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Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has declared his ambition to win "everything," including the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d'Or, after receiving the Di Stéfano Award for the best player of the 2024-25 season by Marca. The 18-year-old star, who recently returned to partial training after a pubalgia issue, also expressed his excitement for Barcelona's historic return to Camp Nou against Athletic Club.

Yamal eyes historic treble and Ballon d'Or

Despite being only 18, the Barcelona winger has already begun amassing individual accolades, surpassing established stars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., as well as teammates Pedri and Raphinha, for the award.

When asked about his goals for the upcoming 2026 season, which includes challenges with Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League, and with the Spanish national team at the World Cup, Yamal did not mince words. "I want it all. I hope I achieve it all, and as long as we can play, it's possible," he stated to , confirming his target to win the league, Champions League, World Cup, and the Ballon d'Or.

Reflecting on his individual success, Yamal emphasised the importance of collective effort, adding: “All the individual titles indicate that it has been a great season for the team. For me, it brings me happiness and pride. Accumulating awards at my age is very positive. I'm going to keep working and fighting to achieve things like this."

AdvertisementAFPCamp Nou return: 'History will be written'

Yamal also expressed his excitement about Barcelona's imminent return to the iconic Camp Nou stadium after more than 900 days away. The club's temporary move to the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic is about to end, with their match against Athletic Club marking the first fixture in the partially renovated Camp Nou, which has been cleared to host 45,401 fans.

Yamal has been actively building anticipation for the return on social media. He changed his Instagram profile picture to an image of himself clutching the Barca badge and added the caption: “Montjuic was the beginning. Camp Nou is where history will be written.”

He highlighted the significance of the return for the team. “The fans mean a lot. We've been playing in a stadium that wasn't ours. Montjuic was fine, but it wasn't what we wanted. Camp Nou will be a huge support for everyone and will be a big boost for the rest of the season.” 

For many players in the current squad, including Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, and Pau Cubarsi, the match against Athletic Club will be their first-team debut at the historic venue.

Injury update: Yamal targets Chelsea return

Despite his ambitions and the excitement surrounding the Camp Nou return, Yamal is currently navigating a tricky recovery from pubalgia, a chronic groin injury that forced him to withdraw from Spain’s recent World Cup qualifiers. Barcelona have implemented a detailed two-phase treatment plan, involving invasive radiofrequency therapy and a meticulous rehabilitation schedule.

According to , the club's priority is to have Yamal fully fit for the crucial Champions League clash against Chelsea. While a cameo appearance against Athletic Club has not been ruled out, his involvement will likely be minimal. Yamal returned to partial group training on Wednesday, marking a significant step in his recovery.

Club doctors have warned that mishandling the injury could lead to months on the sidelines, describing it as "tricky." Yamal has reportedly responded with full commitment to his rehabilitation, reducing media appearances and focusing exclusively on his recovery. Barcelona brought in a renowned Belgian specialist for evaluation, and surgery was ruled out in favour of the conservative treatment plan.

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Getty Images SportWhat next for Lamine Yamal and Barcelona?

Barcelona face a critical period with their return to the Camp Nou against Athletic Club in La Liga on Saturday. Yamal's participation in this historic match remains uncertain and will likely be limited if he features at all. The main objective is his full availability for the high-stakes Champions League encounter against Chelsea, a match vital for Barcelona's hopes of securing a top-eight finish in the league phase. The club will continue to monitor his progress closely over the coming days, alternating between individual work and controlled group sessions to ensure his recovery continues without setbacks.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur haven’t been afraid to splash the cash in the transfer market, in an attempt to try and achieve Premier League glory.

The Lilywhites have a net spend of over £500m in the last five years alone, a figure which puts them fourth out of any team in the division for the same time period.

Daniel Levy was often criticised for his lack of spending in North London, but it’s clear that the 63-year-old did financially back various managers during his two decades at the club.

However, it’s clear in the modern game that money doesn’t equal success – especially in the Premier League – with numerous players often failing to live up to their big-money transfer fees.

The likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Roberto Soldado and Steven Bergwijn have all cost a pretty penny in recent years – with many of them leaving North London in deals much lower than what they arrived for.

In 2025/26, Thomas Frank has a couple of examples already within his first-team ranks, with two of his players arguably going down as some of their additions in recent history.

Richarlison & Simons’ form for Spurs in PL during 2025/26

Back in the summer of 2022, Spurs forked out a staggering £60m, including add-ons, for the signature of Richarlison from fellow Premier League side Everton.

Undoubtedly, given the nature of the transfer fee, his transfer generated huge excitement among the supporters in North London, but over three years on from his transfer – it’s safe to say it’s been a disaster.

The Brazilian has registered a total of 108 appearances for the Lilywhites, but has only scored 24 times – with half of his efforts coming in 2023/24 alone.

However, Frank has kept faith in the 28-year-old this season, but he’s failed to return the favour, as seen by his measly conversion rate of just 21% in the Premier League this season.

He’s also missed six big chances in his 11 outings to date, often being a wasteful option in attacking areas and falling way below the standards expected of a £60m addition.

Richarlison isn’t the only big-money addition to struggle under the Dane’s guidance this season, with Xavi Simons also unable to match the expectations many placed on him after his own move to North London.

The Dutch international, who cost a total of £52m in the summer, has racked up a total of 14 appearances across all competitions, but has only registered two assists in such a period.

The attacking midfielder is yet to find the back of the net, but has also struggled to provide the creative nature many would have expected, given the nature of the fee.

Simons has only achieved a total of 0.8 chances completed per 90, whilst also only completing 38% of the dribbles he’s attempted – showcasing his inability to impress with the ball at his feet.

He’s also only registered a tally of 0.17 shots on target per 90, a figure which ranks him in the bottom 14% of all attackers in the division – further highlighting his lack of quality in the final third.

The Spurs star who’s becoming their worst signing in recent history

After Spurs’ measly 17th-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Frank was always going to have a huge task on his hands to push the club back in the right direction.

The Dane has settled on a 4-3-3 system over recent weeks, but it still appears as though he’s yet to figure out his best starting eleven – as seen against Manchester United last weekend.

He utilised Richarlison in a wide-left position, leaving the likes of Wilson Odobert on the bench – with such a decision undoubtedly costing the side all three points in North London.

The Brazilian has mainly struggled to take the responsibility of leading the line for the Lilywhites, with Randal Kolo Muani also yet to find the back of the net after his loan move on deadline day.

However, the manager has been unable to call upon Dominic Solanke during the vast majority of his time at the club, with the Englishman massively struggling with constant injury setbacks.

The 28-year-old cost a club-record £65m from Bournemouth last summer, with his signature providing the side with the replacement to Harry Kane they were crying out for.

It has not all been plain sailing for the striker, with his tally of just nine goals in the Premier League throughout his debut campaign ultimately falling way below the standards many expected.

Other figures, such as 71% passes completed and just 33% aerials won last season, showcase his inability to operate as a target man – often struggling to offer an imposing figure at the top end of the pitch.

However, Frank’s arrival in North London will have given the talisman a new lease of life, but as seen by his recent setbacks, he’s so far been unable to make the desired effect under the Dane.

Games played

27

Goals scored

9

Pass accuracy

71%

Shots on target

0.9

Chances created

0.5

Dribble success

35%

Aerials won

33%

Fouls committed

1.5

Solanke has been suffering continuously with an ankle issue over recent months, subsequently undergoing surgery that has kept him on the sidelines for an extended period.

He’s not featured since the 2-0 triumph over Manchester City on the 23rd of August, with the Englishman subsequently missing a total of 81 days of first-team action.

As a result of his fitness issues, he’s only accumulated a total of 31 minutes of league action this campaign – an unacceptable tally given the fee forked out for his signature.

Solanke has only racked up 29 league appearances for the Lilywhites in his near 18-month stint at the club, something which is nowhere near the level expected given the mammoth price tag paid for his services.

In that time, he’s also managed to register a goal in every three matches, with Solanke so far being unable to fill the boots vacated by Kane a couple of years prior to his move.

Given his transfer fee and lack of form in North London, the 28-year-old has so far been a huge waste of money, with a new centre-forward desperately needed in the near future if Frank is to be a success at the club.

Frank can end Bentancur's Spurs career by unleashing "future £100m" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have a huge talent on their hands, but his progress is being halted by Rodrigo Bentancur.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 12, 2025

The other cricketer among the office bearers is Raghuram Bhat, the former India and Karnataka spinner, who has been elected treasurer of the BCCI

Vishal Dikshit28-Sep-2025Former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas has been elected unopposed as the new BCCI president at the 94th annual general meeting of the board. He is the 37th elected BCCI president (interim appointees have overseen matters on five occasions).Manhas was the only contender for the president’s post, which was vacant since former India allrounder Roger Binny stepped down in August this year. Rajeev Shukla, the BCCI vice-president, had filled in in an interim capacity.Shukla continues as vice-president with Devajit Saikia continuing as the board secretary. There is a second cricketer among the BCCI office bearers, with former Karnataka and India spinner Raghuram Bhat taking over as treasurer. Bhat was the Karnataka State Cricket Association president from 2022 to 2025; his term officially ends on September 30. Prabhtej Singh Bhatia – the former treasurer – is the new joint secretary.”It’s an absolute honour to be the president of the world’s finest cricketing board,” Manhas said after the AGM in Mumbai. “At the same time it’s a huge responsibility and I give my assurance that I’ll be committed to do it to the best of my abilities and dedication and passion.”When asked what worked in his favour to become the new BCCI president, he said: “Maybe my work, my credentials as a cricketer, as an administrator. For the past four years I’ve been at the J&K Cricket Association.”Manhas, who will turn 46 in October, played domestic cricket for 20 years from 1997-98 to 2016-17. He played 157 first-class games, in which he scored 9714 runs; 130 List A matches, with 4126 runs; and 91 T20s (1170 runs). He was part of the sub-committee appointed by the BCCI to run the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association. Born in Jammu, Manhas switched from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir in 2015 before retiring the following year. He has worked as a coach with various teams, including as batting consultant for the Bangladesh men’s Under-19 team as well as IPL sides Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.Former India bowlers Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh replaced S Sharath and Subroto Banerjee in the senior national men’s selection panel. The committee is led by Ajit Agarkar, whose term runs till October 2026, and also has Ajay Ratra and SS Das. Banerjee’s term was over, and Sharath was moved to the junior selection panel as chairperson, replacing Thilak Naidu. The others in the committee are Harvinder Sodhi, Ranadeb Bose, Pathik Patel and Krishna Mohan.Former Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah has also been added to the BCCI’s Apex Council, replacing Mizoram’s Khairul Jamal Majumdar, who has become a part of the IPL Governing Council, led by the chairperson Arun Dhumal.Pragyan Ojha is one of two new members of the senior men’s selection committee•PTI In the senior women’s national selection committee, former India batter Amita Sharma replaced Neetu David as the chairperson. Her team comprises Shyama Dey, Sulakshana Naik, Jaya Sharma and Sravanthi Naidu. Apart from Dey, the rest are new inductees. Amita played 162 matches for India – five Tests, 116 ODIs and 41 T20Is – from 2002 to 2014.Jayesh George takes over as the chairperson of the Women’s Premier League committee, which has senior BCCI functionaries Manhas, Shukla, Saikia, Bhatia and Bhat, as well as Dhumal. The others are Madhumati Lele, Sanjay Tandon and RI Palani.BCCI office bearers: Mithun Manhas (president), Rajeev Shukla (vice-president), Devajit Saikia (secretary), Prabhtej Bhatia (joint-secretary), A Raghuram Bhat (treasurer)IPL governing council representatives: Arun Singh Dhumal, M Khairul Jamal MajumdarMen’s selection committee: Ajit Agarkar (chairperson), Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra, RP Singh, Pragyan OjhaWomen’s selection committee: Amita Sharma (chairperson), Shyama Dey, Sulakshana Naik, Jaya Sharma, Sravanthi NaiduJunior cricket committee: S Sharath (chairperson), Harvinder Sodhi, Pathik Patel, Krishna Mohan and Ranadeb BoseWPL committee: Jayesh George (chairperson), Mithun Manhas, Rajeev Shukla, Devajit Saikia, Prabhtej Bhatia, A Raghuram Bhat, Madhumati Lele, Sanjay Tandon, R I Palani, Arun Singh DhumalInfrastructure committee: Rohan Jaitley (chairperson), Mithun Manhas, Rajeev Shukla, Devajit Saikia, Prabhtej Bhatia, A Raghuram Bhat, Anirudh Chaudhury, Sana Sathish Babu

In what's a massive loss before the regular season even began, New York Yankees ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will miss the entire 2025 campaign.

While the news is a gut punch for Cole, the Yankees organization, and the club's fans, the 2023 Cy Young Award winner is in a strong frame of mind. Shortly after news broke of his need for season-ending surgery, Cole took to his account on Instagram and shared an inspiring message.

“I have a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead. I’ll attack my rehab every day and support the 2025 Yankees each step of the way,” Cole wrote. “I love this game, I love competing, and I can’t wait to be back on the mound—stronger than ever.”

Cole, 34, was shut down a year ago after experiencing right elbow discomfort, and he did not make his '24 season debut until June. But he rebounded to have a solid season, pitching to a 3.41 ERA in 95 innings in the regular season, then helping the Yankees win the franchise's first American League pennant since 2009 in the postseason, in which the veteran righthander recorded a 2.17 ERA in 29 innings.

Cole, who grew up a Yankees fan, inked a nine-year, $324 million contract with New York back in December of '19. He opted out of his contract in November of '24 but he and the Yankees agreed to continue with the deal as presently constructed, which means he's owed an additional $144 million through 2028.

In five seasons with the Yankees, Cole has pitched to a 59-28 record and a 3.12 ERA with 915 strikeouts in 759 innings.

Chelsea restored some of the pride they lost in their Champions League thumping at the hands of Barcelona last season with a creditable 1-1 draw with the Spanish giants. After a chastening 8-2 semi-final aggregate loss to Barca, the Blues had a point to prove and were on track to do that with Ellie Carpenter's piledriver. But Ewa Pajor's strike ensured the spoils were shared on Thursday.

After a bright start from the visitors, a determined Chelsea took the lead in the 16th minute when Carpenter emphatically smashed the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. Barcelona's Pajor nearly hit back straight away when she slotted past Livia Peng, only for her effort to be ruled out for offside, but the Polish striker wouldn't be denied in the 24th minute when she fired through a crowd of bodies after the Blues failed to clear a corner. 

Barca stopper Cata Coll did well to keep out Wieke Kaptein's lofted shot following a defence-splitting pass from Erin Cuthbert and then the Netherlands international rattled the post after a neat layoff from Alyssa Thompson. Just as the hosts' grip on the contest – which was delayed for a while due to a power cut – started to loosen in the second half, substitute Catarina Macario expertly headed in a free-kick, only for her effort to be ruled out for just straying offside by the narrowest of margins.

Chelsea should have been 2-1 with 10 minutes to go when a brilliant move ended in Carpenter smacking the ball wide when it seemed easier to score from eight yards out. The result saw Barcelona go top of the tournament's league table, whereas Chelsea are sixth after four matches. While this may appear to be a good result, this was a missed opportunity for Sonia Bompastor's side.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Livia Peng (6/10):

The summer signing is in for the injured Hannah Hampton and was competent enough in between the sticks for Chelsea.

Lucy Bronze (7/10):

The veteran pulled off a number of important clearances, along with the odd powerful surge into the opposition's half.

Nathalie Bjorn (6/10):

Was solid if unspectacular in Chelsea's backline. If Millie Bright is to return to the starting XI, her place in the team may be under threat if Naomi Girma continues to excel in defence.

Naomi Girma (8/10):

Made a brilliant, last-ditch tackle to keep the scores level early on and some of her recoveries at the back were very impressive. Started ahead of Bright, and it seemed to have been the right call.

Sandy Baltimore (9/10):

Was solid and smart at the back and was a right nuisance going forward. She linked up well with Thompson down Chelsea's left and was arguably their best player.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Keira Walsh (7/10):

The former Barcelona ace plugged some gaps in Chelsea's midfield and linked up well with her team-mates.

Wieke Kaptein (7/10):

Was so close to grabbing a brace but a mixture of the Barcelona keeper and some bad luck kept her at bay.

Erin Cuthbert (8/10):

The captain led by example with a typically industrious and committed performance. She also threaded some nice through balls to her team-mates in the final third. 

AFPAttack

Ellie Carpenter (7/10):

Scored a quite brilliant goal in the first half but was guilty of being a bit sloppy in possession and some of her passing was errant. Plus, she missed a glorious opportunity late on to win it.

Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):

Held the ball up well and brought others into play. She is working her way back to fitness but got an assist for Chelsea's goal and did herself proud.

Alyssa Thompson (8/10):

Her pace and trickery kept Barcelona's backline honest, both on the left and right wing. Sometimes she takes a touch too many when there are better options available but she is a big talent.

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Catarina Macario (8/10):

It looked like she scored with her very first touch with a sublime header but VAR ruled it out. Was very impressive off the bench.

Sonia Bompastor (7/10):

After last season's drubbing in this competition, the Frenchwoman's team gave a much better account of themselves, particularly in defence. They also created clearer-cut chances and were well organised.

Nissanka’s ton got Sri Lanka within sight of victory but the remaining batters couldn’t quite get them across the line

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

India won the Super OverIn regular play, Pathum Nissanka’s 107 off 58 balls and Kusal Perera’s 58 off 32, cancelled out a rapid 61 from Abhishek Sharma, and a 49 not out off 34 from Tilak Varma. India hit 202 for 5. So did Sri Lanka.In the Super Over though, Sri Lanka were very clearly out of steam on all fronts. First, they didn’t send Nissanka out to bat, choosing Kusal Perera (who sliced one to deep backward point first ball), Dasun Shanaka (who struggled with Arshdeep Singh’s wide yorkers), and Kamindu Mendis (who has never been an explosive T20I batter) out instead.Between these three, they managed a total of two runs. Suryakumar Yadav would almost laughingly put the first ball of their Super Over – bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga – through cover, to claim three first ball. This meant India went through to the Asia Cup final undefeated, and were really only tested in this match, in which they rested Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube.Perhaps their aura had lost a little of its shine, but India pushing through to a victory even when Sri Lanka’s top order was batting beautifully, will be something India will take heart from ahead of the final against Pakistan.India’s innings, meanwhile, had gone smoothly. Abhishek produced another spectacular start, striking up a 59-run partnership with Suryakumar who contributed only 12 off 13 to that stand. Later, Tilak and Sanju Samson would put on 66 together.Pathum Nissanka celebrates his maiden T20I century•AFP/Getty ImagesNissanka’s 127-run partnership off 70 balls, however, was the biggest of the tournament. It got Sri Lanka within sight of victory. But the remaining batters couldn’t quite get them across the line.What happened in the Super OverSri Lanka are required to bat first in this Super Over, but Nissanka, their best batter of the tournament, is not picked to come out straight away. (We’re sure, at this stage, that he will come in if a wicket falls, though.)Perera and Shanaka are sent in instead, with Arshdeep tasked with bowling this over, in the absence of Bumrah.Perera slices the first ball, a wide yorker, to deep point, where substitute fielder Rinku Singh takes a good running catch.Kamindu Mendis, who does not have a track record of scoring quickly against high-quality opposition comes out next, even though Nissanka is just sitting there in the dugout. Predictably Kamindu struggles to get more than an edge to the next Arshdeep ball, and they scramble a single.Shanaka can’t really hit Arshdeep’s wide yorkers either, and attempts a bye off the fourth ball.Arshdeep appeals for the caught behind while wicketkeeper Sanju Samson runs Dasun Shanaka out at the striker’s end.But because Arshdeep has appealed for the catch, the umpire gives Shanaka out. (The umpire’s finger is raised only after the run out is completed, but according to the rules, the out decision effectively overturns the run out.) Shanaka awake to this loophole, immediately asks the umpire: “It’s a dead ball, right?”, just after he reviews the caught behind decision.It turns out Shanaka is correct as per the laws. Because he had been wrongly been given out caught behind, he is exonerated from the run out, even though the stumps were broken before the umpire’s finger was raised.Shanaka gets to live another ball and perhaps propel Sri Lanka to a competitive Super Over score.Shanaka top edges one to deep third very next ball, ending Sri Lanka’s Super Over.India score three first ball and win.Abhishek Sharma rocks the powerplayAlthough opening partner Shubman Gill was dismissed off the ninth ball of the innings, the tournament’s best batter still scythed his way through the powerplay. His best powerplay over came against Dushmantha Chamera. Abhishek came down the track and crashed him over long off off thifd ball, before raising the fifth ball over short fine leg’s head, then slicing the next one over short third.Abhishek Sharma brought up his third successive fifty•Getty ImagesIt only took Abhishek 22 balls to get to fifty. By the end of the powerplay, India were 71 for 1. Abhishek eventually miscued a Charith Asalanka half-tracker to deep midwicket, in the ninth over. His 61 came off 31 balls.Nissanka’s sublime inningsNissanka had scored heavily in the group stage, but had been quiet in the first two Super Four games. In this match, he exploded. He hit Hardik Pandya through point for four first ball, lifted other seamers over deep midwicket, and hooked others over backward square leg. He hit his fifty off 25 balls, and just continued to attack through the middle overs, as Perera also scored rapidly.Nissanka became Sri Lanka’s fourth T20I centurion (among men) at the end of the 17th over, when he thumped Arshdeep into the sightscreen. He got there of 52 balls. His eventual 108 off 58 is Sri Lanka’s highest individual T20I score.

They might have dropped points for the first time since late September on Saturday, but Arsenal remain atop the Premier League table heading into the international break.

Mikel Arteta’s side are four points clear of Manchester City in second place and have looked utterly sensational for much of the season, even with most of their attackers out of action.

Moreover, those who have remained fit have stepped up massively so far and currently look like some of the best players in the country, if not in Europe.

One of those stars is, of course, Declan Rice, but even the Englishman is being outperformed by another of Arsenal’s most important players, someone who could be one of their best-ever signings in the Premier League era.

Rice's development at Arsenal

When Arsenal splashed a club record £105m on Rice in the summer of 2023, most fans expected him to come in and become the club’s first choice six for the foreseeable future.

After all, while he had played in other positions for West Ham United, he was first and foremost a defensive midfielder in East London.

Unsurprisingly, this was how Arteta used the Englishman for much of the 23/24 season, with him making 31 appearances at the base of midfield, 19 in central areas and one at centre-back.

However, towards the end of that season, the manager was playing his record signing higher up the pitch, and that trend continued into the following campaign, where the 26-year-old became far more of an all-action, box-crashing left-eight.

For example, by the end of the season, he had made 37 appearances in central midfield and just 15 as a six, and as a result, his output massively improved, with him scoring nine goals and providing ten assists.

It seemed that the former Hammers’ captain would continue to play further up the pitch this season, especially with Martin Zubimendi joining the club, but once again, and for the third consecutive campaign, his role has slightly changed.

The 70-capped Englishman is still starting games in central midfield, but on top of getting forward and crashing into the opposition’s penalty area, he is once again dropping deep at times, specifically to create a double pivot with his new Spanish teammate.

Appearances

120

Starts

109

Minutes

9613′

Goals

18

Assists

25

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

Minutes per Goal Involvement

223.55

Points per Game

2.10

This change is clearly visible during games and on his heatmaps, but he was also happy to tell the press during the last international break that the manager has “adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year to give me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but to also get in the box when I can.”

Add an outrageous ability with dead balls that has already seen him chalk up five assists to go with his two goals this season, and it’s easy to see why so many consider Rice to be one of the best players in the league.

However, even with how well he is playing this year, there is another Arsenal star doing even better who could be in for a shout as being one of the club’s best signings in the Premier League era.

The Arsenal star who could be one of their best-ever PL signings

The good news for Arsenal fans and Arteta is that several players in the current squad could potentially fit this description.

Chalkboard

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

However, when it comes to someone who has really taken yet another step up this season, it’s practically impossible to ignore Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian was once seen as something of a liability at the back, so much so that he made just 32 appearances, totalling 2807 minutes, across all competitions during his first season with the club.

However, he began to steadily improve after that initial campaign, and while there were rumours of him being up for sale in the summer of 2023, he’s become utterly invaluable since.

In fact, while William Saliba is viewed as the more cultured of the two centre-backs, and was constantly touted for a move to Real Madrid before his contract renewal, it could be said that the Brazilian has been the better player across the last two years.

25/26

17

5

24/25

42

8

23/24

50

5

22/23

48

3

21/22

39

5

20/21

32

4

For example, he has almost entirely rid his game of the silly mistakes that hurt his reputation early on and has become a titan at the back.

Moreover, while he is more than capable of the cute passes his French partner likes to play, he also has that old-school approach to the game.

He makes more than his fair share of perfectly timed but nonetheless thunderous all-action challenges that get the fans on their feet.

Add to that the fact he’s 6 foot 3, a vocal leader and clearly someone who loves the art of defending, and it’s easy to see why Arsenal writer Adam Keys has described him as the Gunners’ “colossus” at the back.

Now, the 27-year-old’s defensive contributions, which played a vital role in the club’s eight clean sheets in a row, would be reason enough for him to be classed as one of their best signings in the Premier League era, but he’s more than just a defender.

Since joining the league, no defender has been involved in more goals than the Brazilian, and across all competitions, he has racked up an outrageous tally of 22 goals and eight assists.

Seeing the São Paulo-born monster’s name on the scoresheet at the end of a game has become something of an inevitability this season, and yet opposition teams remain incapable of stopping it from happening.

Ultimately, Rice is a world-class player, but over the last couple of years, especially this season, Gabriel has been operating just above him, and therefore, could be one of Arsenal’s best-ever Premier League signings.

Arteta now has Arsenal's best finisher since Van Persie & it's not Gyokeres

The international monster has been incredible for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Jordan Walker in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft. After a decent rookie season in 2023 he was named the starting right fielder for opening day in 2024, but spent much of the season in triple-A.

His 2025 season nearly got off to a disastrous when he was forced to leave the Cardinals game against the Washington Nationals early this week. During the third inning of a game at Cacti Park on Tuesday, he successfully tracked down a fly ball in right field, but after he threw the ball in it was clear there was something wrong.

It turns out Walker had stepped on a sprinkler and jammed his knee. He left the game after the inning ended. Here's video:

On Wednesday he had inflammation in his knee and got an MRI that revealed no structural damage. The Cardinals are going to rest him for a week and reassess.

Walker is 2-for-14 with eight strikeouts during spring training.

Before he steps up to the plate, Cubs outfielder Ian Happ peers at a bull’s-eye sticker affixed to the inside of his batting helmet, just above the earpiece—a quick depth perception exercise that reminds his brain to utilize both eyes while at bat. This small habit is just one element of Happ’s vision-training routine, which he started after posting career lows in batting average (.226), on-base percentage (.323) and OPS (.757) during the 2021 season. A teammate referred him to Ryan Harrison, owner of SlowtheGameDown, a vision performance program based in Irvine, Calif. 

“We want people working on our bodies and swings, but if you can’t see the ball, you’re not going to have much success,” Happ says. “I think it’s a big part of what we do and it’s the least [thing] emphasized or trained.”

Indeed, shoulder presses and squats are workout standbys, but exercises for the eyes are often overlooked. That’s where Harrison—who works with athletes in baseball, football and hockey—concentrates his training. The eye contains six muscles that work together to move it in all directions, like the strings on a marionette. They are divided into two groups: the recti, the primary vertical movers when the eye is abducted, or looking away from the nose; and the oblique, used when the eye is adducted, or looking towards the nose. During his initial evaluation with an athlete, Harrison uses a series of tests and drills, most of which originate from another time—and another Harrison. After playing baseball at Cal, Ryan’s father Bill became an eye doctor and later began working with the Royals as a vision-training specialist in 1971. He went on to work with 15 MLB organizations and several NCAA baseball programs before his death in 2019.

“A lot of the stuff we do today is based on what they were doing in the ’70s,” says Ryan. “The technology is updated. But the brain and the eyes haven’t changed. It’s really about how we’re using those skill sets and enhancing them.”

Former Chelsea star Oscar is reportedly considering retirement after being hospitalised with a heart issue. The 34-year-old is said to have fallen ill during a bicycle test at current side São Paulo and since then, he has been diagnosed with vasovagal syncope, where the blood pressure drops too low, causing people to faint. Now, reports suggest the Brazilian is weighing up whether or not to end his career.

Oscar recovering in hospital

After spending eight years playing in China, Oscar rejoined São Paulo on a deal until 2027 at the end of last year. Following that move, he said: "I'm happy to be back in Brazil and to be able to play for São Paulo, which is the club where I started out, where I made my base and where I grew up. I thank you for the affection I have received on social media these past few days and I will do my best to achieve great things together."

Fast forward to the present, and the veteran may have kicked his last ball for the club after this health scare on Tuesday. 

The Brazilian team said on Thursday: "Midfielder Oscar remains hospitalized at Einstein Hospital Israelita, where he was admitted on Tuesday afternoon after presenting an intercurrence with cardiological changes during exams carried out at SuperCT. An extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope. Oscar remains clinically well and stable, hospitalized in a cardiology unit, and this Friday will undergo an electrophysiological study."

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesEnd of the road for Oscar?

Following the incident, Oscar – who started his career at São Paulo way back in 2008 – posted in an Instagram story: "Everything will be alright, God willing." 

While he is seemingly staying upbeat, Brazilian publication Globo states that Oscar – who moved to Shanghai in 2017 in a £60 million ($79m) move that reportedly pocketed him around £400,000 a week – is mulling over whether or not to retire from football. They add that it may be more likely he hangs up his boots, rather than continuing.

The report states: "According to a specialist heard by Globo, the problem is not life-threatening and can be solved with medication or simple surgical intervention, where a ganglion is cauterized to avoid getting out of control. Also, according to the expert, Oscar may be able to return to football if everything goes well and he feels comfortable to do so. For now, Oscar still has no discharge forecast. At the age of 34, he evaluates with his family whether he will announce his retirement or continue in football. The biggest tendency is for him to leave professional football."

What is Oscar's condition?

According to the NHS, vasovagal syncope is common, can affect anyone, and is often a temporary problem affecting the body's control system (autonomic nervous system). It is a common cause of fainting that occurs due to a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain. Certain triggers affect the nerve messages, and as a result of this issue, you can feel weak, sick, sweaty, and light-headed – and that can lead to losing consciousness. If you have this problem, people are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, not to stand still for long periods, and to avoid overly warm environments. If you get warning symptoms, sufferers should lie down and squeezing firmly on a ball may be helpful. 

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AFPWhat comes next for Oscar?

Football fans will be eagerly awaiting to hear from Oscar, who played 203 times for Chelsea and scored 38 goals between 2012-17 before joining Shanghai Port, again and whether or not he will continue his playing career. After making more than 500 appearances in club football, playing 48 times for Brazil, and winning trophies in England, China, and his home country, he may decide that for the good of his health, it is time to move on to something different. However, the Brazilian may still have another chapter to write in his footballing journey.