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It’s a format where you need a slice of luck to be able to showcase your skill, which Abhishek did, and how!

Karthik Krishnaswamy13-Apr-20251:54

Jaffer: Abhishek has given SRH a new lease of life

“He was a bit lucky as well, even though he played an exceptional knock which was out of this world, to be honest.”This was Shreyas Iyer, interviewed immediately after his team, Punjab Kings (PBKS), had suffered an extraordinary defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who had chased down 246 with nine balls to spare courtesy a 55-ball 141 from Abhishek Sharma.If you hadn’t watched the match, Iyer’s words may have come across as a little churlish, a losing captain’s immediate reaction to losing a match from a position of immense strength.As a description of this innings, though, it was spot-on. Abhishek played an exceptional, out-of-this-world knock. He was also lucky. More than a bit.Related

• Chahal 'the main puzzle Punjab Kings need to solve' in quest for playoffs

• 'Felt today was going to be my day' – Abhishek dedicates century to Orange Army

• Stats – Abhishek Sharma smashes the highest IPL score by an Indian

• Abhishek Sharma's whirlwind 141 leads SRH to second-highest IPL chase

We’ll come to the luck, but first, a recap of Abhishek’s form coming into this game. His last four innings had brought him scores of 6, 1, 2 and 18. Abhishek’s top-order colleagues had also experienced lean runs over these four games, and SRH had lost all of them. At the start of IPL 2025, much of the talk surrounding SRH revolved around whether they could break the 300 barrier. Five games into the season, they had just one win and had lost more powerplay wickets (12) than anyone else. The approach of their top order, which had driven them to so many stratospheric totals, was now coming into question.Even SRH’s head coach seemed to be feeling the heat. He wasn’t yet asking his batters to tone down their aggression, but he was asking them to “respect conditions”, and “respect how well other teams are bowling”.As things turned out, those options weren’t exactly open to SRH when they began their innings on Saturday. They had just been asked to pull off the second-biggest chase in IPL history.This was the kind of chase that called for frantic boundary-hitting. It also called for a bit of luck.And luck smiled on SRH from the start. Both their openers got off the mark with boundaries that went in unintended directions, Abhishek’s via a slice to the deep-third boundary. And Abhishek hit his next ball in the air, over the fielder at short cover, where the leaping Marcus Stoinis only managed to get his fingertips to the ball.How good do you have to be for an opposition quick to give you a warm hug?•Getty ImagesLuck. It has four letters, but cricket discourse tends to treat it like a four-letter word, something to be spoken of in whispers, if spoken of at all. It has a significant influence on the fortunes (a revealing word in itself) of players and teams, but to talk about luck is to risk being accused of downplaying skill and effort.Let’s talk about luck, then, but let’s talk about both kinds of luck. Go back to Abhishek’s four previous innings before this one: 6, 1, 2, 18. A lot of things went into those scores: the bowlers and conditions he faced, the oppositions’ plans and how they were executed, and so forth, and also luck. Over those four innings, he only played seven false shots, and they brought about three dismissals. That’s outrageously bad luck by itself, before you factor in how his other dismissal came about: a mix-up when he was at the non-striker’s end.Abhishek was due a bit of luck when he began his innings against PBKS. And so were his top-order colleagues. Travis Head had been dismissed four times off 15 false shots, and the desperately unlucky Ishan Kishan four times off eight false shots.It’s unusual for every member of a top three to endure this sort of wretched luck at the same time. Perhaps SRH’s issues coming into this game didn’t stem from their approach, or not respecting conditions and their opponents’ plans. Perhaps they had just been plain unlucky.SRH were due a bit of luck, then, and they found it on Saturday. Abhishek was the biggest recipient, surviving seven false shots within the powerplay alone, including that chance to Stoinis and a catch at the backward-point boundary in the fourth over when Yash Thakur overstepped. The luck extended beyond the powerplay too, with mishits falling into no-man’s land multiple times, and a high, swirling chance that Yuzvendra Chahal couldn’t quite hold on to after aborting his follow-through and running towards the mid-on region.2:44

When everything comes together as it did on this surreal Saturday, Abhishek Sharma can make things look absurdly easy

Luck. It isn’t the opposite of skill, but as a batter, you sometimes need one to be able to showcase the other.Showcase was just what Abhishek did. Take the two balls either side of the Thakur no-ball, both hit for effortless sixes over the on side. Both balls were angled across Abhishek, one pitching on a good length and finishing around the top of off stump, and the other full enough to deny most batters elevation. He made light of the difficulty of working against the angle and slightly inconvenient lengths, putting both balls away with mere flicks of his wrist.Both these shots came within the first ten balls Abhishek faced. He’s made a habit of playing these types of shots early in his innings, and it perhaps takes a run of bad luck to truly appreciate how difficult it is to get off to starts like he does.His opening partner Head is blessed with this rare ability too, but even he wasn’t his usual self on Saturday; he went as far as leaving alone two of the first three balls he faced. It’s possible that the low scores and defeats leading up to this game had some effect on how he started.”Giving ourselves a chance,” Head said, when asked what he had discussed with Abhishek before SRH began their chase. “I was probably a little bit more patient in the first couple of overs in this game. They’ve got a quality couple of new-ball bowlers, I knew the sort of plans they were going to come [with]. Yeah, probably a little bit more quiet, and Abhi got off to a flier. So just trying to support him as much as I can.”You’ve got to be some player to make Travis Head, of all people, take on a supporting role.

“They had a pretty good plan for us, outside off [stump], but I just wanted to invent a few shots, which I think was very easy on this pitch because of the bounce and the size of one side”Abhishek Sharma

You’ve got to be some player to take a good-length ball from wide outside off stump and helicopter it 106m over midwicket. You’ve got to be some player to do this against a bowler as tall and bouncy as Marco Jansen. Abhishek played this shot because PBKS were trying to force him to hit to the longer square boundary on the off side, and he wasn’t going to let their plans constrain him.There were even two occasions – off Jansen and then Thakur – when he walked right across his stumps, exposed all three, and clipped yorker-length balls to the fine-leg boundary.”If you’ve seen me close enough, I never play anything behind the wicket, but still I was trying a few shots,” Abhishek said during his Player-of-the-Match interview. “They had a pretty good plan for us, outside off [stump], but I just wanted to invent a few shots, which I think was very easy on this pitch because of the bounce and the size of one side.”Yes, this was a beautiful pitch to bat on, and yes, Abhishek was hitting these shots to the smaller boundary. But no, they weren’t “very easy”. Not for most others.For Abhishek on this unreal day, though, anything seemed possible. SRH, chasing 246, became favourites nine overs into their innings, according to ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster. Six balls later, their win probability had climbed to 79.38%.Abhishek Sharma finished on 141 off 55 balls, the highest individual score for an Indian at the IPL•Getty ImagesBy this stage, Abhishek had already reached 87. Three overs later, he went from 98 to 100 with an utterly uncharacteristic pair of clipped singles to long-on. Despite that hint of slowing down as he neared the landmark, he had brought it up in just 40 balls.To get to a century at that rate demands sustained risk-taking, and pulling it off demands an extraordinary amount of skill – and, sometimes, a little bit of luck. This was Abhishek’s third T20 hundred in 40 or fewer balls; no one else has done it as many times, and only three other batters have even done it twice.For a batter to score big and quick and do it on multiple occasions requires an ability to hit boundaries from the get-go and sustain that momentum through an innings, against pace and spin, within the powerplay and outside it. Abhishek can do all of that. And he has the self-belief to keep backing his methods even when he’s gone through streaks of low scores and rotten luck.When everything comes together as it did on this surreal Saturday, Abhishek can make things look absurdly easy. Don’t ever let that fool you.

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was all sorts of fired up after mowing down Addison Barger for his MLB-leading 171st strikeout of the season—and rightfully so.

Facing a one-out, bases-loaded jam in a 0-0 game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, Skubal forced catcher Tyler Heineman into a fielder's choice before making light work of the third baseman Barger, taking him down on four pitches—capped by the 101-mph fastball below to end the inning.

Take a look at the pitch here, which includes Skubal's electric reaction:

Unfortunately, Skubal was pulled after his dominant finish to the sixth inning, and Tigers reliever Will Vest gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Toronto took a 2-0 lead.

We'll always have Skubal's reaction, though.

The Blue Jays, winners of their last three, currently hold the best record in MLB at 62-42 while the Tigers—60-45—sit atop the American League Central with an eight-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians.

Unfettered attitude to risk and reward both makes and breaks a memorably chaotic innings

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Jun-2025

A dejected Harry Brook walks back on 99•Getty Images

Harry Brook does not really celebrate centuries. He has always considered that a bit uncouth. Though only 26, he’s an old soul, very much from the “but that’s your job” school of thought when it comes to lauding your output as a batter.Even so, it was hardly surprising that his reaction to missing out on a ninth Test century revealed a cocktail of emotions. Annoyance, as he gave himself a facepalm, head tilted to the sky. Anger, revealed by the dramatic arch of the back, as if about to spit an expletive to the moon.The milestone would have been nice, of course, particularly as one of Yorkshire’s own, and given that he had probably deserved one in front of his home ground when he all but took England home here in the 2023 Ashes. But most of all, you felt his reaction reflected the dereliction of duty he felt, with this current match situation very much in the balance.Related

• Bumrah shoulders heavy load to underscore what India will miss

• Brook 99 and Bumrah five-for set up one-innings thrash

• Bumrah draws level with Kapil Dev; Brook gets lucky again

• Pope determined to deliver 'runs after runs after runs' following Headingley ton

England were still 73 behind, but now with only three wickets left to make up that difference. Such is the talent in his hands and feet that many in the England dressing room were quietly wondering about the healthy position they might be in if he were to go on for another hour. But then, Prasidh Krishna dug one in short, and the narrative changed.Brook’s periscope pull felt straight to Shardul Thakur at deep fine-leg. It was an ego pull compared to the idiotic one he had played to midwicket in the last over of day two when on nought, only for it to be scrubbed from the records after Jasprit Bumrah was found to have overstepped. But thankfully for England, this dismissal did not derail the momentum of their innings, as they finished just six behind India’s 471.The novelty of getting out on 99 might grow on Brook, particularly as it is the first time he has been dismissed in the 90s across 322 professional innings. His tenth century across formats for England might not have drawn more than a cursory removal of the helmet and raise of the bat, but Headingley’s congregation had been waiting patiently for their boy’s moment. They had to make do with some cursory applause instead as he slumped off, now aiming any expletives at the ground beneath his feet.Brook’s innings was a helix of brilliance and nonsense, a contradiction of dominant gallops out of the crease and anxiety-reducing risks that contributed to the 13 boundaries that littered his day-three work. It was good without being great, but all the more memorable for the bad bits.5:39

Manjrekar: ‘All possibilities open’ in the last two days

He had every right to feel aggrieved at it being cut short, but Brook already owed a debt of gratitude to Bumrah’s overstep, without which it would have ended after nine deliveries. He breathed again after 62 balls, when a sliver of an edge off Ravindra Jadeja was missed by Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.Brook’s control percentage across his 112-ball innings was 80%, which seems high until you accept that he was technically in control of the shot that brought about his dismissal – ironically, he had rolled his wrists on the shot to keep it down, when the better option might have been to launch it skywards and clear the stands. The deliberate wristy flick off his 103rd ball that broke through Yashasvi Jaiswal’s hands at fourth slip was also executed “perfectly”.Bumrah was the unfortunate bowler for that one. He had sent Brook to bed last night with the stench of leather in his nostrils having fizzed a warning shot of what was to come on Sunday. Brook, though, came with a clear focus – he was not going to get got, he was going to go get.Krishna was pumped square, then dumped into the stands at straight midwicket at the end of the very first over. “Phwoar, where did that come from?” Ollie Pope later revealed he had said to himself, while watching from the other end.When Bumrah showed up again, Brook had two sighters before jumping out of his stance to land the first blow of this round. Having started again on 0 off 12, his first ten balls of the third morning had brought him back up to speed with 19 runs.The calculation of his second-new-ball assault was just that. Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were given the honours, and both were treated accordingly. Bumrah was, at least; Brook defended a few, found the odd single, and survived the error of the Jaiswal drop. Siraj, however, suddenly found himself embroiled in a ruckus.A dismissive slap through mid-on, a lash to point and an attempted charge-and-slap that only brought two was followed up with a hard-length ball, a stare and a few words for Brook. It’s worth noting Brook is not much of a talker. “He doesn’t want to chat,” revealed Pope of Brook’s habits out in the middle. “He might want to know which way it’s swinging, but that’s it.” And yet, his response was profound, thumping a ball from outside off so deep into the long-on stand that even Siraj was lost for words. That took him to 91, rounding on the inevitable century that never materialised.It is worth isolating Brook versus Bumrah, even if the bout did not end up affecting the scoreboard meaningfully, in either the runs or wickets column.The catch off a no-ball and that drop off a legal ball came after 28 deliveries in all, with just 11 runs scored. But one of those deliveries – that charging four at the start of the day, Brook’s only boundary off Bumrah – was perhaps his most meaningful. “If I can do this to you,” Brook seemed to be saying, “imagine what I can do to the rest of your attack?”Jasprit Bumrah reacts after Yashasvi Jaiswal reprieves Brook•Getty ImagesBrook didn’t do it again, but the message had been heard loud and clear. Even by Bumrah.”He makes you think as well,” Bumrah said at the close. “You know he can play an aggressive shot and sometimes he can shut shop as well and try to negate if somebody’s bowling a good spell. So yeah, he played really well.”I think fate had decided 99 for him!” he added. “He assessed conditions and, you know, he fancies his game and plays an aggressive style of cricket.”If all that sounds familiar, it is because England’s batters, their captain and their head coach constantly talk about doing exactly that. Rarely, though, do they get it right. And even here, Brook did not.But for a bowler of Bumrah’s ilk to notice the intent, even amid the flaws, speaks to a very real truth. Joe Root is the sole great, Ben Duckett the most expressive, and Ollie Pope their only centurion in this Test so far, but Harry Brook is the totem of this English batting group.

One European club is now ready to launch a move to sign a big-money Liverpool star in 2026, despite facing competition from the Saudi Pro League.

Slot expects "aggressive" Leeds vs Liverpool

Despite Wednesday night’s timid draw against Sunderland at Anfield, Arne Slot was in good spirits ahead of Liverpool’s next game against Leeds United this weekend. The Reds will be looking to stretch their mini-unbeaten run to three games in the same week, but must also get back to winning ways after Wednesday.

On paper, a trip to newly-promoted Leeds looks routine and once upon a time it was exactly that for the Reds. Those days, for the time being, are gone, however, and the Premier League champions are now set to square off against a side who could physically outmatch them once again.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Slot admitted that he expects to face an “aggressive” Leeds side: “Yesterday I looked at Leeds v Chelsea and I thought I saw a Liverpool game; Chelsea conceding a set-piece and for the third goal making a big, big error where they conceded a goal from. [It was] very difficult for them.

“Either Leeds went very aggressive to one-v-one or they went to a low block and it was really hard to create chances. It’s not only difficult for us, that playing style, it’s difficult for many teams – including us.”

It’s been the story of Liverpool’s season so far. Whenever they’ve encountered physicality, the Premier League champions have simply been bullied.

Something had to change and that has seen Mohamed Salah sacrificed. The struggling Egyptian has not started either of Liverpool’s last two games and reports suggest he could yet leave the club in 2026.

Galatasaray ready to launch Salah bid

According to reports in Spain, Galatasaray are now ready to launch their bid to sign Salah next year. The Turkish giants are looking to take full advantage of the winger’s situation and will reportedly aim to beat clubs in Saudi Arabia to his signature.

Whether Liverpool are willing to sell Salah remains to be seen, though. The Anfield icon only signed a new two-year deal last season, which is set to expire in 2027, but they must ask themselves if he is now past the peak of his powers.

Van Dijk raves over "world-class" Liverpool star who has been "really bad"

Liverpool have not been at the races of late.

By
FFC Staff

Dec 5, 2025

Former centre-back, turned Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher certainly believes that’s the case, recently saying: “The catalyst for Liverpool at the very start of the run in 2018 with Jürgen Klopp was Alisson, Van Dijk and Salah.

“Alisson’s injured a lot now, he doesn’t play so much. But you watch Van Dijk now, not the same player, and Mo Salah looks like his legs have gone.”

The 33-year-old will be desperate to prove Carragher wrong and make his £21m-a-year contract worthwhile even if that is to be from the bench following Slot’s recent ruthlessness.

Huge Gakpo upgrade: £70m "superstar" now keen to join Liverpool in January

In an age of austerity throughout swaths of baseball, the San Diego Padres remain admirably aggressive—and this year is reportedly no different.

The Padres are zeroing in on three All-Star trade targets as Thursday's deadline approaches, according to a Wednesday evening report from Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal of . Per LIn and Rosenthal, San Diego is bidding for Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, and Athletics pitcher Mason MIller

All three of those players fall in the "young and controllable category." Duran, 28, is a year removed from an 8.7-bWAR season and is making south of $4 million in 2025. Two-time All-Star Kwan is due just over $4 million this year, while Miller is making just $765,000.

"Considering the top-heavy state of the Padres’ farm system, Preller might need to part with elite shortstop prospect Leo De Vries or well-regarded catching prospect Ethan Salas to acquire any of the above players," Lin and Rosenthal wrote.

San Diego is currently occupying the National League's final playoff spot, and leads the Cincinnati Reds by 3.5 games for that honor.

The winger, who has been a steady contributor for the MLS Cup hopefuls, talked to GOAL about his impressive season since returning to North America

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Emmanuel Sabbi knew Vancouver had what it takes from early on. All of the signs were there: a manager in Jesper Sorensen who was locked in and invested, a motivated squad, and a fanbase that was truly willing to get behind the team. 

"When I got here, I saw the firepower we had. It's been next man up mentality since Day 1, since I got here, and we've really shown that, and it looked prevalent early. You know, our coach demands a lot from us," he tells GOAL. 

But could he have ever hoped that they would be playing in MLS Cup? That's less certain. Still, the work has been put in:

"So it's just a testament of hard work, and the reality now is here," he says. 

And it's deserved, in truth. Vancouver started hot, stayed hot, and then got that extra piece in Thomas Muller to take them over the line. Sabbi, meanwhile, has been a mainstay. He tallied double-digit goal contributions with seven goals and three assists for the Whitecaps and has been a steady presence in attacking areas all year. Where that lands him remains to be seen. He has one cap for the USMNT. There could yet be others. But first, there is a trophy to win. And it's a big one.

Sabbi joined GOAL Convo, a weekly Q&A with central figures in North American soccer, and talked about Vancouver's improvement, playing against Lionel Messi, and why he hopes to be in the USMNT conversation in the future. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON PREPARING FOR THE FINAL

  GOAL: You're playing in MLS Cup, a massive final. What's going through your head?

  SABBI: Yeah, I didn't really know what I was coming to. But yeah, I'm here, talked to Jesper [Sorensen] and Ryan Gauld, and got a real gist of what Vancouver is like, and ultimately made my decision to come. And it's been a great season.

  GOAL: What has surprised you the most about playing in MLS?

  SABBI: The pace, honestly. The pace is really, really high here. There are great, tremendous players around and, yeah, it's very pacey here. So I really like that.

  GOAL: Do you think that suits your game?

  SABBI: Definitely. You've just got to get into it, right? I mean, I came, got a little injury, and then just had to get up to speed. And once I got up to speed, it was really amazing to be in MLS.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON CONTENDING FOR MLS CUP

  GOAL: When you came into the season, did you in the back of your mind say, 'MLS Cup is a reality,' or when did it start to really hit you that this is a contending team?

  SABBI: When I got here, I saw the firepower we had. It's been next man up mentality since Day 1, since I got here, and we've really shown that, and it looked prevalent early. You know, our coach demands a lot from us. And also, we demand a lot from each other. Honestly, it looks like we would get here from all the games that we've played and how we perform. So it's just a testament of hard work, and the reality now is here. 

  GOAL: What makes Jesper Sorensen so unique as a manager? You always hear from players like, 'oh, this guy, he's, he's laid back,' or 'this guy is he's super tactically driven or focused.' What makes him special?

  SABBI: He kind of has everything, honestly: tactically, he's sound mentally, he's prepared for every game. I think all-around, he's a great coach. He helps the young ones as well, as you've seen a lot of young players play and played a big role. So I think all-around, he is a great coach. He helps everyone. He's also into our personal lives. And it's really nice to have a coach like that.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON MIAMI

  GOAL: Who is your favorite player?

  SABBI: [Laughs] Lionel Messi. 

  GOAL: You played against Messi in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. What's it like playing against him?

  SABBI: I mean, it's the best player of all time, and you're standing on the pitch with him and playing against him and trying to defend him. And, you know, it's surreal. 

  GOAL: What's your earliest Messi memory?

  SABBI: Honestly, his first goal was insane. And just getting a pass from Ronaldinho like that, and just finishing it the way he did. It's insane. It's incredible to see that he's still doing it today, and yeah, hopefully he doesn't go against us! 

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• Getty
  

  ON THE USMNT

  GOAL: You've been capped before. Do you ever think about the possibility of being on the national team again? 

  SABBI: I hope so. My job was to try to have good performances and be consistent. And I hope that, you know, the national team has seen that, that I'm a candidate to try to make my mark there as well. And I'm just grateful for the opportunity to come back and play in MLS and show how good I am and that I'm ready.

  GOAL: Was that part of your decision to come back to MLS, to get a little more visibility? 

  SABBI: Not really. I think the national team looks at all the leagues, honestly. And it was just a different choice for my family and me, and I listened to my family and talked to my agent, and then had a couple of calls with Vancouver, and that's how it became possible.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta issued a rallying cry to supporters. “Be in your seats by 7.30pm,” he commanded.

Fans inside the Emirates Stadium did not disappoint. North London Forever blared out from the sound system and after an intense week in which they’d gone unbeaten against Spurs, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, the fans were very needed.

The Gunners failed to defeat ten-man Chelsea at the weekend and it was a performance that looked tired. Arsenal have enormous squad depth but injuries are already testing this crop of players. As a result, Arteta rang the changes for the visit of Brentford on Wednesday night.

Arsenal may well have secured a 2-0 victory but it was not a vintage performance. It was a display befitting of just how different the starting XI looked.

There were no Bukayo Saka or Eberechi Eze. Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke started instead. With Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba still injured, the responsibilities at the heart of the defence fell to Cristian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie again.

Did they deliver? Well, Arsenal scored twice and kept a clean sheet, so it’s hard to argue against that.

Did Arsenal's midweek starters stake their claim?

Mosquera and Hincapie were rather patched together at the last minute when Saliba sustained a training injury late last week.

The Frenchman has now missed the last two games but for the two summer signings, this was a more composed and easier night than their showing at Stamford Bridge.

Chalkboard

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

Hincapie has been brave and aggressive in both fixtures but Mosquera struggled against Chelsea, notably when it came to progressing the ball. Of course, a Brentford side missing the Premier League’s second top goalscorer in Igor Thiago for over an hour helped their cause, but if Arteta is going to be missing two of the world’s finest defenders, the stand-ins have proven they can more than do a job.

It was in attack where Arsenal perhaps struggled a bit more. While Set Piece FC seem to have become more about scoring from open play, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli didn’t do a huge amount to suggest they should be starting.

Madueke was energetic and effervescent on the right flank, performing four dribbles, two of which were successful, but he ultimately lacked end product, amassing two shots and failing to provide a key pass. Martinelli’s night was even worse. He had only one shot and completed just one dribble.

Odegaard, who stood in for Eze, was also lacking sharpness. The skipper created four key passes but lost six of his seven duels.

For Arteta, he will have been pleased with Mikel Merino, however. The Spaniard scored yet again, taking his goal tally as a centre-forward for the club to ten in 22 outings.

Arsenal have been fortunate that they can rely on their squad depth. They’ve missed Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks but Merino has more than stepped up.

It was the substitutes who changed the game on Wednesday too. Saka, who replaced Madueke, scored the second strike to seal all three points for the Londoners.

Yet, the goalscorers were pipped to the man of the match award by someone who’s been on the fringes of things this season.

Arsenal's man of the match against Brentford

The contributions that Saka and Merino came up with were vital but if it wasn’t for the performance of Ben White, this night would have been far more challenging.

For White, this has been a troubling last year or so of his career. Signed for a mega £50m back in 2021, he had established himself as a core member of the Arsenal side.

He was notably described by journalist Tom Barclay as “one of the best prospects in English football” in the summer he moved from Brighton and in the early stages of his Arsenal career he lived up to that, amassing nearly 100 appearances between 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Last season, however, things began to unravel. Fellow right-back Jurrien Timber was back from an ACL injury and his form since has been impeccable. In the words of the Standard’s Simon Collings, he is “the best right-back in the Premier League right now.”

What didn’t help White last season were persistent injuries that meant he was never really able to build momentum.

In 2025/26, though, he’s been available all season but has been met with stubborn resistance from Arteta to play him. He’s not the first person to find himself in this position during the Spaniard’s tenure.

Think of the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe or Oleksandr Zinchenko. While they all didn’t do a lot wrong in Arsenal colours, Arteta sought to upgrade them at the earliest opportunity available.

Zinchenko, in particular, has suffered the same fate as White has this season. When the Ukrainian signed for Arsenal from Manchester City he revolutionised the way Arsenal were able to play.

Previously, Arteta’s system saw Tierney flying forward from left-back but Zinchenko was fielded as an inverted full-back, something we now see from both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori.

During that 2022/23 campaign, Zinchenko and White were vital from their respective roles in defence. They contributed in all phases of play. The former Man City man was finally moved on in the summer, albeit only on loan to Nottingham Forest and if White wasn’t careful, he may have been heading elsewhere too.

But, he revived his career on Wednesday, given just his second start in the top-flight all campaign. The defender’s only previous start came against Manchester United on the opening weekend and since then, Timber has made the spot his own.

When Brentford came to town, White rolled back the years. The 28-year-old was phenomenal, notably providing the assist for Merino’s opener.

He took home the player of the match award and deservedly so for a display in which the England international won more duels (10) and made more tackles (6) than any other player against Brentford. He also made more clearances than any of his Arsenal colleagues (6).

Many have tried and failed to get back in Arteta’s good books. Zinchenko and Ramsdale can testify to that. However, White has showcased that he’s still very much an elite full-back and he should not be dismissed just yet.

With Mosquera having had to limp off the field in the first half with an injury, replaced at centre-half by Timber, it would not be a surprise to see White back in the starting lineup this weekend against Aston Villa. On the evidence of this performance, he is undroppable right now.

Playing better than Saka: Arsenal ready to pay club-record fee for £132m star

The Arsenal target has been having a better campaign than Bukayo Saka this year.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 3, 2025

MLB really put on a show on Tuesday night as not one, not two, but three teams hit walk-offs to win their respective games within the span of just four minutes.

First, at 10:18 p.m. ET, the Detroit Tigers walked off the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the 11th inning thanks to Javier Baez hitting a three-run home run to end the game. Baez celebrated accordingly by flipping his bat before he rounded the bases to the cheers of some very excited Tigers fans.

Then, at 10:20 p.m. ET, the Houston Astros walked off the Kansas City Royals at home after Isaac Paredes hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fireworks shot off as the crowd went wild to celebrate Paredes's game-winning homer.

The next walk-off happened at 10:22 p.m. ET by the Chicago Cubs, as Justin Turner hit a double in the bottom of the ninth to send two runs home. Nico Hoerner got to score the winning run on his 28th birthday, and he was extremely pumped. Wrigley Field erupted into cheers as he rounded the bases to beat the Miami Marlins.

Diego Simeone has openly admitted that he wants to manage Inter once he leaves Atletico Madrid, insisting his long-held ambition to take over the Nerazzurri "will happen one day." The Rojiblancos boss made the revelation ahead of Atleti's Champions League clash with Inter, fuelling speculation over his future as pressure rises in Madrid and admiration grows in Milan.

• Simeone opens up on his love towards Inter

  Ahead of Atletico decisive Champions League meeting with Inter, Simeone created headlines by revealing his desire to manage the Italian giants in the future. The Argentine coach discussed both the match and Inter’s strengths, while simultaneously acknowledging his emotional connection to the Nerazzurri from his days as a player. His comments arrived at a delicate moment for Atletico, who have been inconsistent in Europe, struggling for momentum despite a handful of strong results and needing to protect their home advantage.

  In the build-up to the fixture, Simeone analysed Inter as one of the most complete sides in the competition and highlighted their attacking structure, depth, and character. At the same time, he contrasted Inter’s Champions League dominance – a perfect 12 points – with Atletico’s mixed league-stage campaign, which includes emphatic wins but damaging defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal. The pressure surrounding Atleti’s European fate, combined with Simeone’s remarks about his long-term future, ensured his comments rapidly became the focus of media attention in both Spain and Italy.

  The backdrop of Simeone’s remarks also includes growing scrutiny over Atletico’s season trajectory, with injuries to key players and fluctuating performances adding uncertainty. Inter’s arrival in Madrid heightened the sense of urgency for Atlético, who must secure positive results to stay on track for the knockout rounds. In that context, Simeone’s admission about his dream job became as significant as his tactical assessment of the match ahead.

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• AFP
  

  Simeone 'will' coach Inter 'one day'

  When asked directly about his future ambitions, Simeone made his intentions clear, stating: "It doesn’t depend on just me, but in my coaching career I can imagine myself managing Inter one day." He reinforced that belief by adding: "I think it will happen one day."

  During the same press briefing, Simeone showed deep admiration for Inter’s current side, offering a detailed breakdown of their quality. He said: "Inter play very well, they have character and a very clear attacking pattern. They have an incredible squad. They dominated the entire match against Milan, had scoring opportunities and could’ve won. They certainly played to win. As for in the Champions League, their numbers speak for themselves.

  "For a team like Inter, losing the derby means putting it behind you straight away and moving on, because this is a very strong side, the favourites to win the Scudetto, and will go far in the Champions League too."

  "Every match is important for us, regardless of the opponent. We are in the ascendant phase of our campaign. We’ve got to improve in various areas, but we are aware of that and working on it."

• AFP
  

  Chivu's work at Inter praised by Simeone

  Simeone’s connection to Inter stretches back to his playing days, when he played a pivotal role in their 1997–98 UEFA Cup triumph, leaving a legacy built on leadership, discipline, and relentless competitiveness. His bond with the Nerazzurri has remained strong, with fans fondly remembering the midfielder who characterised their late-90s spirit alongside stars like Ronaldo and Javier Zanetti. That affection, combined with Simeone’s own admiration for the club, has kept his name attached to Inter speculation for more than a decade.

  Inter, now coached by Cristian Chivu, are regarded as one of the continent’s best-built sides and remain unbeaten in the Champions League this season. Simeone refused to outline what Chivu has changed tactically, saying: "It is difficult to explain what you can see every day, so I won’t come here and tell you how Chivu has changed Inter." However, he made it clear that he respects their development, their structure, and their Scudetto-favourite status under the former Inter defender.

  Chivu’s appointment marked a new era for Inter after Simone Inzaghi’s departure to Al-Hilal, and results have quickly vindicated the decision.

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• Simeone has contract at Atletico until 2027

  Simeone remains under contract with Atletico Madrid until 2027, meaning any move to Inter will only materialise once a vacancy opens or if the Argentine initiates a departure. With Inter thriving under Chivu and competing for major honours on multiple fronts, no immediate managerial change appears likely. Nevertheless, Simeone’s comments will intensify long-running speculation and ensure his name remains linked to the Nerazzurri job whenever an opening emerges.

Newcastle United have not been at the races this season. Wheeling off quickly at times – mostly at St. James’ Park – but suffering from dismal away form that is pulling Eddie Howe’s squad away from their potential.

We all know this, and Howe most of all. However, identifying solutions and then finding the right answers can be two wholly different things in football.

But the English tactician has done so countless times across his four years on Tyneside, adapting and overcoming obstacles that fall into his path.

Take, for example, the fumbled signing of Chris Wood from Burnley in 2022. One of the first to establish this new PIF era, the Kiwi striker flattered to deceive.

Remembering Chris Wood's time at Newcastle

Wood is one of the most consistent Premier League strikers of his time. Something of a journeyman, he has nonetheless enjoyed success throughout his career, truly coming into his own over the past several years with Nottingham Forest.

However, a brief stint at Newcastle stands as a blot on the copybook. Howe purchased the New Zealand star from Burnley for £25m in January 2022, right at the start of this new era.

Sometimes, it’s just not your day. And Wood simply didn’t click in black and white. The veteran goalscorer only scored five times across 39 appearances before leaving for Forest on loan and then making the move permanent.

Pundit Tam McManus said that he looked “a bit lost” at St. James’ Park, and the one bit of solace from the misfire of a signing was that Newcastle were otherwise going from strength to strength, and they signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad after realising Wood wasn’t going to make the grade.

Of course, no one would deny that Wood is a top-class Premier League striker. He was one of the most prolific in the division last season, after all.

But this only emphasises the blunder on Newcastle’s part, one they would not wish to repeat.

For the most part, they haven’t. Newcastle’s success under Howe’s wing has been a product of care and accuracy in the market. But they don’t always get it right, having signed the new Wood this summer.

Newcastle's biggest disaster since Chris Wood

Maybe there’s just something that isn’t working for ex-Forest stars moving to Newcastle.

Anthony Elanga has not been a success since joining the club from the City Ground for £55m this summer, yet to score or assist across 16 appearances.

Renowned for his “special ability” on the ball, as said by Nuno Espirito Santo, the Swedish winger simply hasn’t succeeded in translating his physical strengths over to St. James’ Park.

It’s not just his output causing concern. As per Sofascore, Elanga has succeeded with only 17% of his attempted dribbles in the Premier League this season. For a player whose standout skill is his fleet-footedness on the ball, this isn’t good enough.

Elanga, 23, must be afforded more time, but given the desperate need for an efficient right winger in recent years at the club, his woes have been a concern, salvaged only by the ever-industrious Jacob Murphy’s consistency.

He’s still relatively young, and he has proven himself capable in the Premier League across the past two terms with the Tricky Trees.

But the early readings are not all that promising, with analyst Raj Chohan picking up on the winger’s poor form and claiming that the deal was a “massive overpay” on PIF’s part.

While he is young and with much potential still untapped – unlike Wood – Newcastle expected bang for their buck when filling a hole on the right wing.

If Elanga doesn’t improve quickly, the Toon are going to need to dig back into their pockets.

Bigger liability than Pope: Howe must finally bin Newcastle "legend"

Newcastle need to make some changes going forward.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 28, 2025