Mikel Arteta has revealed that Ethan Nwaneri does not have access to the Arsenal dressing room despite playing a prominent first-team role.
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Nwaneri enjoying breakthrough seasonHas helped cover for Bukayo Saka's absenceTeenager still barred from entering dressing roomFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Nwaneri has enjoyed an impressive start to his senior career, seamlessly stepping into the Arsenal team and providing a much-needed solution to Arteta's right-flank issues. The talented 17-year-old has already made his full Premier League and Champions League debuts, while also delivering standout performances in the Carabao Cup. His goal-scoring ability has been particularly eye-catching, as he has found the net across all three competitions, proving his capability at the highest level.
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Another academy graduate, Myles Lewis-Skelly, has also broken into the first team this season, and netted his first Arsenal goal in a 5-1 win over Manchester City. Arteta believes the strong friendship between Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly has helped both youngsters adjust to life at the top level.
WHAT ARTETA SAID
Arteta emphasized that having a close friend in the squad is beneficial, especially given Nwaneri still can't enter the dressing room situation due to safeguarding regulations.
"Ethan cannot be in our dressing room still, which is unbelievable. He needs to get dressed somewhere else, even on match day," the manager told reporters.
“So to have somebody close to him that has that trust, that confidence, that link, I think it is lucky. They are very lucky to have each other."
Due to FA safeguarding regulations, players under the age of 18 are not allowed in the senior dressing room. As a result, Nwaneri must get changed separately before joining his team-mates for final preparations before kick-off.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Nwaneri underlined his growing reputation with an outstanding display against Girona in the Champions League, where he was named Man of the Match after scoring a stunning goal from outside the box. The teenager followed that up with another goal against Manchester City on Sunday, sealing Arsenal’s thumping victory at the Emirates in the Premier League.
Arsenal have become regular Premier League challengers again thanks to some shrewd signings in the transfer market.
With the help of former sporting director Edu, Mikel Arteta has welcomed some wonderful players, building a team capable of not only winning trophies, but securing regular appearances in the Champions League.
Not every signing has been a success, but the majority have contributed effectively over the years. Here, we rank the Spaniard’s best signings during his spell in charge of the Gunners, based on the impact they have had at the club.
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ByRoss Kilvington Nov 2, 2024 9 Jorginho Signed from Chelsea, £12m (2023)
Jorginho cost just £12m in the January 2023 transfer window as he was heading into the final six months of his Chelsea contract.
Since then, he has played 59 times for the Gunners in all competitions. While not an undisputed starter for Arteta, his experience means the Spaniard can count on him whenever he is called upon.
For the fee, he has been a solid signing indeed.
8 Ben White Signed from Brighton, £50m (2021)
Ben White joined three years ago for a fee of £50m having shone for Brighton & Hove Albion during his time on the south coast.
Over the previous three seasons, White has missed just seven Premier League matches for the north London club, becoming Arteta’s first-choice option at right-back. He has filled in at centre-back when needed, too.
The 27-year-old still has his best years ahead of him. Many baulked at the size of the fee when he signed, but after 144 appearances for the club, these doubters should now be silenced.
7 Leandro Trossard Signed from Brighton, £21m (2023)
Signed in the same window as Jorginho, Leandro Trossard may have cost £21m, but his impact on the team has been wonderful.
In 34 league games last season, the Belgian netted 12 goals and grabbed one assist. Add in four more in the Champions League and Arteta has a player who can shine at the very highest level.
He may only have two goals from 13 games this term, but when Arteta needs someone to turn a game, the 29-year-old is the player he calls upon.
6 Thomas Partey Signed from Atletico Madrid, £45m (2020)
One of Arteta’s first big signings, Thomas Partey joined four years ago for £45m after featuring 188 times for Atletico Madrid.
The midfielder has since made 129 appearances for the Gunners, although he has missed 78 games due to a succession of injury problems.
However, when he is fit, Arteta can usually count on him as a key member of the first-team squad, with the Ghanaian starting every Premier League and Champions League match so far this season, scoring once in the process.
5 David Raya Signed from Brentford, £27m (2024)
Raya spent last season on loan at the Gunners, where he won the Premier League Golden Glove award after keeping 16 clean sheets.
This led Arteta to activate the option to buy the Spaniard, spending £27m in the process – but it looks like money well spent.
Previous goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was capable of producing the odd error. Raya has not been completely faultless, though Arteta certainly has a safer pair of hands between the sticks.
4 Kai Havertz Signed from Chelsea, £65m (2023)
When Arteta spent the best part of £65m on signing Kai Havertz from Chelsea last summer, it looked like it could be a waste of money, especially considering he scored just nine goals during the 2022/23 campaign.
Last season, the German netted 14 goals and grabbed seven assists in all competitions, showcasing his true qualities. In the top flight, the former Bayer Leverkusen starlet also created eight big chances while averaging 1.2 key passes per game.
This proved it wasn’t just his abilities in front of goal that were excellent, but he also worked well with his teammates. There is no doubt he will continue to get better and better under Arteta.
3 Declan Rice Signed from West Ham United, £105m (2023)
In the same window that saw Havertz arrive, Arteta also splashed out over £100m to sign Declan Rice in a bid to improve his midfield. Arsenal’s record signing has settled well to life in north London, missing only one game during his maiden campaign – one that saw him register 17 goal contributions across 51 matches.
He is the fulcrum of Arteta’s midfield and any success the club do achieve this season will be down to how effective Rice is.
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ByBrogan Clasper Sep 4, 2024 2 Gabriel Signed from Lille, £23m (2020)
With every passing season, spending just £23m to sign Gabriel is looking more and more like one of Arteta’s finest signings.
The defender is closing in on 200 Arsenal appearances and has formed a solid defensive partnership with William Saliba over the previous couple of seasons.
He has also been a threat at the other end of the pitch, as shown by scoring on his debut against Fulham and more recently when netting against rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Last term, Gabriel missed just two league games, with Arsenal conceding just 27 goals when the Brazilian was on the pitch, signifying how important he was for them.
1 Martin Odegaard Signed from Real Madrid, £30m (2021)
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard
In terms of value for money, Odegaard has been a steal at just £30m, that’s a certainty. The Norwegian spent the second half of the 2020/21 campaign on loan in north London, and it was enough to see Arteta sign him permanently.
Since then, Odegaard has scored 33 goals while grabbing 23 assists, not only becoming a highly influential member of the team, but also the captain.
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ByCharlie Smith Oct 29, 2024
At the time of writing, the Norway international is currently valued at €110m (£92m) and that sum could continue to rise over the next few years.
Recently placing in the final Ballon d’Or rankings alongside three Arsenal teammates, it is clear how Odegaard’s stature in world football makes him one of the shrewdest signings of Arteta’s tenure.
Portuguese club Boavista have made nine new signings, including ex-Chelsea player Marco van Ginkel, after a two-year transfer ban was lifted.
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Boavista looking to turn around their fortunesVan Ginkel & Kurzawa among the nine signingsCurrently at the bottom of the standings in Liga PortugalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Boavista have wasted no time in reshaping its squad following the lifting of a two-year transfer ban, bringing in nine new players in a desperate attempt to salvage their season. One of the standout signings is Marco van Ginkel, the former Chelsea midfielder who is now 32 years old. The Dutchman arrives in Portugal hoping to revive his career after an impressive spell in the Eredivisie with Vitesse, where he contributed seven goals and two assists in 30 appearances during the 2023-24 season.
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Another notable acquisition is Layvin Kurzawa, the former Paris Saint-Germain left-back, who brings a wealth of experience. Having made 154 appearances for the French giants, Kurzawa has barely featured in recent seasons, playing just eight minutes of competitive football since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. Boavista will be hoping the 32-year-old can rediscover his form and help stabilize their struggling defence. Boavista has also strengthened its goalkeeping department with the arrival of Tomas Vaclik, an experienced shot-stopper with stints at Sevilla, Olympiacos, and Huddersfield Town. Canada international Steven Vitoria has been signed, adding valuable experience at the heart of the defence.
Former Queens Park Rangers full-back Osman Kakay has also joined the club, bringing defensive versatility after 113 appearances at Loftus Road. Additionally, Cameroonian centre-back Sidoine Fogning and Ukrainian defender Vitalii Lystov, who played 62 times for Benfica ‘B’, have been signed to improve defensive depth.
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To address their lack of firepower in attack, Boavista has acquired Moussa Kone, a forward with experience at Nîmes and FC Zurich. They have also brought in Gboly Ariyibi, a winger who previously trained with Leeds United and had a spell at Chesterfield. Adding to the sweeping changes, Boavista appointed Lito Vidigal as their new head coach on Monday. The 55-year-old is returning for his second stint at the Estádio do Bessa.
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Despite these signings, Boavista remain in deep trouble in the Liga Portugal table. They currently sit in 18th place with just 12 points from 21 matches, six points away from safety and five points behind the relegation playoff spot. Their form has been abysmal, with six consecutive defeats and an 11-match winless run. They will be in action next against Estrela Amadora on Friday in their next league fixture.
Captain says going for a win went “off the cards” during the second session of the final day that saw his side eke out a draw
Sidharth Monga29-Nov-20213:16
Jaffer: New Zealand played like the No. 1 team, competed right through
Since the start of 2013, India have won 19 tosses in Tests at home. Apart from the two weather-affected draws, they have won 16 matches, and only one by fewer than 100 runs. This Kanpur draw in the 19th is arguably the best performance by a side against arguably the biggest challenge in Test cricket today: to face India in India and lose the toss. It is hard enough to face India in India, but once they get the first use of the pitch, it is a nightmare, which shows in these numbers.New Zealand captain Kane Williamson could look back with some satisfaction at the effort, especially after coming here with a “disjointed” preparation. “There was a lot of heart and effort going into that end result. Having said that there were so many contributions throughout the game that kept us right in it for long periods, certainly after losing the toss. There was a really strong partnership, Wriddhiman Saha getting that fifty and putting them back on the front foot and allowed them to declare and try to fight for that winning result.Watch live cricket on ESPN+ in the US
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“For us, having that experience, going out, batsmen spending time in the middle and bowlers getting overs under their belt after a fairly disjointed preparation was really valuable. For us it is really important that we make adjustments quickly again. We go to a new venue, and it will be different.”It was Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson who kept New Zealand in the game with 14 wickets between them on a surface that India’s spinners did all the damage. That once again raised the old question if it was necessary to play two spinners in India and not your best bowlers even if that means playing a third seamer. Williamson defended his spinners Ajaz Patel and William Somerville there.”I mean you are always trying to adjust to conditions,” Williamson said. “The spinners that we have have been outstanding for us in a number of games and these sort of conditions. I think they will be much better for the hit out there. They have both come out of Auckland where they have been locked in their houses for a few weeks. So it has been a bit of a rush to get some overs under their belt.”Having said that, they did make valuable contributions with the bat and the ball. The way the two seamers as well operated was simply outstanding and really gave us a fighting chance in this match.Related
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“Tim and Kyle’s efforts kept us in the game and gave us a fighting chance to change the momentum. There was not a lot of pace to play with. Tim was able to change his angles and was certainly immaculate with his lengths and created opportunities for us, which is really special. Certainly at his best, and it was really great to see.”Remarkable start to Test cricket for Kyle, the fastest in our country to 50 wickets by some way. It is a really special effort and to do it in a number of different conditions. Tom Latham and Will Young as well. The contributions they made with the bat. Their sort of defiant attitude to committing with their plan and sticking to it was great to see.”New Zealand started the day needing 280 more runs with nine wickets in hand. They were given hope by the nightwatchman Somerville, who hung around with opener Latham for the entirety of the session. However, Williamson said India’s bowling was good enough to never let them entertain thoughts of a win.”Coming into the day we were aware that all three results were possible,” Williamson said. “Having said that there was a lot of hard work to do to give yourself a chance to chase versus trying to chase too early and finding yourselves in a sticky position. It was a matter of trying to take the day deep. And if we were close we would have had a crack if we were in the right position. But we weren’t in the end.”India were able to put us under pressure throughout the sessions. Scoring was tough to come by, and there was a lot of navigating low bounce and balls that spun and those sort of things. If things unfold ideally, then it would have been great to try and get close to the desired result. Having said that, I think going through that second session, it was quickly off the cards. Then we saw a lot of contributions from the guys where they really knuckled down and fought hard to get a draw in the end. That was the next best thing for us.”
Manchester United are prepared to offer a £105,000-per-week ace in exchange for a £50 million “top striker,” according to a new report. The Red Devils appear to be getting their plans in order ahead of the January and summer transfer windows, as INEOS will be looking to back their new head coach as he tries to get the club back to the top of the table.
£120k-p/w Man Utd ace offered to new club before even playing under Amorim
A player who has been at Old Trafford for over five years could be on his way out.
ByBrett Worthington Nov 14, 2024 Man Utd transfer news
In the week when Ruben Amorim arrived in Manchester and got his role as United’s new head coach underway, the Premier League side have been linked with several new arrivals.
The left-back role at Old Trafford is an area that does need addressing, and in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, it will become even more important that it is sorted, as Luke Shaw continues to have injury issues. United are exploring a deal to re-sign Alvaro Carreras, who they allowed to leave to join Benfica in the summer.
The Premier League side have a £16 million buy-back option in his contract, and he could be someone they can turn to if signing a left-back is a priority. Meanwhile, United are also interested in signing Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez, keeping a close eye on him, and they are ready “to act fast” to sign the Hungarian international, as the Cherries are braced for approaches.
But a left back is not the only position United are looking to strengthen, as they are now prepared to sacrifice one of their own to sign a new striker.
Man Utd prepared to offer £105k-p/w ace in exchange for £50m striker
According to The Daily Briefing relayed by Caught Offside, Manchester United are prepared to offer Joshua Zirkzee in exchange for Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres. Ever since Amorim was announced as United’s new head coach, Gyokeres has been someone constantly linked with a move to Old Trafford, as his impressive scoring rate in Portugal makes him a player in demand.
The Swedish international, who has been described as a “top striker,” has got 16 goals in 11 Liga Portugal games this season, form that has him on the radar of a number of clubs in the Premier League and abroad.
This report states that United are now preparing a transfer offer for Gyokeres, which will see them offer Zirkzee, who earns £105,000 a week at Old Trafford, in exchange for the Sporting striker, presumably with some cash heading to Portugal in the deal as well, albeit unclear how much. The Dutchman has struggled since joining the Red Devils, and his future at the club could already be in doubt.
Apps
68
Goals
66
Assists
19
If this deal is to happen for United, they will have to wait until the summer, as Amorim made it clear before leaving Sporting that he wouldn’t be returning to the Portuguese club for any of their players in January.
But signing Gyokeres at the end of the season may be too hard for Amorim to ignore, given the forward was exceptional under his management. It could be a cheaper deal for United than they may have expected, as while Gyokeres does have an £83 million release clause, it has been reported that he could be allowed to leave for £50 million in the summer, while including Zirkzee would take more of that figure off.
Arne Slot credited his coaching staff for Liverpool's set-piece success as they beat Manchester City 2-0.
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Slot opened up on Liverpool's set-piece trainingSalah and Szoboszlai combined for first goalReds beat Man City 2-0Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were on target in the first half as Liverpool comfortably beat Manchester City 2-0 to extend their lead over Arsenal to 11 points at the top of the table. Salah's first goal was a result of a well-executed training drill that saw Szoboszlai flick Alexis Mac Allister's low corner towards Salah, who found the back of the net.
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Speaking to after the match, Slot revealed how Liverpool mastered the art of set-pieces as he said: "If you want to win a big game you need a neutral set-piece balance or to score one and not concede. We kept City away from big chances because we made sure it didn't create as much as it normally does.
"We as a group of people look at how the set-up is, and someone came up with a brilliant plan and we knew that space could be there. The deflection was so helpful because it wasn't as if we were dominating the game."
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He added: "The first half played out better for them than for us, apart from the score. I don't think they had too many big chances but it felt like City was going to score. A lot in the second half, I can't remember it having a big chance.
"Ideally, we have the ball more than the other team. But City when it comes to ball possession, likes it a lot and is so comfortable on the ball. The only chance you have to win here is to defend very well."
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The Merseyside club will be back in action on Wednesday in the Premier League as they take on Newcastle United at Anfield.
The opener picked up a calf injury during the Ford Trophy earlier this month
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jan-2022Martin Guptill faces a tight timeframe to be fit for New Zealand’s limited-overs tour of Australia after picking up a “moderate” calf strain during the Ford Trophy one-day competition.Guptill suffered the injury on January 3 and is targeting a return in the Super Smash for Auckland Aces on January 22, just a couple of days before the New Zealand squad is due to head across the Tasman for the tour that includes three ODIs and one T20I.An NZC statement said Guptill “was improving and that the injury would continue to be monitored during a period of rehabilitation”.Guptill, who averages 42.23 in ODIs and 32.66 in T20Is, would be a significant loss if unable to make the tour with New Zealand expected to be without their Test players due to the MIQ requirements on return home and proximity of the series against South Africa.The ODI series is currently set to start in Perth on January 30 but the schedule is expected to be changed because of Western Australia’s border restrictions that are not due to lift until February 5. Matches are also due to be held in Hobart and Sydney before the T20I in Canberra.The one-day series will form part of Ross Taylor’s farewell to international cricket as he closes out his career with the Australia series and home matches against Netherlands following his last Test against Bangladesh.
Wolverhampton Wanderers might well decide to change their manager in the coming days. It has been an appalling start to the season for the Old Gold, who are rock bottom of the Premier League and winless so far this term.
Gary O’Neil is seemingly under increased pressure, with his side without a win since the 27th of April, a 2-1 victory against now-relegated Luton Town. They have three draws this campaign and have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded 27 goals.
The higher-ups at Molineux may well decide to pull the plug on O’Neil’s reign soon enough and are believed to be surveying options. There has been one shock candidate who has emerged.
Wolves' search for a manager
The manager in question here is Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin. The Swedish boss has been incredibly impressive at the helm for the Scottish side this season and is thought to be a target at Molineux if they decide to make a change.
According to a report from Graeme Bailey, the Old Gold would have to pay a release clause of £2m if they decide to bring the impressive Swedish boss to the club. That follows a report from the start of October, which suggested the Midlands club are ‘considering making a move’ for Thelin.
Indeed, the £2m release clause was something believed to be inserted this summer in the Swede’s contract at Pittodrie. It could now be a clause the Old Gold activate as they look to transform their season.
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Why Thelin would be a good appointment
It has been a sublime start to life in British football for the former Elfsborg boss. He joined Aberdeen this summer and has made an extraordinary start to life at Pittodrie, with The Dons flying high in the SPFL this term.
Despite a 6-0 thrashing by Celtic in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup, they are the closest challengers to the Bhoys in the top flight and sit second. Brendan Rogers’ side are only top on goal difference, with both sides currently on 28 points from 10 games.
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Games
10
Wins
9
Draws
1
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0
Goals for
20
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9
Points per game
2.8
One thing that Thelin has done this season has turned their home ground, Pittodrie, into something of a fortress. Their only dropped point this term has come away from home, at Celtic Park, meaning they have a flawless record at home.
That includes a famous 2-1 victory over Scottish giants Rangers.
There is certainly a case to be made that Wolves would be taking a big risk in appointing a manager from the Scottish top flight, with the Premier League being a big jump.
However, the man who goes a long way to disproving that theory is Ange Postecoglou, the Tottenham Hotspur manager.
After a successful spell in Scottish football in charge of the Bhoys, in which he won five trophies, including two league titles, the Australian made the move to North London. There, he boasts an impressive record which includes 31 wins in 56 matches, and a fifth-place finish in his first season. The Lilywhites have performed well this term, too, and are two points outside of the top four.
Thelin could certainly be Wolves’ own version of Postecoglou, who has proven there can be a relatively seamless transition between the Scottish and English top flights.
With that in mind, it may well be worth the risk for the Old Gold, particularly with Thelin also mirroring the Spurs boss with regard to his attack-minded, free-flowing approach, as has been outlined by Dons hero, Willie Miller:
Former Celtic defender and Thelin’s fellow Swede, Johan Mjallby, described him as “the next best thing” in management in the past. It may certainly be a risky appointment for the Midlands club, but Aberdeen’s boss could be the man to come and change the fortunes around at Molineux, as they look to survive in the Premier League.
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Teenager Huraira became the first player to top the run charts in his debut Quaid-e-Azam season
Danyal Rasool30-Dec-2021No one would have begrudged 19-year-old Mohammad Huraira finishing the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with the title, and that was precisely what made defeat such a bitter pill to swallow for the teenager.Over the course of a remarkable three months, the Northern opener became the first player to top the run charts in his debut QeA season, accumulating 986 runs at an average of 58, with three hundreds and five half-centuries – including 51 and 57 in the final against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Instead, it was the well-oiled machine of KP – joint winners of last year’s tournament – who came out on top once more as Huraira’s Northern fell short by 169 runs.”Of course, it’s personally satisfying to be the top scorer but it would have been much nicer if it was in a winning cause,” Huraira said after the game. “But hats off to KP; they outplayed us in all three departments. I didn’t have a huge goal of finishing as the highest scorer, but I had small goals from game to game. Whenever I get a chance I give it my best shot. It came off thankfully. Last year, I didn’t get a chance and I was off-colour after the U-19 World Cup. I just worked hard.”In Pakistan, domestic success, particularly for younger players, is seen as something of a stepping stone to international stardom, epitomised by what Hurraira went on to say. “My next target is to represent Pakistan in all three formats, and to give match-winning performances for my country.”With Pakistan struggling for runs at the top of the order of late, their woes exacerbated by the heart condition that Abid Ali is currently ailing from, Huraira has timed his purple patch to perfection.’The way my form is going, it feels like I’ll play for a long time’ – IftikharAt the other end of the emotions and experience spectrum, KP captain and Player of the Match Iftikhar Ahmed was beaming.”I’m feeling very proud because where you go and win a trophy, it makes you proud,” Iftikhar, 31, said. “Winning five consecutive trophies is a testament to all the hard work of our players. They work hard in the field and give their all, which gives them success.”Iftikhar’s form with the bat in this tournament has been pivotal to KP’s success whenever he has been available. Despite absences from the competition because of his involvement with the national side, he amassed 461 runs in ten innings at an average of 51.22. Two of his four half-centuries came in the last league game against Central Punjab, but he saved his best for last. In the final, a glorious 102 in the first innings set up a decisive lead for his side, before he chipped in with two top-order wickets in the fourth innings to put KP on course.The victorious Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy•PCB”I was thrilled to get a hundred and perform in such a big match,” he said. “I was thinking before the final that I’ll go out and help my team win. The way my form is going, it feels like I’ll play for a long time. Our team has a lot of young players and senior players, and everyone pulls their own weight. Our young players perform really well. The juniors take as much responsibility as the seniors.”Our domestic structure ‘incentivises positive cricket’ – AminHis opposite number, Umar Amin, has been in this position before. Two years ago, he was part of a young Northern side that defied the odds and made it all the way to the final against a star-studded Central Punjab side, and found themselves blown away by an innings. In 2021, despite himself being near the top of the run charts – in fourth place with 811 runs at 50.68 – he found his side up against an equally relentless juggernaut.”Of course, it’s disappointing if you don’t get over the line after playing two consecutive QeA finals,” he said. “When we moved to Karachi, we won four matches on the bounce to qualify for the final. It would have been nice to win to cap our season and the efforts we put in. Unfortunately, we didn’t do it this time but if we ever get a chance again, we’ll try and get over the line.”This points system is very exciting; the tournament remains wide open till late in the tournament. Even Sindh, who didn’t qualify, only fell short by about two or three points. It’s fun till the end and gives all six teams a fair chance. It encourages teams to play aggressive cricket. Overall, this is good for both our domestic and international cricket that we have a system in our domestic structure that incentivises positive cricket.”
Mary Earps has explained how leaving the "craziness of England" is helping to drive her push for a record-breaking third FIFA Best Goalkeeper award.
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Landed prestigious prizes in 2022 and 2023Embraced new challenge in France with PSGContinuously working on ways to better herselfFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The European Championship winner has already made history by being named the best shot-stopper on the planet in the women’s game across back-to-back campaigns – with those prizes being collected by the Lionesses’ No.1 in 2022 and 2023.
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Earps is forever challenging herself and stepped out of a professional comfort zone when leaving WSL side Manchester United for French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024. The 31-year-old believes that she can take her game to even greater heights after escaping the brightest of spotlights in her homeland.
WHAT MARY EARPS SAID
Earps has told : "They always says ‘champions are made when nobody’s watching’. That was something that always stood out to me when I was young. I’ve kind of gone away I guess, from the craziness of England. I kind of get to go away and work hard in silence and just get on with my job quietly."
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With the defence of England’s Euros crown to come this summer, Earps sees no reason why she cannot compete for another prestigious FIFA gong in 2025. She added on the desire to make more history: "I’ve been named best goalkeeper in the world for two years, which no goalkeeper had done in that time. But I’m thinking, ‘I want to do it a third time’. I’m always competing with yesterday’s version of me and that’s what’s really important to me, how can I be better than I was yesterday?"