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Australia play their nine league matches at eight venues; the England fixture is in Ahmedabad on November 4

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2023

Pat Cummins could be the only bowler-captain at the ODI World Cup in India•AP Photo

Australia begin their 2023 ODI World Cup campaign against hosts India in Chennai on October 8, before going on to play their next two games in Lucknow in the north of India: against South Africa on October 13 and a qualifier on October 16.The World Cup schedule was finally released by the ICC and BCCI at an event in Mumbai on June 27, just 100 days before the start of the tournament on October 5. In comparison, the fixtures for the 2019 World Cup in England and the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand were released more than 12 months in advance.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The tournament will be played across ten venues in India, with the semi-finals in Mumbai and Kolkata on November 15 and 16, and the final in Ahmedabad on November 19. There are reserve days in place for the semis and final. The format will be the same as it was in 2019, with ten teams playing each other once in the league phase and the top four qualifying for the semi-finals.India qualified for the event as hosts, while Afghanistan, Australia, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa made it by finishing in the top eight of the 2020-2023 ODI World Cup Super League. The remaining two qualifiers will be identified at the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, which is being played by Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, Scotland, UAE, USA, and Zimbabwe.Related

England to begin World Cup title defence against New Zealand on October 5

Pakistan to play nine World Cup league matches at only five venues

Travelling fans left in the lurch by delay

2023 ODI World Cup schedule finally out; India vs Pakistan in Ahmedabad on October 15

After two successive fixtures in Lucknow, Australia’s fourth league match is in the south once again, against Pakistan in Bengaluru on October 20. They then travel north again to play the other qualifier in Delhi on October 25, and then go further north to Dharamsala to play New Zealand on October 28.Their last three league fixtures are in western India: against England in Ahmedabad on November 4, against Afghanistan in Mumbai on November 7, and against Bangladesh in Pune on November 12, which is the last day of the league stage.Australia had made the semi-final of the 2019 ODI World Cup where they suffered a heavy defeat against the eventual champions England. They will gear up for the 2023 tournament in India with warm-up games against a qualifier in Thiruvananthapuram on September 30 and Pakistan in Hyderabad on October 3.

Prime Bank Cricket Club, Legends of Rupganj and Gazi Group Cricketers also have perfect starts

Mohammad Isam19-Mar-2024

Captains with the Dhaka Premier League trophy•BCB

Key takeawaysDefending champions Abahani Limited are off to a flying start in this season’s Dhaka Premier League, crushing all three opponents in the first week. But they have got company. Prime Bank Cricket Club, Legends of Rupganj and Gazi Group Cricketers have all started with three wins.A top-heavy league also means that there are four teams without a single win. It already reflects the disparity of wealth among the clubs as the DPL of this season was said to be one with several low-budget teams.Brothers Union, Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy, City Club and Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club are all winless after three games each. Partex Sporting Club beat Gazi Tyres in an early battle between the two newly promoted sides.Best battersParvez Hossain Emon struck two centuries in the first week. He started the tournament with a cheap dismissal against Shinepukur Cricket Club, but then stepped up with a career-best 151 against Brothers Union. He struck nine fours and eight sixes in his 129-ball knock, while adding 246 runs for the opening stand with Shahadat Hossain, a record for Prime Bank. The pair was sent to open after Tamim Iqbal got stuck in traffic on the Dhaka-Savar highway. Shahadat also made a century in that game.Nurul Hasan, Imrul Kayes and Ariful Islam also struck hundreds in the first week. Imrul and Ariful’s combined tally for Mohammedan against Rupganj Tigers was 221. The other five batters in the innings scored a total of 29 runs.Parvez Hossain Emon celebrates his century against Brothers Union•Prime Bank Cricket Club

Best bowlersThere were several standout bowlers in the first week, but fast bowlers Mehedi Hasan and Abdul Halim stood apart with two four-wicket hauls each. Offspinner Mahedi Hasan, meanwhile, took a hat-trick on the last three balls of the match against City Club.Almost all of Bangladesh’s fast-bowling prospects, including Musfik Hasan who earned a Test call-up against Sri Lanka, took four-fors. Gazi Group Cricketers’ left-arm quick Ruyel Miah took a five-wicket haul against Mohammedan Sporting Club.Best matchThere were three nail-biting finishes in the DPL this week. Mahedi’s hat-trick helped Prime Bank beat City Club by three runs in a high-scoring game, while Anisul Islam Emon bowled a superb final over to thwart Mohammedan and lead Gazi Group to a three-run win.Aminul Islam hung around till the end to help Legends of Rupganj to a one-wicket win against Rupganj Tigers. With six runs needed in the last over, Aminul couldn’t connect properly with the first three balls against Qazi Onik but walloped the fourth ball for a straight six to start the celebrations.Points to ponderAbahani have definitely built the team and made a start towards their 22nd league title. Prime Bank, Legends of Rupganj, Gazi Group and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will definitely be in the running, but they have to beat Abahani to have any chance of a shot at the trophy.The likes of Brothers Union, City Club and Rupganj Tigers seem to be early contenders for teams trying to avoid relegation.Players to watchMany of the youngsters, particularly those from the Bangladesh Under-19 side that played in this year’s World Cup, have started the DPL quite well. Since the DPL is regarded as Bangladesh cricket’s finishing school, allrounder Ariful Islam and left-arm spinner Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby performing for major clubs, Mohammedan and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, respectively, is a big plus.

Board chief Nazmul Hassan says after Sunday’s AGM that the idea was to make sure all top-level cricket in the country was televised

Mohammad Isam31-Mar-2024

Bangladesh fans might get to see more of their local cricket on TV going forward•Getty Images

The BCB has made two amendments to its constitution at the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dhaka on Sunday, with a view to launching its own TV channel. The board wants to ensure all competitive cricket that it runs in the country is broadcast, with this channel plugging any gaps.BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that the TV channel will generally show domestic matches and those international matches that their broadcast partners can’t show. “T-Sports and Gazi TV show most of our matches. If they cannot show some matches, we want to show those matches,” Hassan said. “They are showing the men’s Test match, so they can’t show the women’s series. We want both to be on TV, so we need to have an option.”We also want to show domestic cricket on TV. Everyone thinks that it will raise the standard of cricket in the country. People can then see the standard of umpiring in domestic cricket, for example.”The amendments were made to sub-clauses 6.17 and 6.20, which fall under the “scope and responsibility” section of the BCB’s constitution. The new 6.17 sub-clause allows the board to enhance its financial transactions and banking activities. The new 6.20 sub-clause talks of the option to form “one or more trusts, companies, societies/foundations as necessary to achieve ancillary objectives including enhancement of infrastructural, economic, commercial and social facilities for the development of cricket across the country”.BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said the idea was not to turn the national board into a “business enterprise”, but launching a TV channel would require the board to strengthen its legal framework.”According to our legal advice, we have made the amendments to bring more dynamism to our financial transactions and banking activities,” Chowdhury said. “As you know there are many criteria of Bangladesh Bank that we have to meet to make banking transactions.”[That BCB is looking to become a business enterprise] is misleading information. There’s a difference between company formation and floating shares of a company in the share market. We have a plan to form BCB TV, for which we have to come into a legal framework through the BCB’s constitution.”The AGM brought together the BCB’s 170-plus councilors (or members) from different backgrounds, the majority of whom are from Bangladesh’s 64 districts.The BCB has long promised to form regional cricket bodies and while most cricket in these regions is being run by ad-hoc committees, the board officials, mainly based in the capital Dhaka, have not allowed them autonomy. According to BCB chief Hassan, the regional bodies have to prove themselves first before independence is granted.”Regional cricket associations cannot be free of the centre’s interference unless we are satisfied with their work. They aren’t independent right now. But our big picture plan is to make them independent bodies. It is not decentralisation. It is de-concentration. We are reducing concentration away from Dhaka. Eventually it will be decentralised.”The BCB has allocated each body BDT 2 million (USD 17,400 approx) to organise a tournament in the coming months. “We have told them to organise a T20 tournament as a test case. We will pay them BDT 2 million initially. We will see how they perform and expend this money,” Hassan said. “We are not paying them blindly. Not all districts get money. Only those who are organising cricket are getting money.”

Celtic found themselves on the receiving end of a loss in the Scottish Premiership for the second time in their last three matches on Sunday afternoon.

The Hoops were beaten 1-0 by bottom-of-the-league St. Johnstone in a shock result at McDiarmid Park, as they conceded to Daniels Balodis after just four minutes.

It was an incredibly frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers and his side because they had 26 efforts on goal and created two ‘big chances’, but failed to find the back of the net a single time.

The Premiership leaders did not convert the quality opportunities that they fashioned throughout the match, as their star attackers did not step up to showcase the best of their abilities.

Daizen Maeda, who has scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions so far this season, only had 19 touches of the ball and two of Celtic’s 26 shots, whilst he did not create a single chance for his teammates during his time on the pitch.

Rodgers has some difficult decisions to make ahead of the clash with Kilmarnock at Parkhead next weekend, and one star who must be ruthlessly ditched from the team is winger Nicolas Kuhn.

Why Nicolas Kuhn should be dropped

The German forward was withdrawn from the action as part of a double substitution at half-time after a frustrating first half of action on the right wing.

Kuhn has left himself in a position where supporters and the management team expect big things from him because of his form earlier in the campaign, having racked up 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.

He established himself as a star performer for the Scottish giants and that is why it is so noticeable when he is not at his best, because the team suffers as a result of his lack of impact.

Nicolas Kuhn

Vs St Johnstone

24/25 Premiership (per game)

Goals + assists

0

0.67

Shots

2

1.8

Shots on target

0

0.8

Key passes

1

1.7

Big chances created

0

0.4

Pass success rate

72%

76%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has averaged a goal or an assist more often than not, and a shot on target more often than not, in the Premiership this season, but he managed neither against St. Johnstone.

Put simply, more is expected of the former Rapid Vienna star than he showed in the 1-0 defeat on Sunday, which is why it was a disappointing display and why the manager must, now, drop him for the clash with Kilmarnock.

Chalkboard

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

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Rodgers does have plenty of options at his disposal to make alterations to the starting line-up, and one possible replacement for Kuhn would be Hyun-jun Yang.

Hyun-jun Yang's improvement at Celtic

The South Korean whiz joined on a permanent deal from Gangwon in the summer of 2023 and endured a difficult first season with the Scottish giants.

Yang ended the 2023/24 campaign with a tally of just one goal and three assists in 31 appearances in all competitions, as he failed to offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch.

Given that paltry return in front of goal, it would not have been a surprise to have seen the forward moved on from Parkhead in the summer transfer window last year. Instead of leaving, though, the 22-year-old ace stayed to fight for a place in the squad, and has earned one.

Hyun-jun Yang (Premiership)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

24

20

Starts

10

8

Goals

1

4

Conversion rate

5%

27%

Pass accuracy

81%

86%

Assists

3

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Yang has been as creative as he was in the Premiership last season, but has offered far more of a threat as a goalscorer for the Hoops.

The South Korea international has racked up five goals and six assists in 30 matches in all competitions, which means that the winger has provided five more goals and three more assists than he did last term.

Despite that obvious improvement from Yang in the final third, it is Adam Idah who should be brought in to replace Kuhn in the starting line-up next weekend.

Why Adam Idah must be unleashed

The Ireland international should come in to start ahead of the German winger, with Maeda moving out wide on the left and Jota moving over to the right, to play as the number nine.

Idah’s pace and power was on full display in the defeat to St. Johnstone after he came off the bench to throw his hat in the ring to start next time out with a strong showing.

The Irish marksman should have had an assist for an equalising goal when he brilliantly burst down the right channel and produced an inch-perfect cross for James Forrest, who fired his shot down the middle of the goal to be blocked by the goalkeeper.

Idah, who won five of his six duels, ended his 29 minutes on the pitch with one dribble completed, two chances created, one ‘big chance’ created, five shots, and one shot on target.

These statistics show that the former Norwich City centre-forward, whose talent was once dubbed “incredible” by Rodgers, made an impact off the bench on Sunday, which is why he should now be brought in to show what he can do from the start against Kilmarnock.

The 24-year-old attacker, who has scored 14 goals in all competitions, has scored eight goals and created six ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership so far this term.

Idah’s finishing has not always been good enough, with 13 ‘big chances’ missed, but he causes opposition defenders problems with his pace and power, as he did off the bench against St. Johnstone, which is why Rodgers must bring him into the XI next weekend.

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It is now down to the former Liverpool and Leicester boss to ruthlessly ditch Kuhn from the team to unleash Idah, whilst moving Maeda back out to the wing.

It’s been a bruising and rather dismal season for the Arsenal faithful this year, but last night’s game is one that’ll live in the memory for years, if not decades, to come.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid in the knowledge that they needed at least a one-goal lead heading to the Bernabéu but did far better than that.

Two utterly sublime free-kicks from Declan Rice and yet another striker’s finish from Mikel Merino mean the hosts will travel to Spain with a genuine chance of making the semi-finals for the first time since the 2008/09 season.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

There were outstanding performances from Arteta’s men across the pitch, including from one starter who could well be the club’s own Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham's performance vs Arsenal

Going into last night’s game, the significant threats Arsenal had to be aware of were Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Junior, Rodrygo and Bellingham.

The latter, alongside Rice, is arguably one of England’s best players, but unlike the former West Ham United star, he did not have a particularly good game.

Granted, he made a few incisive passes that perhaps would have led to a goal on another night, but apart from that, he was practically a passenger and just watched the game pass him by, which is not something you can usually say about the UCL winner.

We aren’t the only ones to hold this opinion either, as the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick gave him a 5/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘drifted in and out of the game.’

It’s also backed up by his statistics, as in his 96 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.25, had just one shot on target, didn’t make a single cross or play a single long ball, lost ten of 14 duels, lost the ball nine times, committed one foul and was dribbled past twice.

Bellingham’s game in numbers

Minutes

96′

Expected Goals

0.07

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.18

Assists

0

Touches

45

Shots on Target

1

Crosses

0

Long Balls

0

Duels (Won)

14 (4)

Lost Possession

9

Fouls

1

Dribbled Past

2

All Stats via Sofascore

It was a bad day at the office for the world-class international, and to his credit, he admitted as much afterward and even accepted that the Gunners could have won by more.

However, he’s still a brilliant player, so it’s exciting for Arsenal that they could already have their own version of him in the squad.

Arsenal's own Bellingham

So, there are a few players in Arsenal’s squad who are arguably at a world-class level, such as Bukayo Saka and Rice, but one who seems destined to get there and become the team’s own Bellingham, especially after last night, is Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, we are not saying the teenager is at the level of the Real star, and they aren’t even playing the same position at the moment, but there are some undeniable similarities.

The first is that both players burst onto the scene when incredibly young, with the former Borussia Dortmund ace debuting for Birmingham City at just 16 years old, while the Gunners’ young phenom was just 17 when he made his first competitive appearance earlier this season.

Moreover, despite being so young and inexperienced, both played with such an extraordinary level of self-belief, boarding on arrogance from the word go, which translates into their playstyle, with the Islington-born gem bursting past some of Real’s most prominent stars last night.

We aren’t the only ones to think this either, as in his analysis after the game, Jamie Carragher claimed that the Hale Ender “reminds me a little bit of [Jude] Bellingham at that age.”

Lastly, while the “unplayable” 18-year-old, as Jack Wilshere dubbed him, is playing at left-back at the moment, he’s a midfielder by trade, and due to his strength, awareness and technical ability, we would not be surprised to see him move into the middle of the park as time progresses, potentially alongside Bellingham for the Three Lions.

Ultimately, Arsenal are blessed with several incredible players, but Lewis-Skelly looks like he could develop into a genuinely world-class talent.

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 9, 2025

Manchester United are believed to be in contact with a club’s director of recruitment over the signing of an “outstanding” goalkeeper this summer, according to a new report.

Man Utd produce historic comeback

Ruben Amorim’s side may have had a season to forget, but their 5-4 win over Lyon on Thursday evening was one of the most dramatic nights Old Trafford has ever witnessed.

Having led 2-0 and seemingly heading into the semi-finals of the Europa League with ease, United suddenly found themselves drawing 2-2 after 90 minutes, before then trailing 4-2 in extra-time against ten men.

Remarkably, the Red Devils scored three times in the remaining minutes, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty, Kobbie Mainoo brilliantly curling home and Harry Maguire heading in a memorable last-gasp winner.

It was a remarkable evening that has kept United’s season alive, and given the nature of their victory over Lyon, there will be some who feel that their name is on the trophy. Regardless of what happens this season, though, lots of new signings are a must, including in goal to replace Andre Onana, and one intriguing transfer target in that position has now emerged.

Man Utd make contact for Kaua Santos

According to Sport Bild, Manchester United have held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche over the signing of Kaua Santos this summer. The German outfit want £51m for his services and would rather keep hold of him.

It is claimed that Red Devils director of recruitment Christopher Vivell spoke with him during Frankfurt’s Europa League quarter-final first leg tie against Tottenham last week, as they look to entice the 22-year-old to Old Trafford.

Santos could be a strong addition for United ahead of next season, having enjoyed an impressive campaign for Frankfurt in Europe, standing out as a key man at a young age, especially for a ‘keeper. The Brazilian has started five matches in the Europa League this term, prior to being eliminated by Spurs on Thursday night, and the Red Devils may see him as having a higher long-term ceiling than Onana.

Santos has been hailed as an “outstanding” player by Bayern Munich and Germany legend Thomas Muller, while analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as among the “most promising” young ‘keepers in Europe.

While Onana has had good moments in a United shirt, he is an error-prone player who doesn’t seem to bring calm to the defence, and if Amorim wants to take his team to another level, an upgrade is required.

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Santos is admittedly still a goalkeeper learning his trade, but his performances this season suggest that he would be an exciting signing who should only grow as a player.

Burnley are now set to sign an “outstanding” player in a new £8 million update after promotion to the Premier League, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

Burnley seal promotion to the Premier League

The Clarets have managed to live up to expectations and seal their return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. A 2-1 win over Watford and a 2-1 win over Sheffield United during the Easter weekend saw Burnley secure promotion at the expense of the Blades, who have been fighting them and Leeds United for the top two spots in the Championship.

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Burnley’s promotion was confirmed on Monday night after they beat the Blades, and manager Scott Parker paid a significant tribute to his side and how hard they have worked to secure promotion.

Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: “The ambition and the target at the start of the season was to get back to the Premier League, and we’ve managed to do that, so I’m hugely proud of the squad.

“It’s come down to real, pure commitment from every one of the players, their dedication and the sacrifice that they’ve made, that leads us to this point. In this moment, I explained to the lads, that there is emotion from me because I see the commitment that everyone has brought.

“We live in a world where you win, or you lose, and you get judged, and at the end of the season you’re either promoted or not, and that’s how quickly people will judge it. I‘m just delighted all that work, all that effort, all that sacrifice has been worth it and people can see it. The facts are if you don’t get promoted, people can see it.”

Burnley set to sign 25 y/o in new £8m update – Sky Sports

As the Clarets’ return to England’s top tier is now confirmed, there is now a fresh update on the future of a player who has been key for the Lancashire side this season. According to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Burnley are set to sign Jaidon Anthony from AFC Bournemouth in a deal now worth £8 million.

The 25-year-old joined Burnley on a season-long loan deal from the Cherries last summer, and the Clarets had a way of making the deal a permanent switch. McAdam states that Burnley will now pay £8 million to sign Anthony, instead of the £10m that was reported last year as an obligation with promotion.

Anthony, who has been dubbed “outstanding” by football writer Josh Wyatt for his recent performance against Plymouth Argyle, has scored seven goals and assisted seven in 41 league games this season, as he’s been a key performer in Parker’s side.

Jaidon Anthony’s 24/25 Championship stats

Apps

41

Goals

7

xG

8.08

Big chances missed

6

Shots per game

2.2

Assists

7

xAG

7.43

Big chances created

12

Key passes

1.8

Successful dribbles per game

1.5 (44%)

Anthony worked with Parker during his time with the Cherries, and that relationship is now going to continue at Turf Moor, as Parker will hope his winger can make a difference in the Premier League.

The bad news is that Arsenal’s campaign is set to end trophyless for a fifth year running; the good news is that there are only three games left until it’s over.

Mikel Arteta’s side had the chance to make it to only the second Champions League final in the club’s history on Wednesday night, but despite their fast start, they couldn’t get over the line.

Perhaps things would have been a little different if Kai Havertz had been fit and leading the line; as for all the criticism he gets, the German remains the club’s top scorer this season, even though he hasn’t played since early February.

However, even though he’s not been too bad when fit this season, he may well find his minutes reduced next year, as, based on reports, the club are looking at a striker who might just be an upgrade.

Arsenal's striker search

With the striker position being such a clear area to address, Arsenal have been linked with a plethora of incredible strikers in recent months, such as Jonathan David and Viktor Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former has scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists in 47 games this season, and best of all would be available for free, as his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Gyokeres, on the other hand, could cost a whopping £70m, although as he’s managed to score a staggering 52 goals and provide 12 assists in 49 games for Sporting CP, that may well be a fair price.

However, if Arteta and Co want to spend more money on other positions in the team, they might opt for a cheaper but still effective striker to come in, which would explain the interest in Evann Guessand.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the French forward.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that West Ham United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United have sent scouts to watch him in recent games, while other stories have also credited Manchester United with an interest in the 23-year-old.

A potential price is not revealed in the report, but according to other stories from the start of the year, he could be available for around £25m, which would make this potential transfer feel like a no-brainer, especially as he could be an upgrade on Havertz.

How Guessand compares to Havertz

Now, while Guessand is more than capable of playing off the right of a front three, it seems incredibly unlikely that he would ever start there ahead of Saka.

So, were he to join Arsenal in the summer, he’d almost certainly be played down the middle, in turn putting him up against Havertz for game time, but who’s the better player?

Well, when we look at their raw output, it’s incredibly close.

For example, when looking at all competitions, the German has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 34 games, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games.

This is marginally better than the Nice ace, as his 12 goals and nine assists in 40 appearances come out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games.

However, when we take a look at their league records, their bread and butter, it’s the Frenchman who comes ahead, with 11 goals and eight assists in 31 appearances to the Aachen-born star’s nine goals and three assists in 21 appearances, coming out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.63 and 1.75 league games respectively.

Interesting, and quite crucially, while there isn’t much to separate them regarding their output, things start to look a lot better for the “unpredictable” 23-year-old, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers.

Guessand vs Havertz

Statistics

Guessand

Havertz

Non-Penalty G+As

0.67

0.59

Progressive Passes

2.85

2.89

Progressive Carries

3.11

1.67

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.17

Goals per Shot on Target

0.44

0.43

Passing Accuracy

74.0%

78.5%

Expected Assists

0.17

0.08

Key Passes

1.11

0.78

Passes into the Final Third

1.70

1.27

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.96

0.39

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.15

0.05

Shot-Creating Actions

3.19

2.01

Goal-Creating Actions

0.56

0.15

Successful Take-Ons

1.59

0.44

Ball Recoveries

3.52

1.91

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

In almost every relevant metric, the Ajaccio-born poacher comes out on top, metrics including, but not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, expected assists, progressive carries, goals per shot and shot on target, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, key passes and more, all per 90.

So, while their output is somewhat similar at the moment, the Nice gem has far better underlying numbers, so it wouldn’t be unrealistic to expect his goal and assist tallies to dramatically improve if he was in a better team.

Ultimately, Guessand is already a great forward, and with his age and the price tag, signing him this summer feels like a no-brainer for Arsenal, even if it could be bad news for Havertz’s future game time.

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It seemed like forever that Arsenal had been away from the Champions League before their return to the competition in 2023, allowing them to make more memories in the famous competition.

From squeezing through the group stages to making the final in dramatic circumstances, the north Londoners have had plenty of memorable moments under the lights since making their debut in 1998.

Football FanCast has ranked 25 of the Gunners’ best Champions League moments.

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Posts ByStephan Georgiou May 15, 2025 25 2005/06: Arsenal 2-1 FC Thun Bergkamp rescues Arsenal late on

Champions League minnows FC Thun were plying their trade in non-league eight years prior to this fixture and were expected to be rolled over with ease. But it certainly didn’t pan out like that.

Arsenal had to play with 10 men for much of the match after Robin van Persie received a straight red card for catching Alen Orman in the face with his boot.

The Gunners found themselves frustrated by the Swiss outfit and appeared to be heading towards a shock draw before Dennis Bergkamp struck home a dramatic stoppage-time winner to spare his side’s blushes.

24 2000/01: Arsenal 2-1 Valencia Parlour screamer downs Valencia

Arsenal came back from 1-0 down against La Liga giants Valencia to secure a 2-1 victory in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Thierry Henry levelled the score in the 58th minute before Ray Parlour netted a thunderous strike from distance two minutes later to put the north Londoners ahead.

Unfortunately, the second leg saw the Spanish side advance on away goals after winning 1-0 at the Mestalla.

Valencia went on to reach the final before suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Bayern Munich on penalties.

23 2003/04: Arsenal 1-0 Dynamo Kyiv Ashley Cole keeps Gunners alive

Bonfire Night in 2003 produced an electrifying atmosphere at Highbury after Ashley Cole netted an 88th-minute winner to clinch a 1-0 victory against Dynamo Kyiv.

The all-important result kept Arsenal’s Champions League dreams afloat as they went on to win their final two group games to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

The Gunners reached the quarter-finals before suffering a late 3-2 aggregate defeat to London rivals Chelsea.

22 2005/06: Arsenal 1-0 Villarreal Highbury bids farewell to CL nights

Kolo Toure’s first-half strike was enough to seal a 1-0 win against Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Champions League, in a game that saw a squirrel famously invade the field of play.

It was also Arsenal’s final European fixture at Highbury, so the victory was a fitting farewell to the historic stadium.

Wenger’s men went on to reach the Champions League final after holding the Spaniards to a goalless draw in the second leg at El Madrigal.

21 2002/03: PSV 0-4 Arsenal Gilberto and Arsenal thrash PSV

Arsenal secured a thumping 4-0 away victory against PSV in the group stages of the 2002/03 competition. Gilberto Silva broke the record for the fastest Champions League goal after netting inside 21 seconds.

Thierry Henry scored a late brace and Freddie Ljungberg also found himself on the scoresheet to complete the demolition job in the Netherlands.

Dennis Bergkamp also played in his first European away game in two years.

20 2013/14: Arsenal 2-0 Napoli Mesut Özil truly arrives

The summer of 2013 saw Arsenal obliterate their transfer record to sign Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Özil for a whopping £42.4m.

The German’s first goal in Arsenal colours came in their Champions League opener against Napoli as he beautifully caressed home a side-footed effort from just inside the box.

Özil scored seven goals whilst laying on 14 assists in his debut campaign in north London, so not bad going…

19 2024/25: PSV 1-7 Arsenal Gunners enjoy another great night in Eindhoven

Arsenal’s placing in the revamped Champions League group phase meant a last-16 tie against PSV, who had beaten Liverpool and Juventus on their way to sealing their own knockout stage berth.

But those hoping for a close game were quickly disappointed, as the Gunners raced out of the blocks to lead 3-0 inside 31 minutes.

Arsenal didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half, putting another four past their opponents to make the second leg a formality. It was their biggest away victory in the Champions League.

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Posts ByStephan Georgiou Mar 5, 2025 18 2001/02: Arsenal 4-1 Bayer Leverkusen Eventual finalists played off the park

Arsenal played the would-be runners-up Bayer Leverkusen off the park as the French trio of Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira all got themselves on the scoresheet.

But it was the Dutchman Bergkamp who scored the pick of the goals as he turned his man on the edge of the area and cheekily dinked the ball over the helpless Hans-Jörg Butt.

Despite a dazzling display by the Gunners, they were dumped out of the competition in the second group phase after finishing third.

17 2007/08: Arsenal 7-0 Slavia Prague Gunners turn on style against Slavia

Wenger’s men completely dominated their Czech opponents as they recorded the club’s biggest-ever Champions League victory. The fluidity of the play was a joy to watch, and some of the goals scored were out of this world.

The Gunners came second to Sevilla in their group that year and reached the last eight of the competition before suffering a 5-3 aggregate defeat by Liverpool. A cruel exit for the north Londoners.

Football purists will certainly enjoy watching this highlight reel below.

16 2005/06: Arsenal 0-0 Real Madrid Gunners hold Real at Highbury to complete epic victory

After sealing a historic 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, Arsenal still had to fend off Real Madrid on their own patch to seal a quarter-final place back in 2006.

In an even game, the Gunners held their own against their fancied opponents once again, with Thierry Henry mesmeric as ever as Arsene Wenger’s side held on.

Madrid came closest when Raul was extraordinarily denied by Jens Lehmann with the goal at his mercy.

A pivotal summer awaits for Rangers. 49ers Enterprises, led by Paraag Marathe, are set to complete their 51% majority takeover of the Ibrox club in the coming weeks, but they’ll have plenty of work to do, needing to hire a new manager to replace Barry Ferguson, while a major squad overhaul is also required.

The incoming owners will also need to work fast because, as Scottish Premiership runners-up, Rangers will enter the Champions League at the second qualifying round stage, the first leg of which takes place on 22/23 July, in just ten weeks’ time.

Their potential opponents in that tie are currently forecast to be Brann, Wolfsberger or familiar foes Servette, before potentially encountering Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos​​​​​​, Viktoria Plzeň, Nice, Club Brugge or Benfica later down the line, meaning it will require some effort if they’re to make it into the league phase.

So, with numerous new signings required, and the Gers a little bit cash-strapped to put it mildly, could they secure a new wide-attacker for free, reminiscent of Ryan Kent?

Ryan Kent's Rangers career in numbers

Kent remains Rangers’ most-expensive signing of the club’s modern history, signing permanently from Liverpool for a reported fee of £7.5m in 2019, having shone on loan the season before, a fee only surpassed by the £12m paid to Chelsea to secure Tore André Flo’s services all the way back in November 2000.

In total, the Englishman scored 33 goals and racked up 56 assists in 218 appearances for the club, a key figure in the 2020/21 Premiership title-winning campaign, as well as the team that reached the Europa League Final a year later.

Scott Bradley of Breaking the Lines notes that, at his best, Kent was a ‘flamboyant’ and ‘dazzling’ winger, while also praising his ‘exceptional’ off-ball work rate, before documenting how he endured a ‘disappointing’ final season in Glasgow, ultimately moving to Fenerbahçe on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.

After making very little impact in İstanbul, Kent recently joined Major League Soccer outfit Seattle Sounders, for whom he has registered three assists across his first four appearances, including this astonishing run that teed up Albert Rusnák as the Rave Green beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 in Texas last Saturday night.

Now, can Rangers secure a winger who shares many of the qualities that Kent showcased during his five-year stay in Govan?

Rangers seeking their new Ryan Kent

As reported by Stephen McGowan of the Herald, Rangers are ‘monitoring’ winger Tyrhys Dolan, with fierce rivals Celtic also interested.

Dolan is set to become a free agent on 1 July, given that his contract with Blackburn Rovers will expire this summer, and it is widely-expected he will not sign a new one.

This is despite the fact Rovers manager Valérien Ismaël would reportedly love to keep the 23-year-old at Ewood Park, stating “he knows the environment he’s got, the love we give him”, adding “he is an important player”.

Former Blackburn boss John Eustace labelled Dolan “outstanding” and a “fantastic young player”, while Elliott Jackson​​​​​​​ of the Lancashire Telegraph described him as “absolutely terrific”, so let’s assess his statistics this season.

Tyrhys Dolan’s season statistics

Statistics

Tyrhys Dolan

EFL Championship rank

Minutes

3,175

86th

Goals

7

42nd

Assists

6

18th

Shots

50

61st

Shots on target %

44%

20th

Shot-creating actions

99

41st

Goal-creating actions

17

7th

Attempted take-ons

152

7th

Progressive carries

94

27th

Carries into the final third

72

15th

All statistics via FBref.com

The table underlines that Dolan is a high-quality dribbler, ranked seventh for attempted take-ons in the EFL Championship, hence why writer Kai Watson labels him “quick” and a “direct… goal threat”.

But, how does the 23-year-old compare to Kent at the peak of his particular powers?

Tyrhys Dolan 2024/25 vs Ryan Kent 2020/21

Statistics

Dolan

Kent

Appearances

47

52

Minutes

3,269

4.251

Goals

7

13

Assists

6

14

Shots

50

102

Shots on target %

44%

38.2%

Big chances missed

10

10

Big chances created

7

11

Dribble success %

43%

53%

Average Sofascore rating

6.82

7.05

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table outlines, when Kent was at his best in 2020/21, his statistics are almost universally more impressive than Dolan’s from this campaign, albeit he did play around 1,000 more minutes across all competitions.

Nevertheless, Dolan’s numbers do compare favourably to Kent’s, with more of his shots finding the target for one, and they both dribble more than most, hence why the duo can be compared stylistically.

What is clear is that Dolan is a high-quality, high-potential player so, if Rangers are able to sign him, merely paying a nominal compensation fee, that would be a fantastic addition, with many more arrivals needed.

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Posts ByBen Gray May 14, 2025