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The Gunners were toothless up front once again as they were held to a frustrating stalemate at the City Ground

Arsenal's injury-ravaged attack drew a second successive blank as a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday put pay to any lingering Premier League title hopes.

In a game of few chances, it was the Gunners who did much of the pressing and there was certainly a response from Mikel Arteta's side to the dreadfully disappointing performance against West Ham at the weekend.

If anyone was going to score it looked like being the visitors, with Riccardo Calafiori curling one excellent effort against the post in the first half. Makeshift centre forward Mikel Merino forced Matz Sels into a sharp stop in the second half and Kieran Tierney also went close with a header which he put just wide from Martin Odegaard's corner.

At the other end, the hosts rarely threatened, although David Raya was forced into action to keep out Chris Wood's snap shot before both teams were forced to settle for a point.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the City Ground…

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David Raya (7/10):

Didn't have much to do. Played as a sweeper for most of the game. Was alert to keep out one effort from Wood in the second half.

Jurrien Timber (6/10):

Neat and tidy. Did his job well defensively, but offered little in attack.

William Saliba (7/10):

Dealt well with the threat of Wood in the central areas. Strong.

Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

Excellent once again. Made one superb tackle to deny Wood after a Forest breakaway in the first half.

Riccardo Calafiori (6/10):

Booked inside a couple of minutes and given a tough time defensively by Hudson-Odoi. Was a threat going forward though and curled one excellent effort against the post before setting up Nwaneri for a chance. Replaced at half-time, presumably because of the early booking.

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Jorginho (6/10):

Brought into the side and did what was asked of him. Nothing spectacular, but kept the ball moving. Replaced by Zinchenko as he tired midway through the second half.

Declan Rice (6/10):

Went close with one effort in the first half which was deflected over. Did his best to drive forward and get towards the box. Looked like he was on his last legs in the second half.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Another game where the skipper failed to have much of an influence. Can't fault his work ethic, but he's just not getting in areas to hurt the opposition at the moment. His team needs more from him.

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Ethan Nwaneri (6/10):

Some flashes of quality. Produced one lovely turn on the edge of the box but didn't get his shot away quick enough.

Mikel Merino (7/10):

Used as the makeshift centre forward again, although he was roaming all over the pitch. Put a shift in, but was never really a threat in open play. Did force Sels into one good save from a corner.

Leandro Trossard (5/10):

End product just wasn't really there all night. Crosses were overhit and his touch was off at times.

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Kieran Tierney (6/10):

On at half-time for Calafiori. Put in one wicked cross and also sent a header just wide from a corner.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (5/10):

Made one good run through the lines to set up a chance for Odegaard, but was flagged offside.

Raheem Sterling (N/A):

No impact after coming on for the final 10 minutes.

Ben White (N/A):

On for the last few minutes.

Thomas Partey (N/A):

On for the final stages, scuffed one shot wide.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

He will be much happier with his team's performance, but has to somehow come up with a way of making this team a threat.

It has not been confirmed whether the four – which includes one player – will seek asylum in the UK

Nagraj Gollapudi07-Feb-2022Four members of Afghanistan’s Under-19 touring party which participated in the recent World Cup in the Caribbean have stayed on in the UK and not returned to Afghanistan with their team-mates.Their transit visas are set to expire on February 8 and ESPNcricinfo has confirmed the four are currently in London. It could not be confirmed whether the quartet, which includes one player, is seeking asylum in the UK.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has made no official comment on the development.Afghanistan enjoyed a successful World Cup, finishing fourth, three places higher than in 2020. The touring party boarded a flight in Antigua over the weekend and landed in London at Heathrow airport on Sunday morning. The squad then took a flight to Kabul via the UAE, eventually landing back home on Monday morning, to felicitations from the ACB.While the rest of the Afghanistan squad including the coaching and support staff boarded that flight, four decided to stay at Heathrow.UK government rules state that a person can stay in the country for no more than 48 hours on a transit visa. That means the four members’ transit visa will expire on Tuesday morning. It was the issuance of the same visas in January that had delayed Afghanistan’s arrival in the Caribbean and nearly made them miss the World Cup.’Afghanistan needs them’Former Afghanistan player Raees Ahmadzai, who was the head coach during the World Cup, said he hoped the four would “rethink” and return back to their home country. Ahmadzai said he had messaged all four. “They received my messages. But they have not responded yet,” Ahmadzai told ESPNcricnfo on Monday.”I told them Afghanistan needs them. Sports and cricket has done a lot for Afghanistan. The support we got during the World Cup was amazing, unbelievable. Sometimes when you do things for your country, it will mean a lot for you in your whole life.”Related

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Afghanistan suffer visa glitches ahead of Under-19 World Cup

More than 100,000 Afghans including at least one former president, bureaucrats, sportspersons and civilians left the country immediately after Taliban assumed power last August. Ahmadzai said that while he understood it was a “personal” choice, he did not know if the four people had a plan.”Sometimes you can get emotional and can decide in the spur of the moment, but once you re-think about what you did I think it will hurt you. I believe they will go back. It is a personal choice. Sometimes you don’t have a plan. I know these people. They were very good to work for Afghanistan cricket.”In case the four decide not to return, Ahmadzai said it would not affect Afghanistan cricket. “It will not create any problem for our cricket. But they will feel forever guilty. As a sportsperson you can travel anywhere. When I started playing cricket it was my dream to go to see UK, Europe, America, Australia and it is because of cricket I have travelled more than 50 countries. These guys are professionals, and I am still hoping they will go back to Afghanistan.”Ahmadzai said that cricket had sustained its popularity despite the country’s uncertainty and instability. “Cricket will be alive in Afghanistan. The future of the game remains bright. We finished fourth this time compared to seventh in the last edition.”We had very strong support in the Caribbean. The opposition teams praised us including Mahela Jayawardene [who] said it is amazing to see such good players at the Under-19 level and you guys will be on top one day. That means a lot for our youngsters.”

Arsenal were a day late and a dollar short in the Premier League title race last season, and the one before. Of course, this is only because Mikel Arteta has been pitted against the Manchester City winning machine, operated by his mentor Pep Guardiola.

This term, several parts have malfunctioned at the Etihad Stadium, but the Gunners are currently failing to reach the same almighty levels of synergy that they held across recent years. There is, of course, a long road still to walk.

But Arsenal probably need to make a signing or two this winter. Arteta’s squad is one of an elite level, but it’s not without its drawbacks.

It might be difficult to sign a first-class number nine before next summer, but there are alternative means of finding potent players capable of making their mark.

Arsenal eyeing winter reinforcements

Arsenal will be scouring the market for players who can help spark creativity within Arteta’s squad. Martin Odegaard is one of the finest playmakers on the continent but his absence was keenly felt over the past few months.

There’s also a need for goalscorers, and that’s why the Emirates side are interested in raiding Celta Vigo for their up-and-coming talent Williot Swedberg.

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal have sent scouts to Spain to observe Swedberg, 20, in action, with the attacking midfielder starting to make real headway in La Liga.

A host of further high-profile suitors are believed to be aware of the Swedish star’s development, but given that Arsenal have had representatives in attendance, along with Newcastle United, they are currently in the driving seat.

Radio presenter Miguel Quintana has remarked that Swedberg will be “worth millions” as he goes from strength to strength in Spain. He could be the perfect squad member to give Arsenal that extra oomph.

Why Arsenal want Williot Swedberg

Swedberg garnered quite the reputation for himself when breaking onto the scene with Hammersby. Known for his vision and technique, the 20-year-old is beginning to find a level of potency that could prompt Arsenal to accelerate their interest.

In fine fettle this season, Swedberg has posted two goals and three assists in the Spanish first division already, though he’s also won 61% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore, highlighting a roundedness and steel about him that could see him impress in the Premier League.

The Swedish talent is indeed showcasing an impressive range of qualities, ranking among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and the top 1% for blocks made per 90, as per FBref.

It would appear that his style of play lends itself to Arteta’s system too, for the underlying data suggests that the young Swede is something of a hybrid of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

1.

Brennan Johnson

Tottenham

2.

Anthony Elanga

Nott’m Forest

3.

Justin Kluivert

Bournemouth

4.

Leandro Trossard

Arsenal

5.

Gabriel Martinelli

Arsenal

There’s no question that Martinelli and Trossard each have exciting qualities that are fitting for a team of Arsenal’s stature, fighting to win silverware on the biggest stages.

But neither have enjoyed their finest football this term, both coming under flak for wasted opportunities and anonymous showings for an Arsenal side not quite toiling but certainly not at their zenith.

Martinelli scored during Arsenal’s recent draw against Chelsea and is showing signs of that one-time life that led former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to describe him as “a talent of the century.” His pace and movements down the left wing make for a deadly combination indeed.

Meanwhile, Trossard ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, with an innate goalscoring instinct that Swedberg appears eager to adopt.

For all the grumbling about Arsenal’s creativity (or the lack of purchase in that regard), Arteta’s outfit have created 31 big chances in the Premier League this season, with Liverpool (33) and Aston Villa (32) the only clubs to have created more.

All that without Odegaard in the fold for a sizeable chunk. Now that he’s back, the Gunners architect will only be too happy to pull strings and enhance Arsenal’s fluid attacking sequences, ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for progressive passes played per 90.

Why is this pertinent to Swedberg’s case? Well, for a mobile attacking midfielder still within the confines of footballing immaturity, being supplemented by such a high-powered playmaker would only serve to elevate him toward prominence in Arsenal’s squad.

His pace and footwork have earned attention, and so too has his ability to serve as a conduit for the central striker when fed surgical deliveries from those operating deeper. Those like Odegaard.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

His goal threat looks like it’s only going to get better as time passes too, and thus Arsenal must take a punt on this rising star and furnish their frontline with a young and hungry dynamo.

He’s playing on the left wing more frequently this season, only strengthening the above-mentioned likeness to Trossard and Martinelli. Right-footed, his technical ability allows him to arc inward with ease and find space to shoot on goal.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig commented this term that Swedberg is “finally beginning to show his true potential” on the senior stage, and could now hone his craft and then some at a top outfit like Arsenal.

With Trossard and Martinelli struggling for form, chances to impress would be sure to fall his way. He’s the type of player that Arteta enjoys – after all, he carries some of the best properties of the aforementioned Gunners. Just imagine them melded into one.

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Luis Enrique sent out a fiery warning for Liverpool after Paris Saint-Germain's thumping win over Rennes in the Ligue 1 on Saturday.

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Enrique issued a warning for LiverpoolPSG beat Rennes 4-1 on SaturdayPSG face the Reds in the second leg on TuesdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

After a demoralising 1-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 fixture at home, PSG returned to winning ways as they crushed Rennes 4-1 in the Ligue 1 courtesy of a brace from Ousmane Dembele and goals from Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos. Against the Reds, the French champions were the more dominant side, but Alisson's terrific goalkeeping and Merseyside club's unbelievable luck prevented them from picking up a victory at Parc des Princes.

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Manager Luis Enrique is now prepared to turn around the Champions League tie as he fired a warning towards Arne Slot's side. At his post-match press conference, the Spanish coach said: "We are in the best possible conditions to challenge Liverpool, we have nothing to lose and we will give everything to qualify. After the defeat against Liverpool (1-0, Wednesday), we were sad but we recovered, we regained our spirits. We played a good match against Rennes, who also played well, particularly at the start of the second half."

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The PSG boss added: "It was difficult but we played seriously and that allows us to have a lot of hope for Liverpool. With the staff, we have to evaluate the conditions, we trust the players, their feelings, it's up to us to manage the load and the distribution of minutes so that it is as balanced as possible. I lied to you, of course we were thinking about Liverpool, as we have been since the draw."

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PSG and Liverpool are all set to lock horns in an exciting Champions League round of 16 second leg fixture on Tuesday night at Anfield.

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign a £77m forward in a swap deal involving forward Christopher Nkunku, according to a report.

Nkunku's Chelsea future

Nkunku has found minutes hard to come by in the Premier League so far this season, with his game time mainly being limited to cameo appearances off the bench, which has cast doubt over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

Intermediaries are set to open talks with Nkunku over a move away from west London, but manager Enzo Maresca has been quick to quash any rumours that his player is unsettled, saying:

“No, not at all. I spoke to Christo days ago and he did not say he was unhappy. For sure, he would like to play minutes but like many players. We have so many games, especially in December.”

The Chelsea boss has also made it clear he does not want the 27-year-old to leave in the January transfer window, saying: “I completely want Christo to stay with us; I don’t have any idea to let him leave in January.”

Chelsea’s next five Premier League games

Date

Southampton (a)

December 4

Tottenham Hotspur (a)

December 8

Brentford (h)

December 15

Everton (a)

December 22

Fulham (h)

December 26

The manager explained that it is difficult to find a place for the Frenchman in the starting XI at present, given that he has so many options at his disposal, naming the likes of Cole Palmer, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke, but the rumours of an exit won’t go away.

Randal Kolo Muani could join Chelsea in swap deal

Despite Maresca’s reluctance to sell, there could soon be an interesting proposition on the table, with The Boot Room reporting that Paris Saint-Germain are keen to take Nkunku back to the Parc des Princes.

The forward is concerned by his lack of opportunities at Stamford Bridge, although he is yet to give up on his Chelsea career and wants to fight for a place in the team.

The report states that PSG could be willing to swap £77m signing Randal Kolo Muani for the former RB Leipzig man, which could be a deal that works for all parties, although the Blues are not expecting any movement in January.

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Although Nkunku, a 14-time France international, is yet to set the world alight in a Chelsea shirt, he has shown some promising signs when given the opportunity this season, scoring five goals in four Conference League outings.

As such, it may be unwise to let the £195k-p/w forward leave in January, although there are indications that Kolo Muani could be a solid addition to Maresca’s squad.

Kylian Mbappe has previously lauded his international teammate, saying: “He is a striker who offers different game options to our team. He is very complete and has an impressive volume of play.”

However, Maresca has made it clear he wants Nkunku to stay, meaning it is unlikely a move comes to fruition this winter.

“We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm,” says head coach Anil Kumble

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-2022Mayank Agarwal has been unveiled as the new captain of Punjab Kings, just under a month from the start of the 2022 edition of the IPL on March 26.”I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team,” Agarwal, one of two players retained by the franchise ahead of the latest mega auction – medium-pacer Arshdeep Singh was the other – said in a statement issued by the Kings on Monday morning. “I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season.”We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it.”

Attention #SherSquad

Our ©  Mayank Agarwal

Send in your wishes for the new #CaptainPunjab #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPL2022 @mayankcricket pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 28, 2022

Agarwal, who has in the past turned out for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore, joined the Punjab franchise in 2018, when it was still called Kings XI Punjab. After a slow start – he scored 120 runs at a strike rate of 127.65 from 11 innings in his first season – he has been one of the team’s leading batters. His 332 runs in 2019 came at a strike rate of 141.88, and as he forged a strong opening pairing with KL Rahul, the captain till last season, Agarwal scored 424 runs (SR 156.45) and 441 runs (SR 140.44) in 2020 and 2021 respectively.Overall, in 11 seasons of playing in the IPL, Agarwal has 2131 runs at an average of 23.41 and strike rate of 135.47.”Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years,” Kings head coach Anil Kumble said. “The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm.Related

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“He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign.”Though he has had a good run in the IPL over the years, Agarwal hasn’t yet earned his India cap in T20Is. He was called up to the squad for the ongoing series at home against Sri Lanka, but only as an injury replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Looked at as a long-format player by the national selectors, Agarwal has played 19 Tests (1429 runs at an average of 43.30) and five ODIs (86 runs at 17.20) so far.In the 2022 IPL, though he won’t have Rahul, his friend and colleague from Karnataka for many years, to work with. Rahul led the Punjab franchise for the last two seasons, but was acquired before the latest auction by new franchise Lucknow Super Giants, who have also named him their captain. His price tag of INR 17 crore (US$ 2.28 million approx.) made him the joint-highest-paid player in the IPL across seasons, along with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli. Kohli was signed for the same amount by Royal Challengers in 2018, ahead of the last mega IPL auction.Agarwal does, however, have a strong unit at his disposal. At the recent auction, Kings spent a lot of money on Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, Shahrukh Khan and Shikhar Dhawan, who should be Agarwal’s opening partner. They also have players like Jonny Bairstow and Odean Smith among overseas players, and locals like Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan and Harpreet Brar, apart from Arshdeep.Kings have been stacked with Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers and Gujarat Titans in Group B in the upcoming IPL.

Matt Turner admits that his “situation isn’t ideal”, with a lack of game time at club level putting his No.1 spot with the USMNT under threat.

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Tumbled down the pecking order at ForestLimited to cup outings during Palace loanFaces competition for international berthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 30-year-old goalkeeper has remained the go-to option for his country despite struggling for minutes domestically. Turner tumbled down the pecking order at Premier League side Nottingham Forest before being sent out on loan to Crystal Palace for the 2024-25 campaign.

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He has taken in just three cup appearances for the Eagles, leading United States coach Mauricio Pochettino to admit that “the competition is open” when it comes to battle for starting duties between Turner, Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen.

WHAT MATT TURNER SAID

Turner has said of the challenge that he faces when it comes to nailing down a spot between the sticks: “I wouldn't say that any position on this team right now is set in stone. I think there's probably an open competition all over the pitch.

“Obviously my club situation isn't ideal right now, but I'm giving every opportunity that I have to play the utmost importance and trying to put good performances together, just control what I can right now and then let the chips fall where they may.”

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Turner remains under contract at Forest, but concedes that he may need to find another move in the summer transfer window. He added on his present and future: “Whenever I come to the national team I want to play, I want to put the crest on and have the responsibility of being the number one. But at the same time, I understand that my club situation right now isn't the best. So I have to maybe make some changes in that department if I want to play more consistently.

“But again, if I just continue to control the things that I can, play well when I have the chances with the U.S., I'll be happy with the hat I can put into the ring.”

Chelsea return to Premier League action today as they prepare to take on Thomas Frank’s Brentford side at Stamford Bridge in the evening kick-off.

The Blues beat Astana away from home in the Conference League on Thursday, winning 3-1, thanks to two goals from Marc Guiu and one from Renato Veiga.

Enzo Maresca handed chances to a number of young stars in a heavily rotated side, with the likes of Veiga, Guiu, Sam Rak-Sakyi, and Carney Chukwuemeka all featuring.

The Chelsea head coach should go back to his Premier League regulars for this clash with Brentford, though, and Cole Palmer is, perhaps, the most nailed-on player to come back in.

Cole Palmer's form this season

The England international, who was not included in the Conference League squad, has been in sensational form in the top-flight this term and should start tonight.

Palmer started the last Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday and scored twice in the 4-3 win, with both of his strikes coming from the penalty spot.

The left-footed wizard has now scored 11 goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and registered six assists in 15 appearances in the league so far this season for the Blues, which speaks to his importance in the final third.

Palmer has the quality to be a match-winner and difference-maker for Chelsea at the top end of the pitch and should come straight back into the starting XI this evening.

Chalkboard

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

However, it may be as important for Maresca to start another Blues attacker against Brentford, as Jadon Sancho has been in fantastic form of late.

Why starting Jadon Sancho is important for Chelsea

The English magician, whose £25m permanent option price tag was hailed as an “amazing bargain” by Ian Wright, has produced two goals and one assist in his last four matches for Chelsea in all competitions, including a strike against Spurs on Sunday.

His goal against Tottenham came at a crucial time for the Blues. They were 2-0 down after 11 minutes and Sancho’s sensational drive inside from the left and low finish into the bottom corner from distance pulled a goal back and started the comeback for the away side.

The Manchester United loanee’s all-round play in the game was also vital for Chelsea because his composure and intelligence on the ball are conducive to high-quality football.

Touches

66

69

Pass accuracy

87%

79%

Passes completed

47

33

Possession lost

10x

16x

Open play shots on target

2

1

As you can see in the table above, Sancho completed more passes, with a higher success rate, and managed more open play shots on goal than Palmer did, despite the left-footed ace having more touches.

The former Borussia Dortmund star thrives on linking up with teammates and playing the extra pass to create the best possible outcome for his team, which was best illustrated by his excellent pass to release Moises Caciedo in the box, who then won the first penalty that Palmer scored from.

Sancho’s decision-making, reliability, and quality in possession on the wing make him an incredibly important part of Maresca’s attacking unit, as illustrated by his recent goal contributions and his exceptional performance against Spurs.

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That is why unleashing him from the start against Brentford this evening is as important as bringing Palmer back into the starting line-up is, as they are both crucial to the attack.

Harmer, Sam Cook and Steketee claim three wickets each, Alastair Cook 59* in Essex’s reply

Matt Roller14-Apr-2022An unexpected fire alarm sounded in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion at Taunton before lunch. The official explanation was that steam from an oven had set off the smoke detector, but the timing was fitting as Somerset’s batting lineup went up in flames once again.Essex’s attack spent 187.3 overs in the field last week before eventually bowling Kent out for 587 in a bore draw at Chelmsford but on a pitch barely distinguishable from the outfield, they ran through Somerset for 109. Sam Cook, Mark Steketee and Simon Harmer – playing three days after helping South Africa roll Bangladesh at Gqeberha – took three wickets each, vindicating Tom Westley’s decision to bowl first.Somerset’s batters have struggled for runs since the start of the divisional stage of last season’s Championship: this was the ninth time in the five-and-a-half games since then that they have made 181 or fewer in an innings; damningly, 109 was only their third-lowest total across them. Essex reached parity in the final over of the day, only two wickets down with Alastair Cook unbeaten overnight.Related

Dane Vilas, Steven Croft craft excellent start for Lancashire

Ollie Pope shows the more things change, the more they stay the same

It has been a dismal run for Somerset, who are staring down the prospect of a sixth consecutive loss on the back of an innings defeat away at Hampshire in the opening round. They have not won a Championship game since May 9 last year and Lachlan Stevens, who arrived in the country last week after signing a two-year contract as their new batting coach, has plenty of hard work ahead.”It’s not where we’d like to be,” Stevens said. “Scoring under 200 in the first innings is not good enough in first-class cricket to get yourself into a position to win a game, but everyone knows that.”There’s some really good techniques in our group and some really good batters but we’re just making some decision-making errors. I understand the frustration of the playing group and the supporters alike but all I can say is that we’ll go out there every day and keep working to try and find answers.”There were some abject shots among Somerset’s dismissals. After tucking a pair of early boundaries through midwicket, Ben Green decided to chase a wide half-volley to give Steketee his first Essex wicket, while Steven Davies poked at a wide one from Shane Snater with his hand away from his body and his feet rooted to the crease, edging through to Adam Wheater.Tom Lammonby was the lone source of resistance, and one of only three men to reach double figures. He had two lives, dropped at slip by Harmer and by Sam Cook off his own bowling, but played with assurance as he stood tall to thump Snater through cover and clipped Harmer wristily through midwicket. He was the ninth man out when reverse-sweeping Harmer to slip for 48; the next highest score was 15.Cook was Essex’s best bowler on the day and appears to have dislodged Jamie Porter – rotated out of the side for this game – as the leader of their seam attack, with his first-class average hovering just above 20 after his return of 3 for 17. He bowled Matt Renshaw, Somerset’s returning overseas player, with a nip-backer which he attempted to leave alone and removed Tom Abell and Lewis Goldsworthy in the same over.England have shown little interest in Cook despite his impressive record. He was belatedly added to the Lions tour this winter but did not play in their fixture against Australia A, with his lack of height or genuine pace appearing to count against him. Essex will not worry too much about his lack of recognition: he is remarkably consistent for them, offering no real width and nipping the ball both ways off the seam.His namesake, Alastair, cruised past 25,000 first-class runs in Essex’s response. The vast majority of his 59 so far in this innings came through his trademark cut shot, with occasional back-foot punches through cover and clips off the pads when Somerset’s seamers looked to set him up for an lbw.Craig Overton – relegated to first change behind Lewis Gregory and Peter Siddle, having opened the bowling for England in the Caribbean – briefly threatened to break the game open after tea with a hostile spell. “You’re f***ing kidding me,” he grumbled after Cook guided him through the cordon with an open face and his mood was not improved when Abell could only tip a tough chance at third slip over his head for four.He pleaded for an lbw decision when Cook was hit on the shin, but eventually broke through, punching the air in relief after Abell held a thick edge from Nick Browne at the second attempt, juggling the initial chance while tumbling to his right. He had a second before stumps, as Westley strangled one down the leg side.Overton was roared on throughout by the lone, distinctive voice of Tractor, a relentlessly positive Somerset supporter who has been dislodged from his usual bench due to renovations on Gimblett’s Hill. Even he may struggle for optimism if Somerset’s winless run goes on much longer.

In the last few seasons of their domestic domination, Manchester City have had some legends of the Premier League. Some of those are still playing today, such as Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker. While they are getting older now, there is no doubting their importance to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Going back further to the City sides of the 2010s, the likes of Vincent Kompany and David Silva were crucial to the East Manchester outfit’s dominance. Silva is fourth on the list for the club’s all-time leading appearance makers, with 436 in total.

However, perhaps the best of the modern-day City legends is Sergio Aguero.

Aguero’s City career

Argentina striker Aguero made the move to the Etihad Stadium in July 2011 from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. He cost the Citizens £38m, joining on a five-year deal. It is fair to say the centre-forward was worth the money City paid for him.

In 390 games for the club across all competitions, the prolific marksman scored 260 goals and grabbed 64 assists, making him the club’s record goalscorer.

He hit the ground running in his first season, scoring 23 top-flight goals and proceeded to score 20 or more Premier League goals in five seasons.

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Given the fact he passed 20 goals in six out of nine English top-flight seasons, it might not come as a surprise to know he is part of the Premier League 100 Club, an elite group of the best goalscorers in the division’s history.

He ranks fifth in the list with 184 goals, arguably the best of which was his famous strike against Queen’s Park Rangers to win City the league in 2011/12.

Aguero departed the club in 2021 as a Citizens legend, with five Premier Leagues to his name. He moved to Barcelona but sadly had to retire just a few months into his time at the club due to a heart condition.

When the striker left City, Guardiola famously said “we cannot replace him”, although it’s fair to say Erling Haaland hasn’t done a bad job so far. Before Haaland, however, the club were meant to have already had a replacement waiting in the wings.

City’s Aguero replacement

Things did not go according to plan for Gabriel Jesus at the Etihad Stadium. He cost £27m from Brazilian side Palmeiras, signing in August 2016. When he joined, City director of football Txiki Begiristain said the striker is one of the “most exciting young prospects” in the world:

His record for the Citizens is not bad by any means. He spent six seasons at the club and managed 95 goals and 45 assists in 236 appearances for the club. Yet, despite a more than respectable record, the striker perhaps lived in the shadow of Aguero during his time at the club.

That was not through lack of support from Guardiola, describing him as “the best striker in the world” at one stage, which suggested he thought he could be Aguero’s heir.

Jesus’ Premier League record for the Cityzens in the top flight is rather underwhelming. Across six seasons at the club, he managed to find the back of the net 58 times and grab 31 assists in 159 games. His best campaign came in 2019/20, where he scored 14 times in 34 games.

2016/17

10

7

4

2017/18

29

13

3

2018/19

29

7

3

2019/20

34

14

8

2020/21

29

9

4

2021/22

28

8

9

His mixed form in that famous Sky Blue shirt led to a big decision for the Citizens. In 2022, they cashed in on their striker once lauded by the higher-ups at the club. Arsenal spent £45m on him, and he linked up with Mikel Arteta, his former coach at City. It was a great piece of business from City to make £18m profit on him, given his contribution to the club.

Just as he did at City, the Brazilian has slightly underwhelmed for the Gunners. He has 25 goals and 17 assists in 91 games, although did score a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night and scored twice more against the Eagles in the league on Saturday.

Overall, Jesus’ career is a bit of an enigma. He was part of successful, title-winning sides at City, but his contributions always left a little to be desired, just as it has at Arsenal. City fans may look back on his time at the club with regret, that he did not end up becoming the next Aguero.

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