Jack Grealish has been told he is now at a club where his undoubted talents can flourish and finally bring an end to his Manchester City nightmare. Grealish has made a thrilling start to his loan spell at Everton and can become a “maverick again” following his “sour spell” at Man City, according to former Toffees midfielder Don Hutchison.
West Ham United are lining up potential replacements for Graham Potter after what has been a nightmare start to 2025/2026, and one of their candidates is very eager to make the move to east London.
Graham Potter facing West Ham dismissal after poor start
Potter’s win percentage since taking charge in January makes for pretty dismal reading.
Out of every single West Ham gaffer in Premier League history, his lowly 26.1 per cent win rate only sits above that of Avram Grant, who guided the Hammers to relegation at the end of 2010/2011.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12 Graham Potter
26.1%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
Defensively, West Ham have been cut through like a knife with hot butter — conceding more goals than any other top flight side thus far whilst displaying a serious weakness in dealing with set pieces.
The blame for West Ham’s hapless start to 2025/2026 doesn’t lay solely at the feet of Potter, though, as you can make a serious case that the ex-Chelsea boss was hardly backed with winning players in the summer.
In any case, the overwhelming consensus is that Potter is fast running out of time, and it is believed that Potter could be given a stay of execution until the Arsenal game — to give any new West Ham manager the best possible chance of a good start at home to Brentford (ExWHUemployee).
Slaven Bilic "waiting" for offer to manage West Ham
Of the contenders to replace Potter, Nuno Espírito Santo is reportedly in pole position for the potential West Ham job right now (ExWHUemployee), but we cannot discount ex-Irons boss Slaven Bilic.
The Croatian, a former West Ham player, was in charge between 2015 and 2017. Bilic guided West Ham to a seventh-placed finish at the end of his first campaign, only to be sacked two years later with his side sitting in the relegation zone.
Now, as per GiveMeSport, Bilic is ready to make a West Ham return and is simply “waiting” for his chance of reunion.
He is in his homeland right now monitoring events closely, and if Potter cannot turn things around against Everton and Arsenal, it appears he wants to take over from the 50-year-old.
Interestingly, despite other opportunities, West Ham are one of just two clubs Bilic would join — alongside another former club in West Brom.
West Ham must hire Nuno ahead of Bilic
However, we believe that Bilic isn’t the right man to take them forward, as evident by the fact they have already sacked him once. Nuno, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter.
The Portuguese’s stock is back at an all-time high after a fairytale 2024/2025 at Nottingham Forest, and he’d still be at the City Ground now if not for a public fallout with controversial owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Nuno was awarded a brand-new contract just months before his Marinakis spat, and the thought of him leaving Forest after last year’s achievements was previously deemed unthinkable.
Taking his job at Wolves into account as well, Nuno has a proven track record of helping relegation-threatened sides climb the Premier League table to establish themselves as European contenders.
The Old Gold reached a Europa League quarter-final in 2020 under Nuno’s guidance, and what’s more, the 51-year-old has some trophy-winning experience from his time in Saudi Arabia.
Nuno led Al-Ittihad to an SPL title only to leave the Middle East just months later. With no other free agents of his calibre available right now, it is crystal clear that the ex-goalkeeper should be given top priority to steady the ship after Potter’s inevitable exit.
Leeds United looked at signing a new attacker on deadline day but missed out to a rival Premier League club.
The Whites head into the first international break of the Premier League season above the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle United in the table, however Daniel Farke still wanted more signings before Monday’s deadline.
Picking up four points from the first three games, Leeds are yet to score from open play in the Premier League, bringing in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on free transfers.
|
Leeds incomings |
From |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Noah Okafor |
AC Milan |
£18m |
|
Anton Stach |
Hoffenheim |
£17.4m |
|
Jaka Bijol |
Udinese |
£15m |
|
Lucas Perri |
Lyon |
£13.9m |
|
Sean Longstaff |
Newcastle |
£12m |
|
Gabriel Gudmundsson |
Lille |
£10m |
|
James Justin |
Leicester City |
£10m |
|
Sebastiaan Bornauw |
Wolfsburg |
£5m |
|
Louis Enahoro-Marcus |
Liverpool |
Undisclosed |
|
Lukas Nmecha |
Wolfsburg |
Free |
|
Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
Everton |
Free |
Noah Okafor has been the marquee addition in the final third, but Farke urged the 49ers Enterprises to bring in more quality.
“I don’t play any games. Everyone in the club says: ‘OK, we want to try everything to give us the best possible squad’. Everyone wants to add, in the offence, some more quality players. If not, we also won’t raise the white flag and say, ‘OK, that’s it’.
“We have shown we are competitive in the first three games, but it will be difficult (thereafter). There’s also no moaning, but, until the last hour of the window, we have to try everything to bring some more quality in.”
Contact made: Leeds now plotting last-gasp offer to sign "underrated" star
He’s in excellent form.
5
By
Tom Cunningham
Sep 1, 2025
It remains to be seen whether or not Farke will get his wish in January, or if he’ll have to rely on Nmecha, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor, Jack Harrison, Dan James, Brenden Aaronson and Wilfried Gnonto for the entire season.
Linked with a move to Leeds over the summer was Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa, and he remained on the Whites’ radar with hours remaining of the transfer window.
Leeds were thought to be in pole position to sign the attacker before the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal, however, Nottingham Forest have since come in for the 23-year-old and sealed a deal late in the day.
|
Wingers similar to Bakwa |
Club |
|---|---|
|
Jarrod Bowen |
West Ham |
|
Jack Harrison |
Leeds |
|
Igor Paixao |
Marseille |
|
Dan James |
Leeds |
|
Ismaila Sarr |
Crystal Palace |
According to LeedsLive in their transfer deadline day blog, Bakwa had big admirers at Leeds and a £35m deal would have been a near record from what the club paid for Georginio Rutter back in 2023.
As can be seen, Bakwa has been compared to Harrison, James and even summer transfer target Igor Paixao by Football Transfers, and Leeds ultimately missed out on his services.
AC Milan consultant Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hit back at fierce criticism of Portuguese winger Rafael Leao, hailing him as "magic" and an undisputed world-class talent in world football. In a passionate defence, Ibrahimovic dismissed concerns over the 26-year-old's form and attitude, reminding critics that Leao "won a Scudetto all by himself."
Ibrahimovic leaps to Leao's defence
Ibrahimovic has launched a staunch defence of under-fire Milan forward, labelling the Portuguese star as "magic" and crediting him with single-handedly winning the 2021-22 Serie A title – a campaign the Swedish icon was part of. Speaking to , Ibrahimovic, in his capacity as a club consultant, dismissed the recent wave of criticism aimed at the winger.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLeao facing intense criticism over form and attitude
Leao has been the subject of fierce debate in the Italian media over his recent performances, with critics questioning his work rate and overall consistency. The former Sporting CP player missed the first few weeks of the Serie A campaign with an injury but made headlines by missing two key chances in the recent goalless draw against Juventus. That display reportedly resulted in a dressing down from coach Massimiliano Allegri in the team changing room after the game, and Ibrahimovic has given an insight into the confrontation.
What Ibrahimovic said about Leao's 'magic'
"I was in the locker room. Everyone was angry, everyone, Allegri, because we could have won," he said. "And even Leao, who had missed two goals. Let's remember that during pre-season he was the best, then he was out for two months, now he has to get back in shape. Of course, we expect magic, because Leao is magic! Of course, we'll always talk about him, because he's one of the best players in the world, and I'm not saying this for marketing purposes, but because I played football. I saw him as a kid, now he has two children: it's a journey. They say he's already 26, but I matured at 28. And anyway, when we won the Scudetto, I can say he won it all by himself."
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Getty ImagesWhat next for Leao and AC Milan?
Ibrahimovic's public backing will provide a significant boost for Leao as he heads into the next block of fixtures after the international break. However, the focus will now shift to the player to respond on the pitch and deliver the consistent, match-winning performances that manager Allegri requires. With AC Milan aiming to compete on all fronts, Leao's ability to rediscover the "magic" Ibrahimovic praised will be critical to their success this season.
MatériaMais Notícias
O Palmeiras foi acusado de “calote” por parte do presidente do River Plate-URU. Isso porque, segundo o mandatário, o Verdão não teria pago as parcelas da contratação de Piquerez, que chegou ao clube em 2021. No entanto, o Alviverde nega qualquer dívida com o clube uruguaio e afirma que todo o pagamento está em dia junto ao Peñarol-URU, que é quem recebe os valores.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Piquerez foi contratado em meados de 2021 junto ao clube uruguaio por 3,8 milhões de dólares (R$ 19,77 milhões na cotação da época).No acordo, a quantia seria dividida em três clubes: o Peñarol-URU, o River Plate-URU e o Defensor-URU. Acontece que Fabián Motta, presidente do River, diz não ter recebido sua parte até agora.
+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!
– Piquerez foi para o Palmeiras há dois anos, foi campeão da América, joga todos os jogos e o Palmeiras ainda não pagou os clubes – disse o cartola uruguaio para a Rádio Sport890.
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Segundo apurou a reportagem, o Palmeiras não tem relação direta com o River Plate-URU. Os pagamentos são feitos ao Peñarol-URU, que deveria fazer essa ponte para dividir a quantia aos outros dois clubes envolvidos. Ainda de acordo com o Verdão, todas as parcelas estão em dia e o que estava devido já foi pago. No dia 30 de julho, mais uma parcela da contratação vencerá.
+ Palmeiras quita dívida com o Peñarol por Piquerez e se livra de punição na Fifa
Em junho deste ano, o Alviverde precisou quitar uma dívida de 1,1 milhão de dólares (R$ 5,3 milhões na cotação da época), referente a uma parcela atrasada de 2022. Embora o Palmeiras tenha procurado um acordo com o Penãrol para evitar a ida da questão para a Fifa, o clube uruguaio optou pelo processo na entidade máxima do futebol mundial, que deu ganho de causa aos uruguaios e determinou um prazo de até 45 dias para os dirigentes palmeirenses pagarem o devido, mas a medida fui cumprida em cerca de um mês.
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O lateral-esquerdo está há quase dois anos no Palmeiras, período no qual disputou 102 jogos e marcou cinco gols. Além disso, conquistou seis títulos pelo clube: uma Libertadores (2021), um Brasileirão (2022), dois Paulistas (2022 e 2023), uma Recopa (2022) e uma Supercopa (2023). O contrato de Piquerez com o Verdão é até dezembro de 2025.
MI posted the joint-highest IPL total in Jaipur and never gave the hosts a chance in the chase
Alagappan Muthu01-May-20255:35
What all went wrong for Rajasthan Royals this IPL?
Mumbai Indians (MI) came into this game having never won in Jaipur since 2012. They must not have liked that very much because first, they posted the joint-highest IPL total at this ground, then trounced Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 100 runs and finally got back up on their perch on top of the points table. RR, meanwhile, were knocked out of the playoffs race.The half-centurions: Rohit and RickeltonThe first three overs were eerily quiet. Just 16 runs came off them and Rohit Sharma survived an lbw dismissal thanks to a very late call for DRS. “Ooooooh YESSSS,” he said, throwing his head back and smiling as he saw green instead of red on ball-tracking.Related
Did Rajasthan Royals pay the price for a faulty retention and auction strategy?
Rohit sends a warning to the bowlers with an un-Rohit knock
Stats – Mumbai Indians' first win in Jaipur in the IPL since 2012
Parag bemoans 'a lot of small errors' after RR get hit by knockout punch
A switch must have flicked because the last three overs of the powerplay went for 42. Rohit’s runs were almost secondary to the way he was batting. He figured out what Jofra Archer was trying to do with both his boundary riders on the leg side. Bowl straight. So he made room and immediately a ball on top of leg stump became cuttable. He cut it for four.RR tried taking pace off but Maheesh Theekshana and Fazalhaq Farooqi were both too full. Once again, Rohit moved to leg and opened up unguarded parts of the off side. Clear methods. Lovely timing. Smooth progress. He went past 6000 runs for MI.At the other end, RR tried to take away Ryan Rickelton’s arms, cramping him with their lines. But he one-upped them with his short-arm pulls. Then they tried their slower balls into the pitch, but the batter held his shape nicely and swung through. He was being asked to hit to the long leg-side boundary. He took up the challenge and cleared it. Rickelton made 34 of his first 51 runs on the leg side in just nine balls.SKY impact1:59
Decoding Suryakumar’s art of hitting behind square
The opening partnership broke at a good time for MI because it still left 8.1 overs for Suryakumar Yadav to have an influence. His team had set him up – 116 runs were already on the board – so he wasted no time. Suryakumar attacked six of the first seven balls he faced. The one he didn’t was one he couldn’t. It was wide, a mistake that he invites from the bowlers as they try to keep it off his hitting arc.Suryakumar finished with 48 not out, an IPL record considering it was his 11 consecutive score of 25 or more. In an innings full of intent – he tried to hit a boundary off every other ball he faced – 13 attempts in 23 deliveries – there was always going to be jaw-dropping moments and one of those happened in the 19th over when he nailed a full-speed Archer attempted yorker which became a full toss for four over short fine. He was rolling around on the floor, bat out of his hands, but he had done the job.Hardik Pandya was just as destructive. His methods involve staying deep in the crease and exploiting the balls that miss the blockhole. He hit Farooqi for three fours and a six in the 18th over, over the course of a third-wicket partnership that yielded 94 runs in 44 balls. This was the first time four MI batters had made 40-plus in the same innings in the IPL.The big wicketCricket had the chance to avoid a cliche tonight. But it didn’t even try. The last time RR had to chase down a 200-plus total, IPL history was made with 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi scoring a 35-ball century. Here, the first time he goes for a big shot, he got out for a duck. This game just can’t help but be a leveller.A measure of the lasting impact of that innings was the Jaipur crowd having their hands on their heads and the MI coach punching the air in the dugout. Men celebrating a boy’s downfall but he is no ordinary boy.Boult and Bumrah magic1:43
Chopra: No apparent weaknesses in this MI side
Trent Boult began his work getting hit for sixes. It didn’t faze him. He has 115 games’ worth of experience and 68 distinct moments that prove just how good he is with the new ball in the IPL. He added Yashasvi Jaiswal to his ever-growing list of powerplay wickets and enjoyed it so much he indulged in a one-handed, finger-gun send-off.At the other end, Jasprit Bumrah came on and peppered Riyan Parag with bouncers. When the batter tried to take him on, he couldn’t get his hands high enough to control the pull shot. Even as the ball was still up in the air, Parag shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “did I even have a chance?” Bumrah bowled nine short balls and conceded just one run.This was the third time this season that MI had picked up four or more wickets in the first six overs. (KKR home, SRH away, RR away). They had only taken five in their other eight games.RR came out of the field restrictions with a score of 47 for 5. At the timeout, Hardik stood in the middle of an MI huddle and some amateur lip-reading was enough to see him say “finish them”. His bowlers took those words to heart. RR were bowled out for 117 in 16.1 overs. Archer was their top-scorer and their highest partnership came for the 10th wicket.
An “incredible” star turned down a late move to Aston Villa after they expressed a willingness to fork out £43m, it has been revealed.
Villa in need of fresh injection of quality
Emery has undoubtedly done a fantastic job at Villa, turning around the club’s fortunes by leading them to the Champions League and the Europa League, but the manager clearly needs a fresh injection of quality in his squad.
It has been a slow start to the season for the Villans, losing two and drawing one of their opening three Premier League games, during which time they failed to score a single goal, which meant it was a busy deadline day for Emery.
Perhaps in light of his side’s attacking issues in the first three matches, the Spaniard opted to bring in two new attackers, with winger Jadon Sancho arriving on loan from Manchester United, alongside Liverpool attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott.
However, one position in which Aston Villa were unable to strengthen was between the sticks, and in the end they didn’t need to, with Emiliano Martinez remaining at the club.
It has since been widely reported that Martinez was actively seeking a deadline day move to Manchester United, phoning international teammate Lisandro Martinez to advocate for him, but the Red Devils ended up signing Senne Lammens instead.
With the Argentinian seeking a departure, Villa were looking to bring in a replacement, and a report from Record (via Sport Witness) has revealed they agreed to shell out €50m (£43m) for FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Aston Villa struck gold on "machine" who's worth more than Elliott & Sancho
Aston Villa have certainly hit gold on this unbelievable star, who is worth more than both new recruits Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho.
ByKelan Sarson Sep 2, 2025
Costa was being targeted as a replacement for Martinez, but Emery’s side were unable to get a deal over the line, with the Portuguese shot-stopper rejecting a move to Villa Park in the final days of the window.
"Incredible" Costa could have been ideal Martinez replacement
Ultimately, Emery didn’t need to bring in an immediate replacement for Martinez, with a move to United failing to transpire, but it remains to be seen whether the Argentina international has a long-term future at the club.
The 33-year-old was clearly agitating for a move on deadline day, and in some ways it is disappointing that a deal didn’t go through, given that there is little point keeping a wantaway player on the books.
Not only that, but missing out on the Porto goalkeeper is a blow for Emery, given that the 25-year-old has put in some top-quality performances during his time with his boyhood club.
Having also amassed 36 caps for national side Portugal, and been described as “incredible” by compatriot Diogo Dalot, Costa could’ve been an ideal long-term replacement for Martinez, but Aston Villa will now have to wait until January at the earliest to pursue a deal.
India duo take accolades in latest edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, published on Tuesday
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-2025
Smriti Mandhana and Jasprit Bumrah – Wisden’s Leading Cricketers in the World•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Jasprit Bumrah, India’s all-formats fast bowler, has been hailed as the Leading Men’s Cricketer in the World in the 2025 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, which is published on Tuesday.Bumrah, who capped his performances in 2024 by becoming the first Test bowler in history to claim 200 wickets at an average of less than 20 each, is described by ‘s editor Lawrence Booth as “quite simply the star of the year”. In total, he claimed 71 Test wickets at less than 15 each, while also bowling India to glory in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in June.Reflecting on Bumrah’s immense performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, in which he almost single-handedly carried India’s attack with 32 wickets at 13.06, Booth wrote: “He was so lethal, so uniquely challenging – a stacatto of limbs somehow forming a symphony – that runs scored off him should have counted double … he laid a claim to be considered the greatest of all time.”Bumrah’s compatriot, Smriti Mandhana, made it an India double by being named as Wisden’s Leading Women’s Cricketer in the World. Mandhana scored 1659 runs across formats in 2024 – the most by a woman in a calendar year of international cricket – including four ODI hundreds, which was another record. She capped her efforts with a second Test century, 149, in a ten-wicket win over South Africa in June.Nicholas Pooran was named as the Leading T20 Player in the World, while there was a strong Surrey theme to ‘s oldest awards – the Five Cricketers of the Year, an honour that a player can only win once in their career and which are judged by their performance during the English home season.Three of the players who helped land Surrey their third consecutive County Championship title – Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Dan Worrall – are named among this year’s quintet, while Hampshire’s Liam Dawson and Sophie Ecclestone, England Women’s left-arm spinner, complete the set.Australia-born Worrall, who qualifies as an England player this summer, was central to Surrey’s success, claiming 52 wickets at an average of just 16 with his accurate, aggressive seamers. For Atkinson and Smith, however, their most notable performances came in their maiden summer as Test cricketers.Atkinson was England’s breakout star of the year, particularly at Lord’s, where he claimed 12 wickets on debut against West Indies, then a second five-for as well as a remarkable maiden century from No. 8 against Sri Lanka later in the summer. A hat-trick against New Zealand at Wellington helped him to 52 wickets at just 22 each in his first year as a Test cricketer.Harry Brook features on the front cover of the 2025 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack•John Wisden & Co
Dawson, meanwhile, claimed 54 Championship wickets for Hampshire with his left-arm spin, and scored 956 runs at almost 60, with Booth stating that “there was no more effective all-rounder in county cricket”.Ecclestone, who endured a difficult winter at the T20 World Cup and the Women’s Ashes, nevertheless excelled in England’s unbeaten home summer. In addition to becoming her country’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, she contributed 26 wickets across formats at under 10 each, and proved impressively frugal, conceding her runs at less than three an over.The Wisden Trophy for the year’s outstanding performance went to New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner. He claimed a matchwinning 13-wicket haul against India in the second Test at Pune, as New Zealand sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in their Test series against India. Not only was this India’s first home series defeat since December 2012, the Kiwis also went on to claim a 3-0 whitewash, making it one of the greatest series wins of all time.In his annual Notes by the Editor, Booth takes aim at the sport’s global governance, labelling 2024 as the year “cricket gave up any claim to being properly administered”.In particular, he highlights Jay Shah’s overnight switch in December from honorary secretary of the BCCI to the role of ICC chair, even while the two boards were still at loggerheads over the venue allocations for the Champions Trophy that was due to be hosted by Pakistan in February.Booth also urges the ICC to devise a World Test Championship that is fit for purpose, describing the upcoming final between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s as a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.And while he congratulates the ECB on the windfall generated by the recent Hundred equity sale – with an anticipated £29 million set to be allocated to each of the 11 non-host counties – Booth adds a note of caution.”If The Hundred is to be judged solely on the bottom line, the ECB deserve a pat on the back … but, amid the jubilation, there was still – just about – room for scepticism. No matter how well the non-host counties have done from the arrangement, the gap with the host counties will eventually grow. And, though the ECB hope to expand the competition, what happens if the initial investment runs out? We are heading for utopia or dystopia, depending on your view.”This year’s Almanack also salutes James Anderson, who retired from Test cricket in July after 21 years and an England record 704 wickets, and pays tribute to two greats of English cricket who died in 2024.Derek Underwood is remembered by his former England captain, Mike Brearley, while Graham Thorpe, who tragically took his own life in August, is the subject of a moving piece by his widow, Amanda, who opens up on his mental-health struggles.”It’s so hard for those of us who do not suffer from this to understand how and why it occurs,” Amanda Thorpe writes. “For it to happen to Graham, who was essentially a happy person, is a lesson for us all. He tried many therapies and medications – he tried so hard to beat it… He also felt immense shame about how he was, but of course there should be no stigma to suffering as he did. Having watched it play out, I could see it is a physical illness – and it is real. It felt like he was in the grip of a sickness he just couldn’t get out of.”
If Arsenal’s victory over Nottingham Forest was about sweeping joyous football and a team that reminded us of 2022/23, the 2-0 win over Athletic Club in the Champions League was more about attrition.
It was a reminder of the progress and changes Mikel Arteta has made to his team since 2022. Arsenal are more stern; they’re difficult to break down and it’s about trying to find a way to win at all costs. They did that in Bilbao on Tuesday evening.
This was not their finest performance in Europe over the last few years, far from it, but they found a way and their ability to get over the line courtesy of their impressive defence was seen again.
This was the Basque club’s first game in the Champions League for 11 years. The first time the euphoric theme song had been played inside their stadium for over a decade. It was never going to be an easy tie. It proved just that.
Ultimately, the north Londoners left it late but headed back to the English capital with a pair of substitutes to thank. This time it wasn’t about the shiny new toys, as it was against Forest. This time, it was two of the old guard who rescued Arsenal.
Heading into this clash, Arteta made just one change to his starting XI, which saw Declan Rice come into the team at the expense of the injured Martin Odegaard.
There was perhaps a surprise in defence too. Riccardo Calafiori, who spent a lot of last season out with injury, played his fifth game in a row, starting ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly and new signing Piero Hincapie.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
It’s evident Arteta really values the way the Italian can drive forward and invert from left-back.
A lot of the praise come full-time was deservedly sent the way of Calafiori and his fellow defenders, not least Cristhian Mosquera, who continues to go from strength to strength in Arsenal colours.
William Saliba, who? The young Spaniard has ensured that Saliba’s injury hasn’t impacted the side at all.
While the hosts did not dominate possession, they had their spells in the game, but ultimately they came to very little. Gabriel and Mosquera were titans at the back, the former winning five of his six duels and the latter winning seven of his 13 battles.
It was perhaps up front where the Gunners struggled most on this occasion.
A few days ago, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke dazzled as they defeated Ange Postecoglou’s men but on this occasion, they found it more difficult.
Madueke was still a consistent threat, attempting four dribbles but unlike Forest, he struggled to create. He provided five key passes a few days ago but none on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Eze really found his work difficult. He made one key pass and didn’t have a shot. His magic abilities were limited but he will no doubt have brighter nights in Europe this season.
What that meant is that with just under 20 minutes to go, Arteta needed a rescue act. He got that courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
With Madueke and Eze entering the building, it looked like their days as regular starters were numbered but they issued a reminder on Tuesday night that they are still part of this squad.
Within 36 seconds of coming on Martinelli showed he’s made for European away nights, bursting clear of the Bilbao defence before coolly slotting the ball past Unai Simon having been subbed on for Eze.
Martinelli was involved in the second goal too, acting as the supply line for Trossard who scored his first goal of the campaign with just three minutes to go.
It was a difficult night for the Gunners, one where they had to suffer, and it was made trickier by the midfield three.
Against Liverpool a few weeks ago, a match in which Arsenal set up tactically in a similar fashion to Tuesday evening on the continent, Arteta selected a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Rice.
For Zubimendi and Merino, this week’s clash was one with extra narrative. Once of Real Sociedad, they were heading back to the club’s rivals. They knew what this game and type of atmosphere would bring.
Unfortunately, they struggled to make much of an imprint on the game. Merino was perhaps the biggest culprit in that regard.
Merino’s time at Arsenal has been curious. In midfield, he’s showcased his technical ability but also his flaws. It’s actually up front where he’s shone most, notably scoring six times towards the back end of last season when operating as an emergency striker.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He has showcased he can do it from deeper areas too, scoring a hat-trick for Spain against Turkey over the international break.
However, he had no such joy in Bilbao on Tuesday. In fact, Arteta should have picked a more creative outlet with Odegaard out injured, perhaps Ethan Nwaneri.
|
Merino vs Bilbao |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
90 |
|
Touches |
40 |
|
Accurate passes |
21/28 (75%) |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Accurate crosses |
0 |
|
Shots |
1 |
|
Dribbles |
0 |
|
Ground duels won |
2/6 |
|
Aerial duels won |
3/7 |
|
Possession lost |
11x |
|
Fouls |
3 |
|
Stats via Sofascore. |
|
Fielded in the ‘Odegaard role’, the 29-year-old struggled to get on the ball much, ultimately having just 40 touches, 16 fewer than goalkeeper David Raya, not what you want from a midfielder on a big night in Europe.
Described as “clunky” by the Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid, with those touches, he completed just 75% of his passes. Only one of those passes transpired into a key pass or a goalscoring opportunity.
Usually heralded as something of a duel monster, Merino struggled in this capacity too.
The Spaniard won just two of his six ground duels. He also only won three of his seven aerial battles. This wasn’t a good night for him and Arteta must consider dropping him to the bench when they take on Manchester City this weekend.
Merino and Rice as the two 8s in this team simply doesn’t work. They are fantastic players, but they look a lot better when paired with someone more creative.
Arteta must heed that warning against Man City, or else it may be another struggle for Arsenal to create. Stable and tenacious Merino may be, but his influence on this Arsenal team wanes significantly when he plays in Odegaard’s position. It must not happen again.
They lost the ball 25x: Arteta must never start Arsenal duo together again
Arsenal sealed a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in their opening Champions League clash of the season.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
Sep 16, 2025
A former Manchester United player has accused Marcus Rashford of being 'lazy' and 'letting his team-mates at Old Trafford down', with the forward's resurgence at Barcelona dismissed. Rashford has rediscovered himself in Catalonia this season after completing a loan move from United. He had fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim and was included in the manager's 'bomb squad' during pre-season.
Rashford's resurgence at Barcelona
Things started to turn ugly between Rashford and Amorim after the striker revealed in an explosive interview in December 2024 that he wanted to move away from his boyhood club. When the transfer window reopened in January, the Red Devils shipped him off on loan to Aston Villa as he was deemed surplus to the Portuguese coach's needs. Rashford enjoyed an impressive stint under Unai Emery in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign as he started to regain his old form at Villa Park.
However, after an injury the 27-year-old returned to Old Trafford in the summer but he was informed that he still does not feature in Amorim's plans. Along with other United outcasts like Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony, Rashford was placed in the so-called 'bomb squad' – a group of players who were up for sale and therefore banned from training with the first team. This prompted Rashford to secure a loan move to Barcelona ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The English forward has so far enjoyed an impressive spell at the Catalan club and he regularly features in Hansi Flick's starting line-up. Rashford has already recorded five goals and as many assists in 12 matches across all competitions, including his latest double in the club's 6-1 thrashing of Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportEx-United star slams Rashford
Despite his recent resurgence with the Blaugrana, former United defender Paul Parker slammed Rashford as he accused the England international of being "lazy" and 'letting his team-mates down' during his time at Old Trafford.
Speaking to , Parker said: "He let his team-mates down. He was lazy, he didn’t do anything. He’s got a lot to prove if he comes back to England. How many players in the UK would trust him if he played for their team? We know it, the answer is no-one. They would never say it, but they would be feeling it inside. It was life and death when I played, and that should have been inbuilt in him, but it isn’t.
"He has done alright, but I don’t think he is in Barcelona’s ideal starting 11. Will he start in a Champions League final with Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski? I think the answer is no. He doesn’t start. Everything about Marcus Rashford seems to be about politics, to be honest."
'Rashford put himself in a bad position'
Parker further claimed that Rashford did not give his all to his boyhood club as he added: "Rashford put himself in a bad position where he didn’t know what to do. If you can’t give everything for your boyhood club and you are willing to let down the rest of the team, then that says a lot about you. If you can’t do it at the club you have been at since you were a kid, even saying you support that team and love the city where you have been brought up.. If you can’t deliver for them and let your teammates down on numerous occasions, then you are in a very bad position. Then he went to Aston Villa and the media claimed he did well, but did he do better than Ollie Watkins? No. Did he do any better than Jacob Ramsey? No. But he was sold that way because the narrative was to put pressure on Man Utd."
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Getty Images SportRashford preparing to compete in first-ever El Clasico
After a stunning performance against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday, where he operated as a No.9 in Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres' absence, Rashford will now aim to bring out his best in the first Clasico of his career as the Catalan giants visit the Santiago Bernabeu this Sunday to face arch-rivals Real Madrid.