In a contest cut to 26 overs by rain, India couldn’t recover from early trouble against the new ball

Tristan Lavalette19-Oct-2025

Josh Hazlewood struck early to remove Rohit Sharma•Getty Images

Mitchell Marsh spoiled counterpart Shubman Gill’s ODI captaincy debut after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled in their much-anticipated comeback to international cricket.On a damp day at Optus Stadium, the series-opening ODI was reduced to 26 overs per side with India making 136 for 9, after a series of rain delays frustrated the crowd of 42,423, having slumped to 45 for 4 against impressive new-ball bowling, particularly from Josh Hazlewood.The weather did improve later in the day as Marsh’s unbeaten 46 off 52 balls powered Australia past their revised target of 131 runs in the 22nd over. ODI debutant Matt Renshaw finished 21 not out – almost nine years after he made his Test debut.Related

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There was an expectation that Marsh and fellow opener Travis Head would come out aggressively, but batting was not easy in seaming conditions under lights. Head’s recent patchy form continued after slashing left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh straight to deep third, raising India’s hopes.Marsh played against type initially, scoring just a couple of singles off his first nine deliveries, until muscling Arshdeep for six over the leg-side. With his eye in, he took the aerial route to good effect and was in total command apart from copping a blow to the helmet from a Mohammed Siraj short ball.It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Australia with Matt Short unable to make the most of his chance at No. 3, tamely succumbing on 8 to left-arm spinner Axar Patel who was the standout performer for India with a strong allround effort.Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe did grab his opportunity with a rollicking 37 from 29 balls in his return to the ODI team after four years having earlier performed well with the gloves.It was a disappointing ODI return for India since their Champions Trophy triumph in March. Their batting order was not helped by numerous rain delays as the covers were used for the first time at Optus Stadium since the ground opened in 2018.During the brief passages of play, their top order struggled to handle the back of a length bowling from Australia’s trio of quicks. Much to the disappointment of the many fans wearing blue shirts in the terraces, Rohit made a scratchy 8 while Kohli fared even worse after falling for an eight-ball duck.Josh Philippe made a good impression on his return to the side•Getty Images

Hazlewood utilised the bouncy conditions to menacing effect, bowling 35 dot balls in his brilliant spell of 2 for 20 from seven overs. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who was required to operate at the death with Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc bowled out, and ODI debutant Mitchell Owen also claimed two wickets.With menacing clouds forming above, a rarity for cricket games in usually sun-baked Perth, Marsh had no hesitation to bowl despite very little grass on the surface.Kohli has particularly fond memories of Optus Stadium having produced one of his greatest Test tons on the ground in 2018 and he also made his final Test century there last year.Having shown no signs of rust during India’s net session ahead of the match, Kohli was pinned down by the accuracy of Hazlewood and Starc, who suckered him into a drive to catch the outside edge that was brilliantly caught at backward point by Cooper Connolly.In likely his last game in Perth, Kohli received a standing ovation from some fans on his way to the sheds as India slumped further after Rohit had earlier been deceived by Hazlewood’s sharp bounce and nicked to second slip.KL Rahul top-scored for India amid the rain•Getty Images

A lean looking Rohit had showed off his fitness with a quick single to get off the mark. However, other than a gorgeous straight drive, he looked sluggish much like his struggles in recent days in the nets.The pressure fell on Gill and hopes were high that he could replicate his outstanding start to his Test captaincy, which has yielded five tons from 13 innings.Less than a week after leading India in their Test win over West Indies, Gill showed trademark class to punch a boundary down the ground off Hazlewood before having to fight hard against probing new ball bowling.Having seen off Starc, Gill’s debut captaincy knock ended with a whimper on 10 after he tickled down the leg side to gift Nathan Ellis a first ball wicket.India were probably relieved by the persistent drizzle and for the first time since 1983 an ODI in Perth was shortened due to rain.During a brief resumption, Shreyas Iyer gloved a well-directed short delivery from Hazlewood to the alert Philippe to leave India 45 for 4.Further rain delays truncated the overs as Axar and KL Rahul on resumption had no choice but to stand and deliver. The pro-India crowd, muted for much of the day, suddenly came alive until Axar holed out to hand Kuhnemann his first wicket on home soil.Despite consecutive sixes from Rahul, India fell away at the back end other than a very late flourish from Nitish Reddy in his ODI debut but it proved not nearly enough.

There was a moment after the final whistle that typified Everton’s performance at Old Trafford.

A bloody-nosed Jake O’Brien stood, breathless, beside the centre circle, and David Moyes darted about with raw and passionate joy, congratulating his players after their 1-0 win over Manchester United.

It was a tenacious and draining display, the kind that Toffees fans love, that steeliness of spirit that is so typical of the Merseyside club.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was all passion when he wheeled away in celebration after a sweet finish into the corner before half an hour had been clocked. His weak-footed wonder would prove the match-winning strike.

However, the highly-charged emotions were two-fold, and Idrissa Gueye found himself dismissed before that point, having been adjudged to have slapped none other than teammate Michael Keane.

Everton's enthralling response to Gueye's red card

It looked set to be a long and gruelling evening for Everton after Gueye was dismissed in the first half following an altercation with his own pal Keane.

The dismissal was harsh, but the spat between the two Blues was needless. Gueye will miss Everton’s next three matches due to violent conduct, and he will leave for a sojourn at the African Cup of Nations after the new year.

Even so, Everton responded with the kind of vim and vigour Moyes craves. This was a herculean performance, the visitors leaving the Theatre of Dreams, having willed their way past Ruben Amorim’s lagging side.

Dewsbury-Hall was the man of the moment but Jordan Pickford’s imperious goalkeeping helped matters, for sure.

But, this was a massive collective effort, Dewsbury-Hall the goal-getter but flanked by hard-working Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye, supported by a determined Keane and commanding captain James Tarkowski.

One man trudged off the field during the closing stages having failed an individual objective, but then this Marouane Fellaini-esque Everton star also showed so much promise against a Red Devils backline who struggled to contain him.

Moyes's new Marouane Fellaini

It’s been a testing start to life in Liverpool for Thierno Barry after his £27m move to Everton from Villarreal this summer, but he’s probably put in the best performance of his campaign so far against Manchester United’s backline.

The centre-forward was hailed by one scout for being “very close to clicking”, with his energy and enthusiasm offering shades of Fellaini, who became the most expensive Belgian of all time when joining Everton for £15m (their club-record buy) from Standard Liege in 2008.

It took time and experimentation for Fellaini to find his feet, but once he did, he became a monstrous box-to-box force at Goodison Park, and Barry must take a leaf from the retired star’s book and continue to knuckle down with a continuation of performances like this one at Old Trafford.

Fellaini featured 193 times under Moyes’ wing across stints at Everton and Man United, making him the 14th-highest appearance maker in the Scotsman’s managerial history.

Marouane Fellaini – Career Stats

Club

Apps

Goals + Assists

Everton

177

33 + 24

Man United

177

22 + 10

Shandong

141

50 + 14

Standed Liege

84

12 + 7

Data via Transfermarkt

Barry won’t likely play as many matches in the veteran coach’s system, but that’s not to say the summer recruit cannot forge a long and prosperous career for himself on Merseyside, carrying Moyes’ schoolings right through that Everton career.

He didn’t score against Man United, but the 23-year-old was full of life and bustle, with Sofascore recording that he won 14 aerial battles on the evening. That’s the highest amount of any player in the Premier League this season across a single contest.

Moreover, Barry made three ball recoveries, two clearances and provided an outlet all evening, taking a stride forward toward cementing his place at the front of the ship, even though he hasn’t yet broken his duck.

The Liverpool Echo handed the French striker a 7/10 match rating, but the truth is that he might have enjoyed a higher score after such a battle-ready performance, never easing against United’s centre-halves while demonstrating slick movement throughout.

Moyes went ballistic when Beto squandered possession late on, brought on in the closing stages for freshness and physicality. The established number nine has done his chances a lot of harm this season, and Barry is beginning to show that he has what it takes to nail down a regular starting spot in this system.

This striker is full of potential. He didn’t actually manage a shot at Old Trafford, but impressed nonetheless.

The goals will come. He’s talented and willing to learn. Bonus: there’s something almost Fellaini-esque about his aerial prowess and willingness to get stuck in. Moyes will be delighted.

Related 0 minutes all season: "Generational" Everton star could be Branthwaite 2.0

David Moyes must consider unleashing this talented Everton youngster in the coming weeks.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

Leeds United are interested in signing Atletico Madrid and England midfielder Conor Gallagher, but they are far from alone in the race to snap him up with as many as 16 Premier League clubs eyeing up a move.

Daniel Farke is feeling the heat at Elland Road after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League, even though he was in defiant spirits after the game.

Farke would love new signings in the January transfer window or next summer, should he still be in charge of Leeds at that point, and either way the 49ers Group are expected to be active this winter.

Leeds in 16-club battle to sign Conor Gallagher

According to a new report from Sky Sports, Leeds are one of 16 Premier League sides making enquiries for Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in 2026.

It is claimed that Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are the only top flight sides not showing interest, meaning the Whites could look to seal a deal for the England midfielder, who cost the Madrid outfit £34m last summer.

Atletico are unwilling to let Gallagher, who has publicly commented on his need for more game time ahead of the World Cup, leave on loan, meaning the 49ers will have to stump up a significant fee to seal a deal in January.

Gallagher would be a high-profile signing for Leeds, considering he is playing for one of the biggest teams in Spain and is a Europa League winner from his time at Chelsea. The 25-year-old is also a 22-cap England international, scoring once for his country, while Atletico manager Diego Simeone has heaped praise on the tenacious edge to his game.

He wants to join: Leeds choose number one manager candidate as Farke nears sack

The Whites have a Premier League-experienced boss ready to come in at the expense of Farke.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 24, 2025

Leeds will know that being in a strong position for Premier League survival is paramount if they are to have a chance of signing him, but whether that influences their decision to stick or twist with Farke remains to be seen.

He's a lot like Bielsa: Leeds could sack Farke for "special" 4-2-3-1 manager

أحرز تيل الهدف الثاني لصالح آيندهوفن أمام ليفربول، خلال اللقاء الذي يجري بين الفريقين حالياً في الجولة الخامسة بمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتجري المباراة بين الفريقين على ملعب “آنفيلد”، وكان الشوط الأول قد انتهى بتعادل الفريقين إيجابياً بهدف لمثله حيث تقدم بيريسيتش لصالح الفريق الضيف وتعادل سوبوسلاي لصالح ليفربول.

وفي الدقيقة ال56 سجل جوس تيل نجم آيندهوفن الهدف الثاني بعد تلقيه كرة رائعة في منطقة الجزاء ليسددها في شباك مامارداشفيلي.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | سوبوسلاي يسجل هدف تعادل ليفربول أمام آيندهوفن

ويحتل ليفربول المركز العاشر برصيد 9 نقاط في مرحلة الدوري بفارق 3 نقاط عن صاحب المركز الأول بايرن ميونخ.

ويحتل آيندهوفن المركز 24 برصيد 5 نقاط في مرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا أيضًا.

FIFA confirmed that the USMNT will be in pot 1 at the World Cup draw, and will avoid a number of top opponents in their group. Pots 2, 3 and 4 could yet be tricky, though, with a handful of teams that they have lost to in the previous year in the fold. The draw will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Friday December 5.

New seeding system set to benefit USA

The USMNT are ranked No.14 in the world, and will get a leg up from the new draw system. All of the teams other than Canada and Mexico are ahead of them in the FIFA rankings. Thanks to their seeding, it is unlikely that the U.S. will meet any top sides such as Argentina, Spain, France and England until at least the round of 16 – assuming that most heavyweights win their group. 

This method of seeding players is used in tennis, in a way which has led to several heavyweight final clashes between the current top two players in the world. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWorld Cup draw nears as U.S. pathway will soon become clear

While smaller nations will, perhaps rightly, claim that this new seeding system undermines sporting integrity by favouring the world’s most successful nations, a counter-argument would be the fact that all of the top four seeds still need to reach the semi-finals and could no doubt still face a difficult path in order to get there.

With 10 days to go until the draw on December 5, the USMNT face a nervous wait to find out who they will face in the group stage of the competition. The likes of Scotland, Norway, Croatia or Italy (if they get through the play-offs) could potentially be on the cards for Mauricio Pochettino's side – as can Colombia, Croatia or highly rated Morocco.

Match locations and kick-off times will then be announced the following day on December 6, as the tournament begins to come more clearly into view. 

'This will ensure' – FIFA issue statement on seeding pathway decision

A FIFA statement said: "While the final draw will determine which teams play each other in the group stage, the updated match schedule, including the stadium assigned to each match and the respective kick-off time, will be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.

"The match allocation process that follows the draw aims to ensure the best possible conditions for all teams while, where possible, enabling fans all over the world to watch their teams play live across different time zones.

"To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semi-finals have been established when developing the match schedule. In order to have a balanced distribution of the teams, the four highest-ranked teams … will have the following constraints: the highest-ranked team [Spain] and the second highest-ranked team [Argentina] will be randomly drawn into opposite pathways, and the same principle will apply to the third [France] and fourth [England] highest-ranked teams.

"This will ensure that, should they win their groups, the two highest-ranked teams will not meet before the final."

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AFP2026 World Cup comes ever nearer for the USMNT

Recent results have looked good for Pochettino's side as they move towards the World Cup. The U.S. are on a five-game undefeated run, and ended their last camp with wins over Paraguay and Uruguay. 

They will have one more international window in March – in which the U.S. will face Portugal and Belgium in Atlanta – before playing a duo of tune-up games for the tournament in the weeks before kick off. They will find out their group opponents next Friday, with the draw scheduled to start in the afternoon and the times released shortly after. 

Australia have been inconsistent in ODIs since the last World Cup and are missing some key players for this series

Tristan Lavalette18-Oct-2025Garbed in Australia’s bright new yellow ODI kit, as he leads the team on their first steps towards a title defence at the 2027 World Cup in the absence of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh could not avoid a question he has started to be increasingly asked.Given his outstanding form in white-ball cricket, and injury concerns mounting for the Australia Test team, is Marsh starting to think about the possibility of an unlikely Ashes call-up?”I’ve got tickets to day one and two. Haven’t asked the wife yet, so that’s about as much thought as I’ve given it,” a smirking Marsh said to reporters in his trademark style of completely playing down his chances of resurrecting a Test career that looked over after he was dropped last summer.Related

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The wait for 'Ro-Ko' is over and it's okay to be a bit emotional about it

While it was a humorous way to end the press conference on the eve of Australia’s three-match ODI series against India, it did underline that the Ashes is hovering over basically everything in Australian cricket right now.It has overshadowed the build-up of this series, no mean feat given India’s heft in the sport. While these ODIs and T20Is against India are widely viewed as the entrée ahead of the Ashes, they do have longer-term implications given that there are World Cups in each format over the next couple of years.We’re at the halfway mark in the ODI World Cup cycle, meaning it’s time for teams to start strategising. Australia are in transition in the 50-over format, with several unknowns over their batting order after the retirements of Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.Australia’s batting-order has been weakened further with Josh Inglis, Alex Carey and Cameron Green not playing in the first ODI in Perth. While Carey is currently on Shield duties, Inglis is on the sidelines due a nagging calf injury and Green has been pulled out of the series after suffering a side strain.The developments, of course, have Ashes implications. “He’s okay, it’s on the very, very minor end. It’s a cautious take on it but he’s all good,” Marsh said of his WA team-mate Green.This series is an important opportunity for Matt Short after a run of injuries•AFP/Getty ImagesIt does mean Australia have an opportunity to experiment with batter Matt Renshaw and batting allrounder Mitchell Owen set to make their ODI debuts, while Josh Philippe will take the gloves and play his first ODI in more than four years.After his recent hot run of form at the domestic level, Marnus Labuschagne has been recalled as Green’s replacement but won’t play in the first ODI even though he is making the long journey to Perth to link up with the group.”Across the board in our white-ball teams over the last 12 month, we’ve seen a lot of guys get opportunities, so it always brings excitement to those guys,” Marsh said. “We just have to be really clear on their role and they will enjoy playing cricket for Australia.”A golden opportunity is likely to be presented to Matt Short, who has been on the verge of Australia’s white-ball sides but inconsistencies and, of late, injuries have proven hurdles.Short has thrived at the top of the order in domestic white-ball cricket, but will likely have to settle at No. 3 with Marsh and Head having established such a dynamic opening partnership.”We know he opens for Victoria and Strikers and in T20 cricket around the world,” Marsh said of Short, who has opened the batting in 11 of his 13 ODI innings. “But we see no difference opening the batting and No.3. We’re comfortable with him batting there.”After missing the South Africa series with concussion, Mitch Owen will get a chance in ODIs•AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia’s form has been patchy since their 2023 World Cup triumph, having most recently lost to South Africa 2-1 in northern Queensland in August, a time of year where little attention is on cricket.There will be considerably more spotlight on this India series and it feels very much like Australia will now start ramping things up in cricket’s middle format.Australia will face a tough test against top-ranked India, similarly in transition under new captain Shubman Gill but still boasting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.”Had the privilege of playing against them quite a lot over the journey,” Marsh said of Kohli and Rohit. “They’re obviously legends of the game, Virat is the greatest chaser ever in this format. I think you can see by the ticket sales that a lot of people want to come and watch them.”More than 50,000 fans are expected at Optus Stadium, a nod to the pulling power of India but also indicative of Ashes fever in the air in a city that will host the first Test in just five weeks.”To see the stadium packed out against India, it’s going to be a great experience for our group,” Marsh said. “I believe it’s going to be a high scoring affair, but getting through the first 10 overs for both teams will be a challenge and maybe where the game’s won and lost.”

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O Vasco perdeu para o Fluminense no Brasileirão e os torcedores ficaram furiosos com o zagueiro Maicon. Os vascaínos elegeram o jogador como o pior no clássico. A enquete foi realizada no ccanal do WhatsApp do Lance! Vasco.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasVascoRamón Díaz ironiza presença de público baixa em clássico entre Fluminense e Vasco: ‘Pandemia’Vasco20/04/2024Fora de CampoTorcedores do Vasco criticam trabalho de ex-diretor de futebol: ‘Parabéns Alexandre Mattos’Fora de Campo20/04/2024Fora de CampoWilton Pereira Sampaio é alvo de jornalistas após Fluminense x Vasco: ‘Péssimo’Fora de Campo20/04/2024

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New South Wales batter Nic Maddinson has revealed that he has been in a battle with testicular cancer after finding a lump earlier this year.Maddinson, 33, has played three Tests and six T20Is for Australia, but had been absent from the New South Wales set-up in the early part of the season. He revealed he had been diagnosed in April and has only just resumed full training after undergoing surgery and nine weeks of chemotherapy.The left-hand batter played his last match for New South Wales in early March but was dropped for the final Sheffield Shield match of the 2024-25 season. Having felt rundown with what he thought was a virus, he mentioned to New South Wales doctor John Orchard in his post-season review that he had felt a lump.Scans revealed a tumour and he had surgery immediately to remove it. But further tests seven weeks later showed the cancer had spread.”Once I found out I had to have chemo, that was pretty hard to deal with,” Maddinson told the . “It had spread to parts of my abdominal lymph nodes and lung. That was a bit where it was pretty daunting.”Maddinson’s wife Bianca was also pregnant with their second child when he began chemotherapy and had to quit her job as a dentist to look after their toddler son while Maddinson underwent treatment.”By the second or third week, I lost all my hair. I was feeling pretty average,” Maddinson said. “I was taking types of steroids to manage side effects, but they would keep me up at night. I’d be at the hospital from about 11am to 4pm. Then a sleep. Then I’d force myself to have dinner. I’d sleep until about 1am, but sometimes I’d then be awake until 6am. I found that difficult. I was super drained and felt like I had to sleep 24/7.”I felt guilty. I couldn’t do anything around the house.”Maddinson told very few of his team-mates, with his close friend Adam Zampa being one exception.He completed his chemotherapy on July 14. Ten days later, he had his first hit in the nets. He had to wait another two months before he was cleared to resume full training.”Eight weeks after my last chemo round, I got good news. The treatment had worked,” Maddinson said. “My recent tests were all good, and I can go about getting back into cricket, which I love.”He is continuing to build up his fitness but is likely to be available to play Sydney premier cricket and possibly second XI for New South Wales in the coming weeks with an eye to possibly returning to the Shield team in November.”I would still love to play Test cricket again, but I’m more realistic,” Maddinson said. “The older you get, the less likely it is to happen.”I had a really good opportunity last year and I just didn’t really grab it. I’m just really excited to try and play cricket again. I was dropped at the end of last year, so I’m not expecting to be straight back in the side.”The most important thing would be to say I am available. That would be a nice day.”Nic Maddinson has played three Tests for Australia•Getty Images

Following the birth of his second son Wilder, he is grateful to be healthy again and has urged others to get checked it they feel something abnormal.”When I found out I needed chemo, it hit me hard because I almost didn’t go,” Maddinson said. “I thought it would go away. To know that I caught it probably as early as I could have, and it still spread into other parts of my body, that was scary.”I just think it’s so important if you have anything you’re worried about, get it checked out.”It feels silly to not tell my story. If one person reads it and gets checked, I’ll be happy. I grew up in the country and a lot of people fob it off. It’s a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude. Get the stuff checked out, it can make all the difference.”

Alex Song has never been short of self-belief, but the former Arsenal midfielder has ignited fresh debate after boldly declaring that he would start for Mikel Arteta’s current side ahead of stars Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi. Now 38 and long retired, the ex-Cameroon international insisted that the prime version of himself would walk into almost any top European team.

• From Bastia trialist to Premier League mainstay

  Song joined Arsenal in 2005 for just £1 million after arriving on trial from Bastia. Arsene Wenger initially used him as a box-to-box midfielder before gradually transitioning him into a deep-lying No. 6, where he became renowned for threading incisive passes. He made 204 appearances in seven seasons, partnering players such as Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby, and developing into a versatile figure capable of filling multiple roles in Wenger’s system. In 2012, Barcelona paid £15 million to secure his services. Song’s first season at Camp Nou brought a LaLiga title, but he soon found himself used primarily as a rotation player. Loan spells at West Ham followed before he embarked on short stints with Rubin Kazan, Sion and finally AS Arta in Djibouti, where he closed out his career.

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• AFP
  

  Song makes a tall claim!

  Speaking to , Song was asked whether he believed he would start for a selection of elite clubs.

  "Alex Song would start for these clubs," he said, and then went on to list several European giants, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and even Arsenal. 

  Tottenham, however, received the quickest refusal of all: "No. I will never play for Tottenham. Never! It will never happen!"

• Arsenal’s midfield renaissance under Arteta

  Arteta’s current midfield partnership of Rice and Zubimendi is widely considered one of the Premier League’s best. Arsenal sit comfortably atop the table with only one league defeat so far, holding a five-point lead over Manchester City after 14 matchdays. The Gunners have twice faltered in late-season title races under Arteta, but early signs this year suggest they have learned from those heartbreaks. Zubimendi, signed from Real Sociedad in the summer, has adjusted seamlessly to English football. His reading of the game and intelligent distribution have allowed Arsenal to control matches with authority.

  Speaking to , Zubimendi praised Rice’s development: "Once I came here one of the things that motivated me the most was playing with a player like Declan. I think he’s been a good player until this year, but I think this year, from what I see and how happy I see him, I think he’s taking a leap forward so I’m very happy to be able to help him in that regard. And he helps me too. We all know how Declan is. A very complete player, physically, technically, set pieces. And his personality is something that has surprised me. He wants to be a protagonist in the dressing room. And on the pitch for a teammate like me in midfield, I think it’s vital having someone who wants to be the protagonist who wants the ball, who helps you. It’s the perfect complement."

  Arteta also spoke about Rice's influence on the team, as he added: "He wants more, the team knows him better, his role is growing around the team. The impact he has on the team it’s huge. I knew him for a long time (before signing) and I knew how he could evolve and change the team. He has certainly done it and probably improved on those expectations."

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  Gunners maintain momentum in the Premier League

  Arsenal’s most recent victory was a composed 2-0 win over Brentford. Mikel Merino opened the scoring before Saka secured the result, restoring the Gunners’ advantage at the summit to five points. The depth and balance added over the summer have given Arsenal a sturdier foundation, and with the club’s attacking talent also flourishing, belief is rising that this may finally be the season they end their long wait for a Premier League crown. Their next challenge comes in the form of a tricky away fixture at Aston Villa on Saturday.

In a bid to upgrade their bullpen, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made one of this season's first splashy trades.

The Dodgers are acquiring pitcher Alexis Diaz from the Cincinnati Reds, according to a Thursday afternoon report from Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of .

Diaz, 28, has endured a dismal 2025 so far. In six innings pitched, he is 0–0 with three strikeouts and an ERA of 12.00. According to bWAR, he has cost the Reds half a win this year.

Los Angeles made the reported move just a day after a complete bullpen implosion against the Cleveland Guardians, in which a 4–2 lead turned into a 7–4 deficit in the span of one disastrous inning.

Diaz—the brother of New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz—made the National League All-Star team in 2023. That year, he went 9–6 in relief with a 3.07 ERA and 37 saves.

He added 28 saves in 2024 as his numbers slipped a bit before a severe decline to start '25.

Pitcher Mike Villani will reportedly head to Cincinnati in the trade; he was drafted in the 13th round in '24 out of Long Beach State.