Jadon Sancho says it was a "real honour" to play with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, insisting it was an "inspiration" for him.

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• Sancho and Ronaldo played together at United
• English winger is now at Chelsea
• Picked Portugal star as favourite team-mate

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho and Ronaldo played together 37 times at United across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and the Chelsea winger has now hailed the impact the Portugal superstar had on him. The Englishman was asked to list some of his best team-mates, and was quick to mention the Al-Nassr ace.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo and Sancho both clashed with Erik ten Hag, leading to each of their respective exits. Ronaldo saw his contract mutually terminated after an explosive interview in which he criticised the coach and the club, while Sancho was exiled before he joined Chelsea on loan.

• WHAT SANCHO SAID

  Sancho told : "I've played with a lot of great players but, if I had to choose one, it was Cristiano Ronaldo. What he talks about in his interviews is all true, to play with him was a real honour. His mentality, how he trained and how he went into games was really inspirational."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Sancho will next be in action when Chelsea face Brighton on Saturday evening in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

أعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وتوتنهام في الدوري الأوروبي.

واستقبل ملعب “سان ماميس” مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وتوتنهام، ليلة الأربعاء، في نهائي الدوري الأوروبي 2024-2025.

وبهدف دون مقابل، حسم توتنهام المباراة لصالحه أمام مانشستر يونايتد، ليتوج بطلاً للدوري الأوروبي.

وحصل قائد توتنهام كريستيان روميرو على جائزة أفضل لاعب في المباراة، أمام مانشستر يونايتد.

وأحرز برينان جونسون هدف فوز توتنهام في الدقيقة 42، والذي منح فريقه اللقب على حساب مانشستر يونايتد.

ويعد ذلك اللقب الأول لتوتنهام منذ 17 عامًا، وأصبح بوستيكوجلو أول مدرب أسترالي يتوج ببطولة أوروبية كبرى.

اقرأ أيضًا | بعد التتويج بالدوري الأوروبي.. محمد صلاح يوجه رسالة لبوستيكوجلو ويذكره بتصريحه الجريء

ومر مانشستر يونايتد وتوتنهام بموسم عصيب، ورغم احتلالهما المركزين السادس عشر والسابع عشر على الترتيب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، إلا أن كليهما تمكن من التأهل لنهائي الدوري الأوروبي.

وباعتباره بطلاً للدوري الأوروبي، توتنهام سيلتقي في السوبر الأوروبي، مع الفائز بنهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا بين باريس سان جيرمان وإنتر ميلان.

Sky Sports have dropped further details about Edu Gaspar’s decision to leave Arsenal live on TV on Tuesday morning. The Gunners were met with the shock news on Monday that the Brazilian has decided to resign from his role as sporting director after re-joining the club in 2019.

Suggestion hugely respected chief is a favourite to replace Edu at Arsenal

The Brazilian left his post as sporting director in a surprise announcement this week.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 5, 2024 Edu replacements already linked with Arsenal

Edu played for Arsenal between 2001 and 2005, winning two league titles and being part of the invincible team in the 2003/04 season. Then in 2019, the 46-year-old re-joined the club as technical director before he was given the role of sporting director in 2022.

The Brazilian was heavily involved in bringing Mikel Arteta to the Emirates and has been partially credited for the turnaround at the club, but has now made the decision to leave Arsenal, something Edu described as being “incredibly hard”: “This was an incredibly hard decision to make. Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best.

“Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history. I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s, and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.”

It has already been suggested that assistant director Jason Ayto is an “obvious choice” to replace Edu at Arsenal. Ayto, who has been working closely under Edu, is apparently “hugely respected” within the club and could be a major contender to take on the vacancy. But as we wait to see who the replacement for Edu is, further details about his exit have now emerged.

Sky Sports drop live on-air details from London Colney

According to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, speaking outside the Sobha Realty Training Centre in London Colney, Edu’s decision to leave Arsenal is solely his choice, and the talk of internal chaos and power struggles at the club is “totally untrue”.

As stated, Edu has been a key part of what Arsenal have achieved in recent seasons, and he was a big factor in getting Arteta to the club to begin with.

Corinthians

Director of Football

March 2011–June 2016

Iran

Advisor

May 2014–June 2014

Brazil

Team coordinator

June 2016–July 2019

Arsenal

Technical director

July 2019–November 2022

Arsenal

Sporting director

November 2022–November 2024

Sheth describes Edu’s decision to leave Arsenal as a “blow,” and they are disappointed at the news, but any concerns over wider panic and chaos ensuing are wide of the mark, so fans can take solace in a likely smooth transition to the next man up. The 46-year-old simply believes it is the right time for a new challenge for him in his career, and he is now expected to join Nottingham Forest’s multi-club group.

Phoenix play-off hopes all but over as London Spirit miss out on direct route to final

ECB Reporters Network30-Aug-2022

Matthew Wade carried the Phoenix chase•Getty Images

Matthew Wade’s 81 proved bittersweet for Birmingham Phoenix as they beat London Spirit by one-wicket in a last-ball thriller at Lord’s, only to see their play-off hopes all but ended.The Australian wicketkeeper-bat thrashed two sixes and 11 fours in 42 balls to help lead his side to an unlikely victory, despite being eighth man out. Phoenix had needed to win in 73 balls to lift their net run rate above Spirit’s and take them in to Friday’s playoff game at the Ageas Bowl, although ending the season on ten points means they could still sneak through in the even of a tie – or a no-result – in Wednesday’s match between Manchester Originals and Oval Invincibles at Old Trafford.Earlier, Ravi Bopara’s 45 from 19 balls propelled Spirit to 139 for 6 despite 4 for 17 for Tom Helm on his home ground.Liam Dawson’s 3 for 15 and 4 for 24 from Mason Crane appeared to have Spirit in control especially when Bopara caught Wade off the legspinner with 22 needed, but Tanveer Sangha and Helm got Phoenix over the line.Consolation for Spirit is despite defeat they will contest the eliminator on Friday for a chance to take on Trent Rockets in the final.Spirit needing to win by 36 runs or more to go straight to the final as group winners found runs hard to come by for much of their innings. Zak Crawley, back from Test duty with England, led a charmed life, successfully reviewing after being given out caught behind on nought and surviving again when Sangha bowled him off a no-ball. However, his luck run out when the impressive Helm pinned him lbw for 20.Helm had already bowled Adam Rossington for 6 and conceded just three singles from his opening 15 balls as the hosts struggled for any momentum.McDermott briefly threatened to break the shackles, hitting Moeen Ali for the day’s first six, only to then hit the offspinner straight to cover and when Eoin Morgan went cheaply Spirit were 74 for 4 with 28 balls left. However, Bopara changed the momentum, slog-sweeping successive sixes off Benny Howell as 21 came from one set of five. The former England allrounder hit five sixes in all before Helm had him caught on the fence in the final set of the innings.Phoenix made the worst possible start when debutant Sol Budinger, drafted in as cover for the injured Liam Livingstone, lofted Dawson’s second ball to Crawley in the deep. And Dawson made it a dream start for the hosts when he castled the dangerous Will Smeed later in that set.Moeen and Wade led a counterattack with a flurry of boundaries, yet the rate required rose and the former succumbed when hitting Jordan Thompson into the hands of mid-on. Dawson then returned immediately after the powerplay to remove Chris Benjamin for a duck.Wade though continued to swing, majestically sending a Nathan Ellis delivery into the Tavern’s top tier, but still the chances of the quick win Phoenix needed receded. He dropped by Ellis off Brad Wheal on 44 and celebrated with six to go to 50 in 24 balls. When he finally holed out Spirit were favourites, but Sangha and Helm produced a last twist in a great advert for the format.

Perfect day at perfect ground, as Madsen seals chase after Masood makes 98

Paul Edwards14-Jun-2022
You really should come to Queen’s Park, you know. I can’t promise you a game such as we have enjoyed over these three days; a game which saw Derbyshire inflict a first Championship defeat on Middlesex and move themselves up to third place in Division Two; a game that ended with a guttural, flat-vowelled roar from the pavilion as Luis Reece completed a win that will always look more facile than it was.But the outgrounds always seem to conjure something precious and you might think it’s a reward for the volunteer labour expended in putting the matches on in the first place. Nor can I promise you a contest as enthralling as this, whose outcome only became clear on this third evening when Shan Masood made 98 and Wayne Madsen’s unbeaten 49 ensured that Derbyshire would suffer no jitters en route to their first victory over Middlesex at Chesterfield since 1965, when Brian Jackson took eight wickets and the home side were five down when chasing a paltry 34.No, I can guarantee none of these things should you come to Chesterfield…But there are beeches and copper beeches, there are oaks and weeping ash and liquidambar and ancient yews; there is an old mulberry tree near one of the two bandstands, and there is a lake, and across the road there is Parkside Café, which rivals Wickets in Taunton as the best nosebag on the circuit.And while you are eating your cobs and drinking your coffee, you can look again at the sweet chestnut and the sycamores and marvel at the trees’ fellowship and think of the consolation offered by conifers that stay green when the rest of their world is grey and the cricket ground is sleeping. And when you look beyond or above the trees, you will see buildings that have summat about them, like the six-columned town hall or the Church of St Mary and All Saints; yes, the one with the spire that’s gone in the fetlock. You see, you know the place already. Look up the route, now, before the magic fades.There is cricket, too, and there are times, like today, when it becomes the sole focus for those sitting in this greatly blessed world. Only when Derbyshire needed fewer than ten to win did the spectators began to drift slowly away and very few left properly until the game was done. They recalled their team had collapsed in a heap on Monday and they knew it was less than seven hours since the match was utterly in the hazard..Middlesex began the morning with a lead of 117 and seven wickets in hand as they sought a target beyond Derbyshire’s capabilities. Mark Stoneman and Ethan Bamber added another 23 runs in half an hour before Stoneman gloved a lifter from Anuj Dal to Brooke Guest and trooped off through the warm, dandelion-seeded air. Bamber fell to Dal as well but not before he had got on one knee and swept Mark Watt into the avenue of limes, where a fellow gave not a fig for his years and reached up to stop the ball.The lead was 179 when Bamber drove fatally to Sam Conners at point and it had been extended by only 13 more where John Simpson called Max Holden for a single and seemed to receive a tentative ‘yes’, followed by a mighty ‘no’. Simpson was run out by 20 yards; indeed when the bails were removed, he was near enough to give Holden a mighty kick up the arse, which is a course of action he may have contemplated. Unembarrassed, Holden hit Alex Thomson for a six over long on but was brilliantly caught by Billy Godleman running from mid-off to cover when he attempted to repeat the trick.We had lunch with Middlesex on 189 for 7. I walked out to the middle and wondered if this was how Fanshawe felt in M R James’ “A View from a Hill” when he sees the glorious spire of Fulnaker Abbey through Baxter’s binoculars, only to find it was a vision from the past. Reassurance was provided by an unlikely source: “From the Lake End, Mark Watt” boomed the chap on the public address.I drifted uncertainly back to the present and, almost on the instant, Luke Hollman was caught by Masood off Reece. The lead was 212 and no one thought it enough against a batting side that included the Pakistani. Give or take, it would have to do, though. Only six more runs had been added by the time Middlesex were bowled out and one admired the medium-pace bowling of Reece and Dal, each of whom took three wickets.Derbyshire’s pursuit of 219 began disastrously but could have been bum-numbingly awful. In the fourth over, Godleman was sent back when he called Masood for a mirage-single and Holden’s throw beat the Derbyshire skipper by around 11 yards. Next over, Masood nicked Roland-Jones to first slip where Stevie Eskinazi, possibly put off by Simpson, shelled the thing. The game settled again and the folk under the limes lost themselves in the struggle.Derbyshire got to tea on 89 for 2, the second batter dismissed being Guest, who was caught behind off Murtagh for 10. On the resumption, Masood got inside the line and drove Roland-Jones wide of mid-on; two overs later he nodded appreciatively when utterly beaten but resumed more normal service by cover-driving Hollman twice in the same over. The ball was changed at the end of the 30th over, which is normally a sign the shape of the game does not suit the fielding side. Ten minutes later, Masood cut Roland-Jones hard to gully where Sam Robson dropped the chance. Had not the Derbyshire’s supporters recalled their side’s first innings hours previously, they would have begun to believe this great thing was possible.Masood had batted beautifully but not faultlessly. Nevertheless, he was two short of a century and nine shy of his thousand first-class runs for the season when he cut Bamber to gully, where Robson clutched the thing. Derbyshire still needed 74 at this point but Leus du Plooy chose the fast lane to glory, whacking Bamber and Roland-Jones for sixes before nicking Tim Murtagh to Robbie White at slip.If Reece felt any nerves, he concealed them perfectly. The Middlesex cricketers, who had hardly celebrated their late successes with much joy, became reconciled to defeat. A few minutes later, players and spectators were shaking hands, saying their farewells and looking ruefully at their sunburn. One day, I hope you will be able to join them. Indeed, I hope beyond dreaming that you will get the chance, not least because if you do, it will probably mean that Chesterfield and so much else that is precious about our game has been saved. Evenings like this encourage the hope it might be so.

Pep Guardiola was asked about Kevin De Bruyne's future and Erling Haaland's fitness ahead of Manchester City's Premier League clash at Tottenham.

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Coach says Belgian can still deliverHaaland feeling better after knee injuryHe rates Tottenham despite poor seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

De Bruyne's future has been thrown into doubt following his dismal performance in Sunday's defeat at home to Liverpool although there has been a suggestion that the mercurial Belgian, who is into the last year of his contract with City, could stay for at least another year at the Etihad Stadium and accept playing a peripheral role in the squad.

AdvertisementWHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

"He's an exceptional player. He was and is and hopefully he will be," Guardiola told a press conference. "Whatever happens will belong to him and the club."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Haaland missed the Liverpool game and the Champions League knockout play-off second leg at Real Madrid with a knee injury although the coach is optimistic that his striker could be back to face Tottenham. Guardiola said: "[He] feels better, the last two games didn't feel okay, we'll see tomorrow."

DID YOU KNOW?

City lost their first five matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but turned the tie by winning in the FA Cup fourth-round tie last season and grabbing a crucial win in the penultimate game of the Premier League season which put them on the path to winning a fourth consecutive league title. However, City's record against Spurs has haunted them again this campaign as they were beaten 2-1 in the Carabao Cup and were then thrashed 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in November.

The two spinners shared seven wickets then Tamim Iqbal hit an unbeaten half-century

Associated Press13-Jul-2022Bangladesh won the ODI series against West Indies, taking the second match with more than 29 overs to spare, bouncing back from losing the Test and T20I series.They made West Indies bat first and bowled out the home side for 108 in 35 overs. Bangladesh took less than 21 overs to reach the target, for the loss of one wicket.West Indies couldn’t handle spin again, as Nasum Ahmed took his first ODI wickets to start the West Indies collapse and Mehidy Hasan Miraz finished the rout with 4 for 29.The home side rode some early luck when openers Kyle Mayers survived a messed-up stumping chance off Mehidy, and Shai Hope overturned an lbw decision to Nasum. But the batters didn’t last much longer.Mayers was bowled by Mosaddek Hossain trying to defend on the front foot. Then Shamarh Brooks was bowled by Nasum for his first ODI wicket in his second match.Mosaddek caught Hope who mishit an attempted slog sweep, and in the same over Nasum got captain Nicholas Pooran dragging on. West Indies were 45 for 4 and Nasum had 3 for 9 from six overs, three of them maidens.Mosaddek bowled out his 10 overs by the 25th over. He had 1 for 37, but the pressure he and Nasum built led to West Indies taking more frustrated swings.Rovman Powell was out for 13 trying to flick medium-pacer Shoriful Islam, and Brandon King charged and missed Mehidy to be bowled on 11. Akeal Hosein was too slow coming from the non-striker’s end and run out on 2 and West Indies was 72 for 7.Nasum was brought back for his last two overs and finished with 3 for 19 off 10, earning the player of the match.Romario Shepherd was bowled by Mehidy on 4 and Alzarri Joseph edged Mehidy behind and West Indies was 86 for 9. Mehidy claimed Gudakesh Motie to leave Keemo Paul stranded on 25 not out.Motie got the wicket of Najmul Hossain Shanto but fellow opener Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das made no drama of the chase. Tamim finished the game with his seventh boundary to be 50 not out off 62 balls for his 53rd ODI fifty.The visitors have won the two ODIs by six and nine wickets for a fifth successive bilateral series win. The last ODI and tour match is on Saturday at the same Providence Stadium and Bangladesh will be favored to beat West Indies an 11th straight time since late 2018.

Inter Miami's next Major League Soccer opponents, the Houston Dynamo, have offered free tickets to fans after the Herons left Lionel Messi at home.

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Messi to miss Inter Miami's Houston clashHouston Dynamo release statement for fansWill offer free tickets as compensationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Houston Dynamo had seen a spike in ticket sales for their MLS clash against Messi's Inter Miami at Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday. However, Herons boss Javier Mascherano has now left the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner off his squad list for the clash in Texas – much to the dismay of fans who were looking forward to watching the Argentine in action.

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Houston Dynamo have now announced in an official statement that they will offer free tickets to fans that purchased tickets for the Inter Miami clash, in a bid to compensate those who will miss out on watching Messi play. Fans will be able to secure a complimentary ticket for any Dynamo game during the rest of the season.

WHAT HOUSTON DYNAMO'S STATEMENT READ

On Saturday evening, Dynamo released a statement which read: "The Houston Dynamo are excited to host Inter Miami CF at Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday evening. The recently shared player status report for the match did not include forward Lionel Messi, but it has been reported he did not make the trip to Houston. Unfortunately, we have no control over who plays for our opponent.

"We look forward to hosting everyone tomorrow for what will be an incredible atmosphere and celebration of soccer for the city of Houston. To show our appreciation, fans who attend tomorrow night’s match can claim a complimentary ticket to a future Dynamo match this season. Additional details will be provided early next week."

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

Messi has only played three competitive clashes this calendar year as the 37-year-old looks to stay fit for the season. It is likely that he will return to action later this week for Mascherano's side when Inter Miami take on Jamaican side Cavalier on Thursday, March 6, in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Over the last couple of years, the Arsenal hierarchy have splashed the cash in the transfer market to hand boss Mikel Arteta the best chance of being a success in the Premier League.

This summer alone, the club forked out nearly £100m in new signings, with Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori joining from Real Sociedad and Bologna respectively, alongside David Raya after his loan move was made permanent.

However, the transfer business has appeared to pay off in the opening weeks of the new season, with the Gunners currently sat in third, level on points with Manchester City and just a point off leaders Liverpool.

Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in all competitions, drawing once and winning the other in their two Champions League meetings with Atalanta and PSG so far.

The supporters will be hoping that they can continue their excellent run after the ongoing international break, aiming to close the gap to top spot but also build on their impressive European start.

Injuries are yet to massively affect the side, but the Spaniard will be hoping that midfielder Martin Odegaard will be edging closer to a return to first-team action after missing each of the last seven games in all competitions after suffering an ankle issue on international duty.

However, one midfielder has been key for the Gunners this season, looking to be worth every penny of his big-money fee that the club forked out for his signature last summer.

Declan Rice’s stats for Arsenal

Last summer, Arsenal were looking to build on their second-placed Premier League finish after eventually missing out on the title despite leading the way for the vast majority of the campaign.

They subsequently decided to dip into the transfer market to try and bolster Arteta’s side ahead of the 2023/24 season – spending some serious money in the process.

Undoubtedly, the biggest deal completed during that window was the signing of midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham United for a club-record deal and one that set the record for the highest fee paid for an English player.

The Gunners paid a fee of £105m for the 25-year-old, surpassing the £72m they paid for winger Nicolas Pepe back in 2019 – a move that was a complete failure, with the attacker departing the club on a free transfer just a couple of years later.

However, the England international has been a phenomenal addition, making 60 appearances since his move to North London – scoring eight times in the process.

He’s bagged some key goals including against rivals Manchester United in stoppage time, whilst topping off a 6-0 victory against former side West Ham United last season.

Rice has brought the added quality needed for such a long period in midfield, but also having a positive effect in attacking areas, as demonstrated by his goalscoring tally since his record transfer to the Emirates.

He’s become the perfect box-to-box option for Arteta, providing a constant figure in the heart of the side, allowing the club to be competitive in the Premier League and potentially ending their two-decade wait for a league triumph.

However, his deal could potentially be eclipsed with the club targeting a move for a player in a position that they have been desperately trying to bolster in recent months.

Arsenal eyeing move for “world-class” talent

During the summer, Arsenal were chasing a striker for long periods of the window, with various options linked with a move to the capital, but ultimately they were unable to complete any deal for a new central option.

Players such as Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen were both touted with moves to join Arteta’s side, but the latter pursued a move to Saudi Arabia which failed to materialise, whilst the former decided to stay put at RB Leipzig.

However, according to talkSPORT, the Gunners have a ‘long-standing interest’ in a deal to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle, and could potentially be handed a boost in their pursuit of the 25-year-old.

The “world-class” Sweden international, as dubbed by boss Eddie Howe, scored 21 league goals last season and has put multiple teams on red alert after stalling any potential new contract at St James’ Park, with no obvious sign of any progression in talks with the Magpies.

Premier League’s top scorers (2023/24)
Player	Tally
1) Erling Haaland	27
2) Cole Palmer	22
3) Alexander Isak	21
4) Ollie Watkins	19
= Phil Foden	19
= Dominic Solanke	19
Stats via FotMob

He does remain under contract until the summer of 2028, but his unwillingness to agree to a new deal could force Howe’s side into offloading their star player to avoid losing him on the cheap.

Any potential deal could eclipse the fee paid for Rice in 2023, with the talkSPORT report claiming that Arteta’s side are expected to push for a new number nine.

He could follow in the footsteps of one Arsenal legend, who captured the hearts of many during his time as a player in North London.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Why Isak could be Arsenal’s new Henry

Thierry Henry will arguably go down as one of the best Premier League players of all time after his eight-year stint at Arsenal which saw him score 228 times for the club – the highest of any player in their history.

He caught the eye with his ability to glide past defenders before finishing effortlessly, with his all-round attacking quality often on display for the supporters.

The £11m fee former boss Arsène Wenger paid for him back in the summer of 1999 looked to be an absolute bargain given his impact at the club – cementing himself as a legend forever.

However, in 2024, Arteta has the opportunity to sign his own version of the Frenchman in Isak with the Swede possessing very similar qualities to the now 47-year-old.

His 6 foot 3 frame could be deceiving, but he’s elegant with the ball often gliding past players as Henry did, with his finishing ability in the final third up there with the very best in the world – potentially catapulting the club to the Premier League title.

Isak’s current boss Howe, has also waxed lyrical about his starman, drawing comparisons between the Newcastle number 14 and the iconic Henry, who also donned the same number during his time in North London.

Whilst the deal would undoubtedly cost the club a pretty penny, any transfer for Isak would transform Arteta’s forward line – handing him the added ammunition that he’s been craving over the last few months.

His ability in the final third is demonstrated by his goalscoring tally from last season, with the 25-year-old outscoring every current Arsenal player in the Premier League last season.

Arsenal wasted £28m on Emery flop who earned more than Trossard & Timber

He was one of multiple poor talents on Arsenal’s books at the time.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 17, 2024

Javier Mascherano has reacted to the “not human” conditions that Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had to contend with when visiting Kansas City.

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• Match was postponed by 24 hours
• Temperatures still dipped below freezing
• Messi netted only goal of the game

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Herons saw the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash with Sporting KC postponed by 24 hours due to forecasts of heavy snowfall. The game did eventually go ahead, but temperatures dipped to five degrees Fahrenheit (-15C) by kick-off, with wind chill making it feel like -5 degrees Fahrenheit (-20C).

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The mercury dipped even further to what felt like -8 degrees Fahrenheit (-22C) during the game, with both sets of players having to contend with frigid conditions that made putting on a show difficult. Mascherano was among those left freezing on the bench.

• WHAT JAVIER MASCHERANO SAID

  Inter Miami’s Argentine coach told reporters after seeing his side collect a hard-fought 1-0 win: “I'm very proud because I think it's impossible to play in these conditions. It is not human, you know, so I'm very proud because they gave me 100% with intensity, with a lot of attitude, so we are happy. We are in the half-time of the qualifiers, so now try to rest after a very difficult game for us.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who faced reports of wanting to skip the game at one stage, netted the only goal of the game in Kansas – his first competitive strike of 2025. Mascherano added on the all-time great stepping up again in an hour of need: “Fantastic [goal], I think maybe for the people that know him, it's normal because he did things like this or goals like this 1,000 times, but we are very lucky to have him in our team.”