounder Esuan Crandon and the former Middlesex and Sussex batsman Toby Radford, who was the men’s assistant coach during the 2012 World T20, another campaign that ended in silverware for the men’s squad.”It is an honour to be back working with West Indies cricket again,” said Drakes. “As someone who played the game at the highest level, it has always been my wish to contribute to West Indies cricket and give back to the young players.”We have a tremendous group of players here, full of ambition and hungry for success. Our role as coaches is to offer leadership and sound advice and to share knowledge and create an environment of learning. I want to see West Indies cricket grow and flourish.”Crandon, who coached the Guyana Jaguars to four consecutive Regional First-class titles, will complete the coaching set-up alongside the former Pakistan spin bowler, Mushtaq Ahmed, who will continue in his role as spin bowling consultant.”I am passionate about the game of cricket and a true supporter of West Indies cricket, so ultimately I want to make a contribution to the game in the region and see the players perform at their best,” Crandon said. “I am a calm individual and I’m here to do what is required to help the team succeed … that’s what I enjoy doing, coaching and helping others.”Pybus’ appointment as interim coach was last week ratified by CWI despite a protest from the Leewards Islands Cricket Board (LICB) who claimed that he had been “handpicked” by the CWI president, Dave Cameron after not originally appearing in the shortlist for the role.

Paul Mullin failed to beat Thierry Henry and Harry Kane's record after failing to score against Stockport County.

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Mullin failed to break Henry and Kane's recordWas aiming to score 25 league goals for fourth consecutive seasonWrexham ended season on a highWHAT HAPPENED?

The Wrexham star had a rare off day on the pitch as he failed to score a goal in the club's 2-1 win over League Two champions Stockport County in the team's final game of the season. The forward was one strike away from becoming the first player ever to score 25 or more league goals in four consecutive seasons across the top six divisions of English football.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ahead of Saturday's clash, Mullin was level with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and former Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane who had both scored 25 plus goals in three consecutive Premier League campaigns in the past. However, the 29-year-old failed to find the back of the net even once and ended up with 24 League Two goals in 38 appearances this season.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Red Dragons star had scored a record 32 goals for Cambridge United as the club secured promoted from League Two in the 2020/21 season before netting 28 times for the Welsh club on his National League debut in the 2021/22 campaign. Last season, he scored a whopping 38 goals as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side returned to the English Football League after a gap of 15 years.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Wrexham players will be back in action on July 24 as they are all set to face Chelsea in a pre-season friendly match in California.

The Australia star had to wait for her chance, but she has been in flying form since displacing one of England's biggest names in Gareth Taylor's XI

As the clock ticked past the hour-mark last Sunday, Manchester City needed a hero. While most thought the Women’s Super League leaders would be no match for soon-to-be-relegated Bristol City, they simply could not find a way to break the deadlock, and it looked like their strong position in the title race was about to weaken. That was until Mary Fowler, who only recently went four months without a league start, stepped up.

The 21-year-old’s two-goal display in an eventual 4-0 win was the latest in a string of top performances that have seen her keep hold of a starting berth in the Cityzens’ competitive forward line, leaving Lionesses icon Chloe Kelly among the substitutes until an injury to Khadija Shaw paved a path for her return last week.

Between November and March, on the bench is largely where Fowler found herself, to the dismay of those in her native Australia especially. But while fans Down Under have long known just how special a talent she is, the youngster is now proving it some 10,000 miles from home – and she’s doing it right when the pressure is heating up as Man City pursue a first WSL title in eight years.

GettyWaiting patiently

When Fowler returned to Manchester after last summer’s Women’s World Cup, it felt like she had to be given a shot in the team. The previous year, in her first season at the club, the forward had struggled for opportunities, failing to start a single league game after joining from Montpellier. However, her starring role in Australia’s run to a World Cup semi-final proved that she could do it on the biggest stage and, in turn, she found herself in the starting line up for City's first six games of the WSL season.

But City have a very competitive squad, and she slipped out of Gareth Taylor’s XI in mid-November, not to return until mid-March. Kelly and Lauren Hemp locked down the wide roles as Taylor alternated between Filippa Angeldahl and Laura Coombs to join Yui Hasegawa and Jill Roord in the midfield, while Jess Park took her chance to secure the latter’s position after a devastating ACL injury. Fowler was left on the sidelines.

“I think I always try to have the mindset that, whether I'm on the field or off the field, I just try to bring my best to the team,” she told on Sunday, speaking of that time out of the team. “Having been on the side for a while, I just tried to stay focused in training and make sure I could be a good team-mate on the sides. [I would] just believe that I was going to get my chance and make sure that when I did, that I was ready for it.”

AdvertisementGettyForcing her way in

That chance came in March, when Fowler started in place of Kelly on the right in an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham. The result didn’t go the Cityzens’ way, Spurs emerging victorious on penalties, but there was a lot to like in Fowler’s performance and Taylor has stuck with her ever since, a decision which surprised some in England simply because it meant dropping a player of Kelly’s calibre, a Lionesses star.

"It's just basically we have good players,” Taylor said of Kelly’s place on the bench. “We put Mary into the FA Cup game, she scores. She scores against Brighton last week. Mary's a very good player. Of course, the demands are really high of what we ask for, in kind of goals and assists from those players, without it being all about that. But Mary has taken her opportunity and now what Chloe has to do is work hard every day in training to be ready.”

GettyProving her worth

While many focused on Kelly’s lack of game time, Fowler was justifying her place and then some. In her six games back in the City XI, the Australia star has scored three goals and provided three assists, helping her team win all five league games to assume a six-point lead at the top of the WSL table.

“She’s a top player and a top person to work with as well,” Taylor said recently. “As well as all of her quality that she has – she's one of the best finishers I've seen and we're still waiting for her to really unleash with the goals – I think the biggest compliment you can pay to Mary is she is really reliable with and without the ball. She works so hard for the team defensively. She's reliable in possession and we need that. She's reliable with the ball, she looks after the ball in one-v-one situations.

“She's a unique kind of person and unique player really, Mary. She's very calm, very level-headed and doesn't get too excited about praise and doesn't get too down in the low moments. That's a really good way of being. We've given her a platform to play. She feels more comfortable now probably than she had done previously, and we're seeing good things from her."

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GettySomething different

What Fowler has brought to the team since her return to the XI is something different, too. Hemp and Kelly are versatile players, as showcased by their abilities to play through the middle, but they often perform as more traditional wingers in this City team, the type that will stick to their side and use their speed to drive at the full-back with the aim of whipping in a cross.

Fowler, meanwhile, is a little less direct, she likes to drift inside and she gets more involved in the build-up play as a result, often resulting in her causing a threat in central areas rather than just on the wing. An ability to use both feet brilliantly certainly helps her, too. Indeed, her first goal against Bristol last Sunday, a fierce strike into the top corner from the edge of the box, was with her left foot while her second, a sweeping finish from Hemp’s cross, came off her right.

"She can go both ways, that's the thing with Mary – left foot, right foot – and obviously that then allows Lauren to drift sometimes and she'll end up on the right,” Taylor noted earlier this season. “She's a really good team player is what I would say with Mary. She's really good for the team."

Arsenal are enjoying another thrilling season of football this year and with 17 games gone, they currently find themselves atop the Premier League table with just one game to go until Christmas – a first vs second clash at Anfield.

Mikel Arteta's men might not be quite as free-flowing as they were last year, but their seriously impressive defensive displays have put them in pole position to end their two-decade title drought if they can maintain their current trajectory.

The board looks set to do all they can to help with that, as the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates could become the Gunners' own Rodri, and he has been far more impressive than Chelsea's Moises Caicedo to boot – Douglas Luiz.

Arsenal can sign the next Saliba in "insane" star who could fetch £86m

The young Dutchman could become one of the best defenders in the world.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 19, 2023 Arsenal transfer news – Douglas Luiz

According to ESPN, Arsenal are looking to shuffle their midfield setup in the January window and are seriously interested in adding Aston Villa's maestro to their ranks.

The Brazilian midfielder was the subject of two failed bids from the Gunners last summer but signed a new deal with the Villans in October 2022, which is set to run until 2026.

With three years to run on his current deal and his importance to the Claret and Blue, the transfer is likely going to be very costly, with former England international Joe Cole telling TNT Sports (via the Mirror) that he expects the 25-year-old to move for a fee comparable to Caicedo and Declan Rice, so in the £100m range.

The former Chelsea man seems to believe he is worth it, though, saying: "He has been performing in the same league as them, performing better than Caicedo, arguably."

And with how well he measures up to Manchester City's Rodri, it would be hard to disagree.

Douglas Luiz could be Arsenal's Rodri

Now, some might argue that the outstanding performances of summer signing Rice suggest there is no need for the club to go and break the bank for a player like Luiz. Still, his arrival would allow the Englishman to move into a left-eight role and have an even more significant impact on the game.

Furthermore, FBref has named Rodri the seventh most similar player to the former City midfielder across Europe's top five leagues, which is quite the compliment considering everything the Spaniard has achieved at the Etihad.

This similarity is evident when you compare the pair alongside Caicedo to test Cole's claim that the Villa star is outperforming the Ecuadorian.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion ace – who was linked with a move to the Emirates over the summer – comes last in every important comparative metric, while the other two trade blows and come out on top in various statistics.

Rather surprisingly, Luiz and Rodri produce the exact same non-penalty expected goals and assists figures, while the former is far more likely to cross the ball and the latter more likely to recover the ball.

Luiz

Rodri

Caicedo

0.24

0.24

0.09

4.94

9.47

4.92

2.27

2.14

0.61

3.38

0.38

0.45

1.56

1.37

1.14

2.99

3.36

2.88

0.00

0.15

0.08

6.56

7.71

5.83

Their defensive output isn't too far off either, with the "underrated" Luiz, as described by former Arsenal player Paul Merson, winning more of his tackles but Rodri making more tackles and interceptions overall.

Ultimately, if Arsenal can get this deal done, they absolutely should, as the opportunity to sign a Rodri-esque player doesn't come around often, and Rice would be given that bit more freedom to get involved in the attack as well.

Nicholas Pooran’s eye-catching fifty a highlight for home side but England take a 1-0 lead in the series

The Report by Valkerie Baynes05-Mar-2019England 161 for 6 (Bairstow 68, Cottrell 3-29) beat West Indies 160 for 8 (Pooran 58, Curran 4-36) by four wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentaryA quick-fire half-century by Jonny Bairstow led England to a comfortable four-wicket victory against West Indies in the opening game of their three-match T20I series in St Lucia.After Nicholas Pooran’s impressive fifty anchored West Indies’ innings in the face of a strong all-round England bowling performance, led by Tom Curran’s 4 for 36, Bairstow charged towards the target of 161 from the outset.West Indies were not helped by some loose bowling and even more costly fielding. They got wickets, too, as Bairstow lost batting partners Alex Hales, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan as well as being dropped twice but he did not even flinch, racing to his fifty off 27 balls and reaching 68 off 40 before lofting Ashley Nurse to Carlos Brathwaite on the midwicket boundary.While the danger wasn’t completely removed for England, Bairstow had set them off to such a strong start that nothing short of a serious collapse would see them beaten.Kent team-mates Joe Denly and Sam Billings all but completed the job with a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket so that when Jason Holder had Denly caught by Pooran for 30 off 29 balls, England needed just eight runs to win. But there were nervous moments to come when Billings was dropped on Holder’s next ball by Oshane Thomas, whose one-handed attempt at fine leg was a mess. Then Sheldon Cottrell added his third wicket with his first ball back into the attack, bowling Billings for 18.England still only needed seven runs but four byes off Cottrell eased the tension and they reached the target with seven balls to spare.West Indies kept the squad which drew the ODI series 2-2 with England but made two key tweaks to the side that won in St Lucia on Saturday, bringing in Pooran and Fabian Allen for John Campbell and Devendra Bishoo.Shai Hope opened in Campbell’s place alongside Chris Gayle and immediately received a second chance when Adil Rashid dropped a sitter at third man off David Willey in the first over.Fortunately for England, however, Root held on to a leading edge at midwicket off Curran in the next over and Hope was sent packing with West Indies 7 for 1.Surprisingly, with Gayle at the other end, it was Shimron Hetmyer who hit the first six three balls later. But, sure enough, Gayle chimed in with two of his own in the following over and it looked like the slog-fest promised by his 39 sixes in the one-day series would continue in the shorter format.It was not to be, however, and when Gayle fell just a short time later, caught by Rashid at gully off Chris Jordan for just 15 off 12 balls, Pooran’s inclusion became key.After a stuttering start to his international career because of an 18-month layoff after injuring both his legs in a horror car accident in 2015, the 23-year-old Pooran made his ODI debut in the first fixture of the series against England in Barbados last month, scoring a duck, dropping a catch and holding another.But, playing his ninth T20I, he stepped into the void left by Gayle’s dismissal, bringing up his 50 off just 32 deliveries then slapping the next ball for a mammoth 111m six off Curran, which cleared the roof of the stands.Pooran was out three balls later, however, bowled by Curran with a clever delivery that took the top of middle stump for 58 off 37 balls, his highest T20I score.Pooran shared a 64-run partnership with Darren Bravo, who was out to a spectacular piece of fielding by Jordan off his own bowling. Jordan’s slower ball enticed a leading edge from Bravo and the bowler had to change direction on his follow-through to take a diving catch in his outstretched right hand.Jordan was impressive, bowling just three overs to claim 2 for 16, while Rashid was also excellent with 1 for 15 off his four. Denly claimed the handy wicket of Allen off his three overs but the pick of England’s bowlers was Curran with all of his wickets being dangerous batsmen in Hope, Hetmyer, Pooran and Jason Holder.