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This has been a trying season for Arsenal so far who after two successive title challengers are now languishing five points behind Manchester City and seven points behind Liverpool.

It’s not been the dream start that Mikel Arteta was crying out for and as such, the title does not look as though it’ll be heading in the direction of the Emirates Stadium next May.

Still, there are some positives. Bukayo Saka is only going from strength to strength in Arsenal colours and has assisted seven goals in his first nine Premier League games of the season. Kai Havertz has also been a revelation as a striker, scoring seven times this term.

The blooding of fresh youngsters has also been exciting with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly now receiving regular first-team minutes.

The Carabao Cup has also seen a whole host of Hale End stars be handed their first-team debuts by Arteta too.

Yet, it’s that boy Nwaneri who is causing the biggest fuss after a terrific start to his first full campaign in senior football.

Ethan Nwaneri's season in numbers so far

Aged just 15, Arteta handed a debut to a certain Nwaneri who became the English top-flight’s youngest-ever player in the process.

#1 Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 5 months, 28 days

#2 Jack Porter

16 years, 2 months, 10 days

#3 Cesc Fabregas

16 years, 5 months, 24 days

#4 Jack Wilshere

16 years, 8 months, 12 days

#5 Jermaine Pennant

16 years, 10 months, 15 days

#6 Paul Vaessen

16 years, 11 months, 11 days

#7 Ryan Smith

16 years, 11 months, 18 days

#8 Gedion Zelalem

16 years, 11 months, 29 days

#9 Armand Traore

17 years, 16 days

Since then, the teenager has had to remain patient and wait for regular opportunities. Now 17, he’s proving why the Gunners backed him at such a young age a few years ago.

He may not be starting Premier League or Champions League games yet but it feels like it’s only a matter of time considering his performances so far.

The teen first dazzled against Bolton in the Carabao Cup last month, scoring twice during a sensational display in which he also completed 93% of his passes, of which two led to goalscoring opportunities.

The Hale End graduate then found the net against Preston in the next round a few days ago. This time it was a stunning goal. Nwaneri picked it up on the edge of the area before fizzing an effort past the goalkeeper and into the top corner.

It was another fabulous display from the youngster who completed 98% of his passes on that occasion and also succeeded with two of his three dribbles.

So, in short, he’s a pretty special talent but it’s not as though Arsenal haven’t been here before. Think Jack Wilshere, think Cesc Fabregas.

There’s another player we want to discuss too and he’s ranked eighth in the table above; Gedion Zelalem.

Arsenal's original Ethan Nwaneri

12 years ago a teenage Zelalem was spotted by Gunners scout Daniel Karbassiyoon playing for Olney Rangers in the USA. That summer of 2012 he was flown to London and trained over the summer at London Colney before he was offered a contract in the academy.

A year later, he was already being inducted into the first team by a certain Arsene Wenger, travelling with a 24-man squad for the club’s Asia tour.

Zelalem starred, of course, he did and was favourably compared to Fabregas in the months to follow.

So, what happened to him? Well, the German-born American youth international featured in just four official matches for Arsenal’s first team after a cruel time of it with injuries.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

There were a couple of unsuccessful loan spells at Rangers and VVV-Venlo in the Netherlands before he left on a free transfer under Unai Emery’s watch in 2019.

Arsenal (2014-2019)

4

Rangers (2015/16 loan)

28

VVV-Venlo (2017 loan)

8

Sporting Kansas City

9

New York City

24

Den Bosch

38

Lokomotiva Zagreb

0

Why did things peter out in the way they did? Well, a horrid ACL injury in 2017 at the U20 World Cup meant he could never rediscover his form.

Once a creative marvel, a Fabregas or Nwaneri-level talent, he never realised the enormous potential Wenger expected of him and his career has sadly dwindled after initially playing first-team football as a teen at Arsenal.

After heading back to the USA, 27-year-old Zelalem is now playing his football in Croatia for NK Lokomotiva Zagreb having signed on a free over the summer. This is perhaps one of football’s great what-could-have-been stories.

Fewer passes than Raya: Arteta must instantly drop 4/10 dud after Newcastle

Arsenal suffered another defeat on the road this weekend.

1 ByMatt Dawson Nov 2, 2024

Keshav Maharaj will lead the team, which also sees a return for the Kolpak-returned Wayne Parnell

Firdose Moonda10-Nov-2021Regular white-ball captain Temba Bavuma, along with Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have all been rested for South Africa’s ODI series against Netherlands, which takes place later this month. Keshav Maharaj will captain the team, which includes a recall for Kolpak-returnee Wayne Parnell, who last played for South Africa in 2017.Zubayr Hamza and Ryan Rickelton are in line for their ODI debuts, while Khaya Zondo, Daryn Dupavillon and Sisanda Magala have all been recalled after missing the series against Sri Lanka.Parnell’s comeback is the first indication that South Africa are ready to reintegrate players who gave up their international careers when they signed Kolpak deals. Since the UK’s exit from the European Union, which has dissolved the Kolpak system, several players have returned to South Africa and signed contracts with provincial teams, which has made them available for the national side again. Parnell is the first to be recalled with the selectors also keeping a close eye on top-order batter Rilee Rossouw.”The question we’ve been receiving of late is what we will do with the former Kolpak players and we have always said that once they come and perform well domestically we will consider them,” South Africa’s convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang told ESPNcricinfo. “Wayne and Rilee both did well in the T20 challenge. With the squad we have at the moment, we want to give the current batters an opportunity but we are specifically looking for an allrounder and Wayne bringing that skillset into the mix is what we needed. We will keep an eye on all the Kolpak players. Kolpak players coming back in the system strengthens the system.”Rossouw may consider himself unlucky, as he was the top run-scorer in the domestic T20 competition and one of only three players to score a hundred. But Mpitsang believes he will come into the mix later in the summer. Parnell, meanwhile, did not finish among the bowlers or batters in the domestic T20 competition but scored an unbeaten 29-ball 80 in the quarterfinal against the eventual champions, the Knights, and captained Western Province. His maturity caught Mpitsang and his committee’s eyes.”Wayne is only 31 years old and the fact that he has been away, he knows his game and he is an experienced player and with all the other players being rested, gives us an opportunity to look at our broader base,” Mpitsang said. “When we told him, he was like a little child. He was so excited; over the moon to get the call-up.”Zubayr Hamza had a good run in the domestic T20 competition•Getty ImagesOne of the other centurions from the domestic T20 competition was Hamza, who finished third on the overall run charts, and has not yet played white-ball cricket for South Africa. He is likely to bat in the top three after Reeza Hendricks and Janneman Malan, with the other newcomer in the squad, Rickelton in reserve. The middle-order contains the experience of David Miller, who will marshall Kyle Verreynne, who is also set to take the gloves, and Zondo, who has not played international cricket since 2018. Zondo averaged 43 in the domestic T20 tournament.South Africa will be spoilt for choice in the seam-bowling allrounder department with Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo all selected in the squad, but they are without a spin-bowling allrounder. With Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi in the group, there was no room for George Linde, who traveled as a reserve to the T20 World Cup.”The matches will be played on the Highveld, which also informed our selections. George is slightly disappointed but we explained to him that the season is long and he will get more opportunities.”All three matches will take place at SuperSport Park, where conditions are expected to be seamer-friendly. Despite being without Rabada and Nortje, South Africa will look to give game time to Lungi Ngidi, who did not get a game at the T20 World Cup and “just wants to play cricket,” according to Mpitsang.Lizaad Williams, who was a reserve at the tournament, Sisanda Magala, who was part of their winter tours but missed out on selection through injury and Dupavillon, the joint-highest wicket-taker from the T20 competition.”It’s a squad with good balance,” Mpitsang said. “We’ve got some experienced guys and some younger ones and we have all our bases covered.”The three ODIs are part of the World Cup Super League, where both teams are in need of points. Netherlands are in last place on the table, with 20 points from two wins over Ireland. South Africa sit in ninth place, having dropped points in Ireland, but they could climb to as high as No. 2 with a 3-0 sweep.Squad: Keshav Maharaj (capt), Daryn Dupavillon, Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo.

In search of extending their current unbeaten run to six games, Everton may have to cope without one of their most in-form players against Southampton this weekend following Sky Sports’ latest update.

Everton transfer news

The Toffees have turned a corner under Sean Dyche in recent weeks just when an eventual place in the Premier League’s bottom three looked inevitable following a disastrous start. Now five games unbeaten, with two wins and three draws in that time, Everton sit five points clear of the dropzone and as many as eight points ahead of bottom side Southampton, who they face this weekend.

In another winnable game, Dyche could see his side move into the comforts of mid-table in a crucial step towards the level that the Toffees will be desperate to return to, especially when The Friedkin Group complete their takeover of the club.

Southampton, meanwhile, will be in a desperate mood of their own after failing to pick up a single victory in any of their opening nine league games. In pursuit of what would be a crucial three points, however, they’ve been handed a major boost courtesy of recent injury news coming out of Merseyside.

Everton star who was sold by Dyche is outperforming Gordon this season

The former Everton star has impressed this season

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 30, 2024

According to Sky Sports’ James Savundra, Dwight McNeil is now a doubt to face Southampton after missing Thursday’s training session. The winger was forced to come off through injury against Fulham last time out and is seemingly still struggling to get back to full fitness in time for this weekend’s clash.

Savundra confirmed the news after McNeil was not spotted in Everton training by the on-watching cameras.

If he is to miss the Southampton game in the coming days, then those at Goodison Park will be hoping to see their in-form star return for their trip to face West Ham United next weekend.

"Terrific" McNeil hit form at the perfect time

Just as Everton were struggling in the early stages of the campaign, McNeil hit form at the perfect time before injury seemingly stopped him in his tracks. The Toffees’ talisman, with three goals and three assists in nine Premier League games so far this season, McNeil has become more important than ever under Dyche in Merseyside.

His recent form wouldn’t have come as a surprise to the Everton boss, however, who praised the £25,000-a-week winger at the end of last season. Dyche told reporters as relayed by the Liverpool Echo: “He’s been terrific since I’ve been back with him and I want him to keep enjoying his football but also taking it on. I thought at Brighton he took it on.

“He is a player who is still maturing in my view and he is grasping and grabbing it and taking things forward and making things happen and that is very pleasing for him and pleasing for us.”

Premier League breakout star Murillo, who has already been linked with Real Madrid and Liverpool, is being backed to become the first £100m defender.

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Joined Forest for just £10mHas starred in English footballLinked with top European clubsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 22-year-old centre-half is currently starring for Nottingham Forest, having moved to the City Ground from Corinthians in a £10 million ($12m) deal during the summer of 2023. Murillo’s stock has soared on Trentside, to the point that he is said to be attracting interest from leading sides across Europe.

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Murillo has become a cult hero in Nottingham, with his South American flair being showcased alongside more typical defensive traits. He is an exciting player to watch, with buccaneering breaks often made out from of the back, while always being prepared to put his body on the line for the good of any given cause.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea are said to have seen a bid rejected towards the end of the last transfer window, while Liverpool are also being credited with interest. Any deal involving the Samba star, who has already been involved with senior Brazil squads, could see him become the first defender to generate a nine-figure fee.

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Getty/GOALWHAT STAN COLLYMORE SAID

Quizzed on whether Murillo is destined to be a record-breaking £100m ($124m) star, Forest legend Stan Collymore – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “He could be. There are clubs watching him. From a personal perspective I would love to see him stay at Forest for the next three, four, five years. He’s signed his new contract.

“Obviously with the season that Forest are having, it is going to be very difficult to keep hold of players. He has got a bit of everything. It’s a strange one really because he doesn’t look like a central defender at all – he’s not the tallest, he’s fairly ungainly in the way that he moves around, but he’s a bit of a throwback in terms of liking to defend, likes to get touch-tight with players and get physical and he anticipates things well.

“He may well go on to become the first £100m defender, which for Forest would be an incredible deal if it came. My hope is that he stays for another two or three years.”

Virgil van Dijk provided an update on his future at Anfield as the Liverpool captain nears free agency.

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Van Dijk's update on his futureYet to sign new contract at AnfieldSalah & Alexander-Arnold could also leaveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Van Dijk, who is in the final months of his existing contract with Liverpool, is yet to agree to sign a new deal and extend his stay at Anfield. had earlier reported that in case the talismanic Dutchman becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, he could head to Barcelona, who are keen on bolstering their backline. Amid rising speculations, the Netherlands star provided an update on his future.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT VAN DIJK SAID

Speaking to the 33-year-old said: "In the coming months we just have to give it our all. We are still active on three fronts and that is the primary goal I have in mind. I have very, very big plans in that area.

"Unfortunately I can't talk about personal conversations I have with the club. We've been talking for a while and the only thing I can say now is that I love this club. I'm very calm about the situation. As long as I'm calm about it, the fans can be too. If there's news, you'll hear about it. For now, I really don't know where I will be playing next season, but again: I am calm about it."

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Along with Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also nearing free agency. The Reds will have to initiate contract talks in the next couple of months to stop their stars from leaving for free. While Alexander-Arnold is linked with a move to Real Madrid, Salah could finally complete his much-hyped move to Saudi Arabia.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Merseyside club, who have won just one out of their last three Premier League matches, will be next seen in action on Sunday as they host reigning champions Manchester City at Anfield.

Sunderland might be sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table at this moment in time, but Regis Le Bris’ men are without a win in their last three in the unpredictable division.

Of course, they also haven’t lost, as a trio of draws have greeted the table-topping Black Cats, with the most recent 2-2 draw against Coventry City stinging somewhat considering Sunderland were two goals to the good up until the 62nd-minute mark.

Without more magic from sharpshooter Wilson Isidor in this score draw, however, Sunderland could have been tasting defeat, as the Frenchman continues to excite the Stadium of Light masses.

Isidor's performances this season

Le Bris has experimented in recent matches with who leads the line for his promotion-chasing outfit, with free transfer recruit Aaron Connolly placed up top versus Preston North End at the start of the month.

It was a sorry showing from the ex-Hull City man, as the new Sunderland number 24 only managed a shocking nine touches of the ball at Deepdale, with Isidor reinstated as the Black Cats’ main striker thereafter.

With stylish finishes like this one becoming customary from the 24-year-old, the Zenit St. Petersburg loanee is slowly but surely turning into a fan’s favourite on Wearside, with this stunning first-time strike against the managerless Sky Blues taking his Championship goal tally up to a promising five.

Sunderland will just hope he can keep up this electric form as the season wears on and games become far tenser in the midst of a promotion race, knowing that a former academy prodigy at the Stadium of Light is currently outperforming him in the same league.

The player who is outperforming Isidor

Stating recently that he still supports Sunderland, having never lost his boyhood connection to the Black Cats, Sam Greenwood is one talent that the Wearside outfit will lament never giving senior opportunities to when he was still at the club.

The Sunderland-born attacker would be poached by Arsenal at a young age in 2018, having picked up six goals and six assists from 15 Mackems appearances at U18 level.

He would only end up lasting a year in the Gunners academy set-up before Leeds snapped him up, where goals aplenty came his way in the U21 fold in West Yorkshire, which included a sublime free-kick taking aback Whites fans on social media in 2021.

22 goals in the U21 set-up hasn’t quite resulted in him making waves in the first team at Daniel Farke’s men, however, with only strike from 35 first-team clashes, leading to many loan moves taking him away from the second-tier giants.

On the books at Preston is where Greenwood is currently shining, with more goal contributions this campaign than Isidor has managed when pulling on a Sunderland strip, as Lilywhites supporters have a new hero in attack to latch onto.

The one-time Black Cats youngster has amassed five goals and one assist in all competitions for Paul Heckingbottom’s team this season, whilst his French counterpart is one goal contribution shy, with five strikes picked up but zero assists registered for his teammates.

Preston

16

5

1

Middlesbrough

38

5

3

Also starring with Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough last campaign, it’s clear that Greenwood would be able to offer Le Bris’ men something if he was back at his boyhood club today, with the 22-year-old capable of playing up top where Isidor is shining, or across many midfield spots if needs be.

The door hasn’t been slammed completely shut on his time at Leeds too, with Farke once stating that Greenwood has “unbelievable” skills up his sleeve, as Sunderland are left to ponder whether he could be starring next to fellow homegrown gems such as Chris Rigg and Daniel Neil in an alternate reality.

Sunderland have struck gold on star who could be sold for more than Clarke

Sunderland will hope they can keep a firm grip on this star in January.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 12, 2024

Melbourne Stars, Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers lose key signings, with Rashid Khan also departing for Adelaide Strikers

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2022Pakistan stars Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan have been recalled from the BBL by the PCB to be ready for the start of the PSL which begins on January 27.Brisbane Heat were left frustrated by Fakhar’s withdrawal in particular after Heat signed the opener on December 31 as a replacement player for injured Englishman Tom Abell, but he only managed to play one game for them due to a combination of Covid-19 issues and travel restrictions between states in Australia.”Unfortunately the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed it had rescinded its permission for Fakhar to play our remaining games, along with all Pakistan players currently involved in the BBL, and summoned him to return immediately to prepare for the Pakistan Super League,” Heat said in a statement.”We are disappointed that he won’t be able to play for us and he is disappointed he won’t have the opportunity to get some more games in for us. He asked us to thank the fans for their support and wish the team all the best for the remaining three games.”Rauf confirmed on social media on Saturday that he was leaving Melbourne Stars with two games to go, while Shadab didn’t play in Sydney Sixers’ win over Sydney Thunder.Meanwhile, Adelaide Strikers have also lost Rashid Khan for the remainder of the tournament due to international duty for Afghanistan, who play Netherlands in a three-match ODI series starting January 21.Heat do receive a boost with Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson to return for their clash with Stars, while Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis have also been released from Australia’s Test squad to rejoin Perth Scorchers.

A stunning story of how an Under-14 Jude Bellingham scored four goals in 30 minutes has emerged.

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Story of playing Under-14 Bellingham revealedMidfielder scored four goals in 30 minutesStart of his path to stardomFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A video on @TheSecretScout_ has emerged with a former Leicester City Under-16 player reminiscing about facing Bellingham in a Midlands academy game. The midfielder, who now stars for Real Madrid and England, scored four goals inside 30 minutes in a glimpse of what he was to become.

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The story begins with how Leicester Under-16s had been warned there was an Under-14 player on the Birmingham bench, with the Foxes youngsters assuming he wouldn't be a threat – going as far as saying: "Why have you put this child on the pitch?" Bellingham appeared as a sub with 30 minutes to play and his side 2-0 down, going on to score four goals and leading his side to a 6-2 win.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bellingham went on to play for the Birmingham first team 44 times, becoming their youngest player and youngest goalscorer aged 16. He was then sold to Borussia Dortmund before moving onto Real Madrid, where he is now starring as a 'Galactico' in La Liga.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

Bellingham is next in action for Real against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 first leg on Tuesday.

She could become first West Indian and only fourth bowler in women’s cricket to get 300 international wickets

Annesha Ghosh22-Jan-20222:28

Anisa Mohammed – ‘I like to prove people wrong’

A new variation to unleash on the opposition and four wickets to add to her tally during the four-ODI tour of South Africa.These, along with helping West Indies fine-tune their preparations ahead of the ODI World Cup in March-April, are on the checklist of their premier offspinner Anisa Mohammed as she heads into the bilateral series next week, four wickets shy of becoming the first West Indies women’s player to 300 wickets in international cricket.”I’m currently working on a new variation,” Mohammed, the leading ODI wicket-taker of 2021 and the all-time highest wicket-taker in T20Is, said in a virtual press conference from Johannesburg. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to use that in this upcoming series against South Africa, and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to execute and get a positive result from that.”Behind only India’s Jhulan Goswami, England’s Katherine Brunt, and Australia’s Ellyse Perry, Mohammed, who has 171 wickets in ODIs and 125 wickets in T20Is, is hopeful the series against South Africa starting on January 28 at the Wanderers propels her to the distinction of the first spinner to reach the 300-wicket mark in the women’s international game.Related

South Africa-West Indies Women's ODI series rescheduled, to begin from January 26

Dane van Niekerk ruled out of 2022 Women's World Cup with ankle injury

Afy Fletcher returns for South Africa ODIs, Qiana Joseph out injured

“This would be a huge milestone for me. I’d really like to get it in this series and not have to wait for the World Cup,” Mohammed said. “That’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time. I’ve been working on my game and I really hope that I’m able to pick up just four [wickets]. I’m just telling myself, ‘Four wickets – I have four matches to get four wickets,’ so I’m really excited.”A veteran of four ODI World Cups and West Indies’ most-capped player, Mohammed, 33, is mindful of the responsibility her experience and heft of personal achievements in a career spanning nearly 19 years bring with them, especially with the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand around the corner.”I’m one of the senior players on the team. This is my fifth ODI World Cup. And I’ve said to some of the younger players, ‘Playing in a World Cup the atmosphere is different and you have to keep a level head.’ I think having played four World Cups – this will be my fifth one – I have to step up as the one of the senior players on the team and try to perform and while I do that, try to keep the younger players calm and help them to be able to go out there and execute as well.”Named in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year and the ESPNcricinfo Women’s Team of the Year for 2021 recently, Mohammed gave little away on whether the upcoming world event could be her swansong – “I’m not going to put a timeline on my career” – but admitted she was cognizant of the phase she has entered in her career.Anisa Mohammed is on the verge of joining the 300-wicket club•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”It’s a great feeling to be named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year last year,” Mohammed said. “And that’s definitely inspiration to go forward and try to make it into this year’s team as well. To be honest, I’m just trying to enjoy my cricket. As you know, I’m coming to the latter part of my career, so I’ve been trying to enjoy whatever is left of my career.”I’ll be 34 this year. I don’t know how long I have, but I just really want to make sure that when I leave cricket or when I retire, I have a good memory of West Indies cricket and representing West Indies.”West Indies were not among the five teams to earn direct qualification to the ODI World Cup but made the cut based on rankings in the wake of the pandemic-enforced cancellation of the global qualifier. They will fancy their chances against South Africa, who will be missing their designated captain and premier legspin-bowling allrounder Dane van Niekerk through an injury.”That’s a big blow for South Africa. And it’s never nice when you have an injury,” Mohammed said. “But if you’re looking at winning and losing, I think that’s an advantage for us because, as we know, she’s a key player for the South Africa team, not just in her batting and bowling but also her leadership qualities. And I think that we have to take full advantage of that – of her not being here. But having said that, I would like to wish her a speedy recovery.”Mohammed, for her part, will spearhead an attack bolstered by the addition of the experienced legspinner Afy Fletcher in their 18-member squad.”We’re really excited for Afy. It’s nice having her back,” Mohammed said of Fletcher, who is returning from a maternity break, having last played for West Indies in September 2020. “Unfortunately, she could not bring the baby with her. We would have liked to have a baby on tour, like the other teams, but she calls her baby every day and chat with him online. So it’s nice having a baby around and having some fun with him as well.”

Enzo Maresca has got off to a wonderful start with his new club, tallying up 22 points after 12 games played in the Premier League, only losing to Manchester City and Liverpool this season.

Chelsea are averaging 55.4% possession this season (5th highest in the division), taking 14.2 shots per game (7th most in the league), have scored 23 goals (2nd highest), and have only been conceding 12.1 shots per game (7th lowest).

The squad Maresca has inherited is young and full of talent after previous windows of spending, but Chelsea were busy again this summer with Maresca at the helm, looking to equip the Italian with all the necessary tools to take the Blues back to the top.

Chelsea's 2024/25 summer transfer window

Chelsea spent a total of £198.2m over the summer, bringing ten new players through the door on a permanent basis. In order to afford this, the Blues also had to make some sales, with 11 players departing from the club on permanent deals.

The biggest signing of the summer for the Blues was Pedro Neto, joining from Wolves after costing around £51.3m upfront. Since joining, Neto has impressed a great deal, making 15 appearances, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

Player

Fee (£)

Pedro Neto

£51.3m

João Félix

£43.2m

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

£29.4m

Filip Jorgensen

£20.3m

Mike Penders

£16.6m

Aaron Anselmino

£13.7m

Renato Veiga

£11.6m

Caleb Wiley

£8.3m

Marc Guiu

£4.9m

Tosin Adarabioyo

£0

Chelsea also made one temporary signing, bringing Jadon Sancho in on an initial loan deal from Manchester United.

The obligated fee at the end of the season is expected to be around £20-25m. But perhaps the most intriguing signing of the summer, was the return of a certain individual whose playstyle is reminiscent of the ex-Chelsea Brazilian, Oscar.

Chelsea's new Oscar

João Félix returned to Chelsea this year, having spent six months on loan with the club back in 2023, scoring four goals in 16 Premier League appearances during his first time in London.

So far this season, the 25-year-old has made 11 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals, providing one assist, and totalling 634 minutes played.

The Portuguese attacking midfielder looks hungry to impress Maresca, adding extra qualities to his toolset, looking to break his way into the first team.

Felix started against Leicester at the weekend, playing 81 minutes, completing four out of eight dribble attempts and providing one key pass in proper Oscar-esque fashion.

But it was actually his defensive efforts that stood out, not something Felix is known for in his career, showing his hunger to improve and showing Maresca his willingness to work hard on both sides of the ball, to benefit the team.

Felix made three tackles, winning nine of his 16 ground duels, more than any other player on the pitch during the game. This is something the former Atletico star could begin to offer in a better capacity than Chelsea’s superstar, Cole Palmer, in that number ten position.

Palmer vs Felix comparison

Palmer joined Chelsea from Manchester City back in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, signing for a fee of around £40m plus £2.5m in add-ons, signing a seven-year deal at the club.

Since joining, the 22-year-old has made 59 appearances for the Blues, scoring 32 goals, providing 20 assists, and totalling 4,708 minutes played.

Goals

0.52

0.71

Assists

0.37

0.12

xG

0.53

0.74

xAG

0.42

0.19

Progressive Carries

3.36

4.34

Progressive Passes

6.47

6.23

Shots Total

3.06

4.29

Key Passes

2.76

1.32

Shot-Creating Actions

5.09

4.34

Successful Take-Ons

1.21

2.45

Tackles + Interceptions

0.30

0.48

These metrics above show how the two can complement each other, with Felix more of a carrying creator, offering more shot volume, clever runs into the box, and the ability to ghost past his man in tight spaces. Meanwhile, the England international is a better passing creator, having a great range of passes, making 2.76 key passes per 90, while offering a goal threat of his own and helping in the build-up phase.

Against low-block sides, when Chelsea will have a lot of the ball in the opposition half, it would be a huge positive to get both of these creative players in the team together, linking up to create in smaller spaces, using their on-ball qualities to benefit the team and produce chances.

Both Palmer and Felix like to operate in the number ten position, given more freedom to roam, pick up the ball, and show their quality in the final third. However, with there only being one attacking midfield position in the team, Maresca will have to rearrange things in order to get both in the same XI and allow both to operate in those central zones.

Maresca's double-pocket players

We saw with the Leicester game that Maresca has plenty of ideas on how to provide Chelsea with these ‘double pocket players’, having two number tens in the half spaces and in this case, having a full-back overlap to provide width, whilst the natural winger occupies the half-space.

Chelsea often did this last season, by having Palmer drift inside from the right wing, often joining Conor Gallagher in the middle of the pitch. Gallagher was extremely hard-working but was often criticised for his quality in tight spaces, and therefore his suitability on the ball in those areas.

This is yet another string to Maresca’s tactical bow, having the ability to get some of his best central creators into the same team, meaning Chelsea can make decisions based on the opposition’s defensive schemes.

Sometimes, the Blues may opt for their two more natural wingers holding the width, and a full-back inverting into either deeper or advanced midfield. On other occasions, we could see a full-back providing width, getting an extra central creator into the team, making them less predictable going forward.

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