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Virat Kohli brought up the toss unprovoked at the post-match presentation, but does he have a point?

Sidharth Monga24-Feb-2020It was quite uncharacteristic of India captain Virat Kohli to bring up the toss unprovoked at the post-match presentation after their 10-wicket loss to New Zealand.Some might be tempted to look at it as an excuse – as was done with Faf du Plessis when South Africa lost in India – but if you scratch the surface, Kohli – and du Plessis – was only stating facts.India, New Zealand and Australia are so strong at home that it has become nearly impossible for visiting teams to beat them if they lose the toss. The last time any visiting side won a Test after losing the toss in any of these countries was back in 2012, when a Kevin Pietersen masterclass made the difference against a transitional Indian team.How the toss influences results•ESPNcricinfo LtdIt has been more than a decade since New Zealand lost a home Test after winning the toss. Even Australia, for instance, who had a severely depleted side in 2018-19, managed to win the Perth Test against India when they won the toss.The converse of this, unfortunately for visiting sides, does not hold true. When you are visiting these countries, winning the toss is no guarantee that you will go on to win the Test. The likes of India, New Zealand and Australia still manage to win home Tests despite losing the toss.Win-loss records after losing tosses•ESPNcricinfo LtdA few of New Zealand’s wins despite losing the toss have come against Sri Lanka and West Indies. If they do lose the toss to India in Christchurch, they will want to replicate what they did against England at Bay Oval earlier in the season to make sure their strong record remains intact.A word of caution, though: Virat Kohli, the captain, has never lost a Test after winning the toss. He has won 21 of the Tests he has won tosses in, and the record overseas remains just as impressive: eight wins after winning 10 tosses.

If runs haven’t returned by then, the ODIs against England after T20 World Cup would be the natural point for a new captain to start bedding in

Andrew McGlashan04-Sep-2022It is a decent sign that a player is struggling for form when a single shot is analysed as a potential turning point: will that be the stroke that changes things for them?When Aaron Finch drove Richard Ngarava wide of mid-off in the third over of the third ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville, it was, indeed, a very nice stroke. There was a decent stride, his weight came forward into the ball, it found the middle of the bat, and it was timed nicely.But it wasn’t – at least on Saturday – a turning point for the Australia limited-overs captain. Facing Ngarava’s next over, he fenced at a delivery outside off stump and was caught at second slip. It was the third time in the series he had fallen to Ngarava’s left-arm pace after dragging a ball on to his stumps in the opening match, and edging a lifting delivery to slip in the second.Related

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It left Finch with a tally of 21 runs in three innings for the series, and it extended what is increasingly looking like a trend. In 2022, Finch has now made 164 runs in 11 ODI innings – 62 of them in one knock against Sri Lanka – with six single-figure scores in that stretch – a big enough sample size for it to be a legitimate talking point, and a looming problem for Australia.”When I get a bit heavy there, it starts to affect the rest of my game,” Finch had said ahead of the final ODI against Zimbabwe. “I feel as though that’s coming along really well. The rewards will be there very soon; just hasn’t happened just yet.”I know that I’ve got the full support of the players and the coaching and selection staff, so I’m working hard on my game. It just hasn’t quite flowed yet. It just comes down to giving yourself a bit of time, and hopefully getting a big one shortly.”There is no chance of anything dramatic happening in the short term. Australia have named their T20 World Cup squad, which Finch will captain. But it is worthwhile separating the two white-ball formats. While Finch’s ODI returns are in a rut, he has managed to maintain his T20I output at a better level with 247 runs at 30.87 this year, albeit his strike rate of 121.67 is his lowest of any 12-month period.It means there is a crucial week for Finch coming up against New Zealand in Cairns in terms of what might happen after the T20 World Cup. Unsurprisingly, he has had support from across the board – team-mates, national selector and head coach – over his position, but another difficult series will keep the issue bubbling away.It has the makings a tough examination as well, with New Zealand being able to pick a pace attack from Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.”Across his career, it’s ebbed and flowed. His movement patterns sometimes early in his innings are compromised, whether that’s through perceived pressure that he puts on himself or what the bowler does,” head coach Andrew McDonald told reporters after the Zimbabwe series.”We are working through it. He’s working hard on his game… he’s continuing to work on the same things he always works on. It’s about getting a start and maximising that start. At the moment he hasn’t quite got to that stage but we feel he can, hence he’s still around the group and still a valued member as our captain.”It will be about clearing his mind, clearing his thoughts, going out there and looking to be positive. When he’s positive, his feet move a lot better than potentially when he’s doubting. That’s every batsman’s case when they feel they haven’t got the runs they want.”They search for a little bit more, and sometimes that can take away from just responding to what is coming down… so if we can get a clear mind, I think there’s an opportunity for him to have an impact in that New Zealand series.”Alex Carey could be a contender for the ODI captaincy should Aaron Finch need to be replaced•Associated PressIf runs haven’t returned by then, the ODI series against England after the T20 World Cup – which has nothing much riding on it due to not being part of the Super League – would be the natural point to make a change that would leave time for a new captain to bed in.In that scenario, Finch holding the T20 World Cup aloft on home soil on November 13 would be the ideal way to sign off, although sport offers no promises of a perfect ending.There may be parallels with how Eoin Morgan’s career came to an abrupt end earlier this year after consecutive ducks against Netherlands. Like Finch, Morgan’s captaincy continued to be held in huge regard, and it is unlikely he would have been pushed, but Morgan woke a couple of days before England’s final game in that series and knew his race was run.Whether it plays out that way for Finch remains to be seen.Australia are not short of potential top-order replacements who have made strong cases of late, which may yet be a factor. Travis Head, absent from the Zimbabwe and New Zealand series on paternity leave, has averaged 62 in ODIs this year; Ben McDermott made 55 and 104 against Pakistan; and Marnus Labuschagne looks a better fit as a top-three player than in a middle-order role.However, replacing Finch as captain would be the tougher decision, although Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh would likely be contenders. But if someone with experience was wanted to get through the World Cup, Steven Smith’s name could be considered too.Finch has turned things around before, not least ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup, when a run of low scores against India became one of his best years. For now, the final stages of Finch’s outstanding international career remain in his hands, and a big score or two in Cairns will shift the conversation.Another lean series, however, and his path will become a trickier to plot.

Liverpool are reportedly ready to seek inspiration from a familiar face if Premier League title-winning manager Arne Slot is relieved of his coaching duties at Anfield. With the Reds struggling for consistency in the 2025-26 campaign, and Mohamed Salah cutting a frustrated figure, Steven Gerrard is seeing a stunning return to Merseyside speculated on.

• Klopp also being linked with Anfield return

  Jurgen Klopp has already seen an emotional retracing of steps to Liverpool mooted, with the German having stepped down as Reds boss in the summer of 2024. He saw his successor, Dutch tactician Slot, deliver title glory during a memorable debut campaign.

  The wheels have fallen off since then, though, with the Liverpool bandwagon not rolling as freely as it once was. A bright start to the current season saw a number of late goals recorded, with those efforts papering over some alarming cracks.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Points dropped & Salah strop: Why Slot is under pressure

  The Reds have suffered six defeats through 15 top-flight fixtures this season, while also enduring humbling reversals in Champions League competition against Galatasaray and PSV. Two more points were dropped from a commanding position last time out during a dramatic 3-3 draw at Leeds.

  After that contest, Egyptian superstar Salah – who has been named on the bench for Liverpool’s last three games and saw no minutes at Elland Road – came out and aimed a stunning blast at a club that he has represented with distinction across eight glittering years.

  Salah has accused the Reds of throwing him under the bus during a difficult season, while admitting that his working relationship with Slot has broken down. Transfer talk is now raging again around the 250-goal icon who only signed a new two-year contract back in April.

• Return of a legend: Gerrard considered as interim boss

  All was happy in the Liverpool camp back then, but Slot and hisunderperforming players are now facing some uncomfortable questions. The man calling the shots has maintained that he boasts the full support of his board.

  Slot has said when asked if he boasts backing there: “Yeah but not in the sense that they tell me every single minute ‘we support you’, ‘we support you’, ‘we support you’.” We talk a lot. If we are winning, last season, and if we are losing. And then they are helpful to me, to the team.

  “So yeah, we do have those conversations, but they don’t call me in every single minute of the day to tell me that they still trust me. We do have the normal conversations and in those conversations I feel the trust.”

  It remains to be seen whether the Liverpool hierarchy continue to support Slot or start to consider a change in the dugout. According to , some thought has been given to another fresh start.

  It is claimed that “Steven Gerrard is under consideration to step in on an interim basis if Arne Slot is sacked”. If such a move were to happen, then a stunning homecoming would be taken in by the legendary former Reds captain.

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  Gerrard career: Anfield icon & mixed managerial record

  Merseyside native Gerrard took in 710 appearances for Liverpool in his playing days, scoring 186 goals while lifting Champions League and FA Cup honours. He is considered to be a GOAT by many at Anfield.

  The 45-year-old would be available to step in if required by the Reds to take their reins on an interim basis through to the end of the 2025-26 season. That is because his own managerial career is currently on hold.

  He started out in style when leading Rangers to Scottish Premiership title glory in 2020-21, but has since found the going tough at Premier League side Aston Villa and in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq.

  Gerrard’s spell in the Middle East came to a close in January. He has returned to punditry duty since then, while turning down the chance to head back to Ibrox. Any opportunity to return to his roots would be much tougher to snub, with Liverpool still mulling over whether an SOS call needs to be sounded.

حقق المصري البورسعيدي، فوزًا غاليًا على زيسكو يونايتد بثلاثية مقابل هدفين في اللقاء الذي جمعهما اليوم الجمعة، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

ولعب المصري ضد زيسكو على ملعب الأخير بزامبيا، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من عمر مواجهات المجموعة الرابعة لبطولة الكونفدرالية.

طالع.. فيديو | في دقيقتين.. المصري يتقدم وزيسكو يسجل التعادل

وتقدم المصري عن طريق محمد هاشم في الدقيقة 4 برأسية أن يتعادل فريق زيسكو في الدقيقة 5 بواسطة لاعبه فريدي مايكل.

وتقدم النادي المصري من جديد بالهدف الثاني عن طريق اللاعب منذر طمين في الدقيقة 24 من عمر اللقاء قبل نهاية الشوط الأول.

وسجل هدف المصري الثالث أمام زيسكو، لاعبه الجزائري عبد الرحيم دغموم، في الدقيقة 68 بعد “وان تو” رائع مع زميله منذر طمين داخل منطقة الجزاء، ليسدد دغموم في المرمى بنجاح، واختتم بيتر موسوكوما أهداف المباراة بالتسجيل لصالح زيسكو في الدقيقة 87.

ورفع المصري البورسعيدي، رصيده إلى 6 نقاط في صدارة المجموعة والتي تضم الزمالك وكايزر تشيفز. أهداف المصري وزيسكو يونايتد اليوم

Leeds United are interested in signing of AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott in January, following his stunning performance for the Republic of Ireland.

Parrott wrote his name into Ireland folklore on Sunday afternoon, scoring a hat-trick in his country’s 3-2 win away to Hungary and booking a place in the 2026 World Cup playoffs in the process.

The 23-year-old netted the winner deep into stoppage time, leading to scenes of unrivalled joy among the visiting players, staff and supporters, and even Roy Keane had words of praise for both the Alkmaar ace and Ireland.

“Fantastic, amazing. When you think the way they started the campaign, a draw and a defeat. To win today on the back of the Portugal result, fantastic.

“Great boost for the country and the team. The manager was heavily criticised but they’ve bounced back and got some momentum now. Parrott got a hat-trick. There was always talk about Parrott over the last few years, but he has stepped up in the last few days. Great achievement. Fingers crossed now for when they go to the play-offs.”

In terms of Leeds, they are on the lookout for a new attacker to bolster their firepower, and it looks as though Parrott could be a contender to come in.

Leeds eyeing move for Troy Parrott

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are among the clubs who are “interested” in signing Parrott in January, having pursued him during the summer transfer window.

The Whites and the 49ers Enterprises want to bring in a new striker when the winter window rolls around, with transfer insider Dean Jones claiming as much to TEAMtalk recently.

“It sounds to me like the club know they have let him down a bit by leaving him short of goal power. Leeds have been competitive in most games but it has been clear they lack a cutting edge and they know they should have signed another forward. It is something they need to do in January and they just hope they can reach that stage of the season and still be in a relatively good position to stay in the division.”

Parrott would be a strong addition for Leeds, with his stock never higher than it is currently, following his heroics for Ireland over the weekend.

He has impressed with Alkmaar in the Netherlands, scoring 33 goals in just 61 appearances, and he could add that extra bit of quality that Daniel Farke craves, as the Whites look to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

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Parrott has two appearances in the English top flight from his time at Tottenham, and the fact that he has been on Leeds’ radar for a while suggests they really like him, rather than it being a knee-jerk decision after his Ireland brilliance.

Leeds have an amazing Okafor rival who once scored 10 goals in 1 game

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to pay £70m to sign AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, as they believe he would be perfect for Thomas Frank.

It is little wonder Tottenham are looking to bring in a new forward, given that some of their current attacking options have been far from impressive so far this season, with Jamie O’Hara left fuming by Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani after the Chelsea defeat.

Mathys Tel has also found it difficult to adapt to life in the Premier League, with the 20-year-old being dropped to the bench in recent weeks, having now scored just one goal in his opening 10 matches in all competitions.

Spurs’ attacking woes were particularly apparent in the 1-0 defeat against their London rivals on Saturday, failing to craft a single big chance, while also having just three shots in the entire match.

Tottenham willing to make offer for Antoine Semenyo

Having struggled in front of goal, Tottenham are now willing to make their club-record signing in one of the stars of the Premier League this season, with a report from Spain revealing they are prepared to make a bid of around €80m (£70m) for Semenyo.

There is a belief the Bournemouth forward would be ideal for Frank, given that he is fast, powerful and clinical, but there could be competition for the Ghanaian’s signature, as several unnamed European clubs are also keen.

The Cherries value the 25-year-old highly, but they may be willing to cash-in for the right price this winter, with a £80m fee being touted.

The Bournemouth star has shown signs of year-on-year development since first emerging as a regular starter in the Premier League during the 2023/24 season, and he is already over half-way to matching his goal and assist tally from the previous campaign.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

33

11

2024-25

37

17

2025-26

10

9

Scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the Ghana international in the past, urging Arsenal to sign him back in February.

Semenyo has earned a move to a top club, with his performances this season indicating he is ready to make the step-up, and it would be a real statement of intent from ENIC if they were able to get a deal done.

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ByDominic Lund Nov 2, 2025

​Folding your grandmother’s chaise lounge on a breezy day at the beach. Closing an umbrella in the teeth of a windstorm. Madly checking all your pockets when you’ve misplaced your keys. The swing of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has no comparison among major league hitters, so you are left to find endeavors in everyday life with such mechanical quirks.

The Freeman swing is no oil painting, unless you had a Jackson Pollock in mind. Freeman starts with his bat off the shoulder and parallel to the ground. His back elbow is raised. As the pitcher winds up, Freeman snaps the bat to attention, upright, as if a predator put on alert by the sudden scent of prey. Then he pulls his hands close to his body and throws the barrel at the ball with what looks like a flick of the wrists. He finishes with two hands high, the wrists having completely turned over, in the manner of someone who has striped a 300-yard drive down the center of the fairway.

This is the swing that has launched 2,329 hits, postseason included, including the one that salted away World Series Game 3 on Monday, a spoiler alert though it came just three batters into the game. Freeman ripped a two-run homer off a shaky Clarke Schmidt to send the Los Angeles Dodgers on their way to a 4–2 victory over the New York Yankees in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated. The Dodgers and Freeman, the presumptive MVP, are one win away from ending the World Series in a rout.

Freeman is on one of the greatest hitting heaters the World Series has ever seen. So hobbled by a sprained ankle a week ago that he did not play in the Dodgers’ NLCS clincher, Freeman joined Hank Bauer (1958) and Barry Bonds (2002) as the only players to homer in the first three games of a World Series. Amazingly, Freeman hit his three World Series homers in a span of just 10 swings.

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Including the 2021 World Series playing for the Braves, Freeman has homered in five straight series games, tying George Springer for the World Series record.

“There are points throughout the course of the season when the swing is actually good,” Freeman said, “but it felt like it was a constant battle all season long with my swing. It kind of happens like that. It seems hard: hit a round ball with a round bat. There’s a lot of different ways to do it. I’m thankful that it’s in a good spot right now when we need it the most. I’m just seeing the ball very well. You know, I'm swinging at the strikes, taking the balls … what you're trying to do every game. And thankfully I've been able to do it.”

​Freeman has had a Hall of Fame career. He is one of only 33 players who have played 2,000 games with an OPS+ of at least 142. Thirty of those players have been on a Hall of Fame ballot and all of them have been voted in except for PED-tainted sluggers Manny Ramirez and Bonds. This World Series is burnishing Freeman’s reputation as one of his generation’s greatest pure hitters. This is his magnum opus. His career postseason OPS is .890, 17th all-time (min. 200 plate appearances) and just ahead of Reggie Jackson.

​Those are the numbers. How Freeman gets it done, line drive after line drive, year after year, is worthy not just of admiration but peer review.

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​About eight miles south of Yankee Stadium, on the fourth floor of the Museum of Modern Art, hangs an Abstract Impressionism painting by Jackson Pollock titled . Pollock created it by flinging and pouring ropes of paint across a huge canvas stretched over the floor. You can stand back from it and, though there is no discernible pattern or point of focus, see what you will. Order, chance, chaos, rhythm, nature … all of it or some of it. It’s what great art does: It stimulates the mind.

​With Pollock’s work in mind, I asked the Dodgers to stand back and look at , otherwise known as the Freeman Swing, and tell me what they see.

When it comes to the best player to have represented West Ham United in the modern era, you really are spoilt for choice.

However, if you then limit that to those who are homegrown and have come up through the academy, it’s hard to ignore one man: Declan Rice.

The England international might have broken some hearts with his move to Arsenal, but it’s impossible to deny the fact that he was a superstar for the Hammers, making 245 appearances, wearing the captain’s armband and most crucially of all, playing a significant role in the club’s Conference League triumph.

The Irons are yet to produce another prospect quite as talented as Rice, and while it will come eventually, they’ve already lost a youngster who’s being touted for big, big things.

West Ham's exciting prospects

While it feels like they are unlikely to be as impactful as Rice was, or the youngster they lost a couple of years ago, West Ham still have several exciting prospects emerging from the academy.

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For example, with how poorly the club’s current crop of strikers are doing, it might not be too long before the London Stadium faithful get to see Josh Landers in action.

The Scottish forward joined the Hammers from Hibernian in February of this year and has been on fire ever since.

In just 12 games for the U18s he has scored nine goals, and since moving up to the U21s, the Innerleithen-born poacher has found the back of the net five times.

Another dangerous gem, but one who spends time at left-back or on the left-hand side of midfield is Emeka Adiele.

The 18-year-old, who, according to one analyst, is blessed with “confidence & tenacity,” has already provided seven goal involvements in just eight appearances for the U21s this season.

Finally, someone who could potentially come is a long-term heir to Bowen on the right, Elisha Sowumni.

Appearances

25

Minutes

2081′

Goals

14

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

Minutes per Goal Involvement

130.06′

The 18-year-old was a force of nature for the youth sides last season, scoring 14 goals and providing two assists in just 25 appearances.

Moreover, while he is considered a right-winger, he has shown an impressive ability to play all over the pitch, which could help him earn some first-team minutes in the coming years.

However, while these three are certainly exciting prospects, they all pale in comparison to someone who left West Ham a couple of years ago.

The incredible prospect West Ham lost for nothing

All teams lose promising prospects; it’s just the way football goes sometimes, but Divine Mukasa does not appear to be any ordinary prospect.

The hugely exciting youngster joined West Ham at just five years old, but in September 2013, he moved to Manchester City for free.

He made his senior debut for Pep Guardiola’s side this season, in a League Cup game against Huddersfield Town, a game in which the teenager registered his first senior goal involvement, an assist for Phil Foden.

However, while it’s certainly an encouraging sign regarding his development to see him already playing in the first team, it’s his unreal form in the junior sides that has turned so many heads, and why he might’ve been the Hammers’ most talented prospect since Rice had he remained in London.

For example, in 41 appearances across various age groups last season, totalling 2807 minutes, the incredible midfielder racked up an outrageous tally of 17 goals and 25 assists.

Appearances

41

Minutes

2807′

Goals

17

Assists

25

Goal Involvements per Match

1.02

Minutes per Goal Involvement

66.83′

In other words, the youngster averaged a 1.02 goal involvement per game, or one every 66.83 minutes all season.

Such an out-of-this-world rate of return goes some way in justifying journalist Nassali Sandrah’s claim that the 18-year-old is “the best academy player in Europe.”

As if that weren’t enough, he has also flown through the international youth teams and currently has three caps for England’s U19s.

Ultimately, West Ham have got their fair share of exciting talents in the academy at the moment, but had they kept hold of Mukasa, he would undoubtedly be the jewel in the crown.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 7, 2025

The highest praise that anyone in the Premier League can receive is a comparison with Thierry Henry. The Arsenal legend is one of, if not the greatest players in the competition’s history. He arrived in North London as a young player who initially found it tough against the physicality of English football. Years later, however, he left as an Invincible icon.

Even in the era of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, it’s difficult to place anyone above Henry.

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Angus Sinclair

Sep 16, 2025

The former striker is, of course, so often the talk of North London, but what makes him so special is how rival clubs also speak about his greatness.

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been among those to speak so highly about Henry over the years, once telling reporters: “He’s the kind of player that you need forever, especially in the Premier League where he was more than any other place.

“He was okay in Barcelona and the (France) national team, but the real Thierry Henry, the player that we are all going to miss forever, is the one that made unbelievable seasons and incredible history in the Premier League.”

There have been plenty of players to receive comparisons with the former Gunner, too. Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak is often likened to the Frenchman in style, but it remains to be seen whether the Swede can match his legacy when all is said and done.

That said, it’s not Isak that Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher decided to compare with the Arsenal legend. Instead, he named another player who he believes is the Henry of his position.

Carragher: Van Dijk is the "Henry of centre-backs"

Speaking on CBS’ coverage of the Champions League following Liverpool’s late victory against Atletico Madrid, Carragher claimed that Virgil van Dijk is the “Henry of centre-backs” in what is the highest praise that he could offer the Dutchman. Fresh from a winning goal against Atletico, it’s clear to see why the Reds skipper has been compared to a player of Henry’s class.

With two Premier League titles, a Champions League medal and everything in between, it’s hard to argue with Carragher’s statement. Van Dijk is imperious and is arguably ageing like fine wine at the heart of Arne Slot’s backline.

For all of Liverpool’s impressive spending in the summer, their best deal may well have been their captain’s new contract. Renewing alongside Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk set the tone of what was to come and may now reap the rewards for doing so. One more league title would of course take the Dutchman one above Henry.

The mood around Arsenal at the moment is a positive one.

They’ve won three of four games in the Premier League, won their first Champions League game of the season and have only conceded one goal in all five matches.

Moreover, while they are still likely to get called negative and boring by some in the media, the Gunners are playing some nice football.

Champions League

Bilbao

2-0 W

Premier League

Forest

3-0 W

Premier League

Liverpool

1-0 L

Premier League

Leeds

5-0 W

Premier League

Man Utd

1-0 W

One of the reasons has been the impressive form of Noni Madueke, who is proving plenty of his doubters wrong so far.

However, while the former Chelsea star is looking like a great signing, Arsenal already had a homegrown version of him years ago, and now that player is one of the best in the world.

Madueke's start to life at Arsenal

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Madueke’s first few games at Arsenal weren’t overly impressive, as while he offered some threat against Liverpool and did well enough off the left against Leeds, he didn’t blow anyone away.

However, since coming back from a successful international break in which he forced an own goal against Andorra and opened his own account against Serbia, he’s looked near enough unplayable.

For example, while he didn’t register a goal involvement against Forest, the 23-year-old dynamo was a constant threat down the right-hand side, taking 65 touches, completing five dribbles, playing five key passes, creating one big chance and registering an impressive expected assists figure of 0.71.

However, even without the data, it was clear that the Englishman was doing some things right by the eye-test, and the way in which the crowd would react excitedly whenever he was on the ball in a dangerous area.

It was much of the same against Bilbao, as he was once again a constant and direct threat on the right-hand side.

In fact, he should have really racked up an assist, as after driving into the box in the first half, he delivered a brilliant pass to Eberechi Eze’s feet, only for him to take too long to shoot and lose the ball.

Overall, Madueke is really starting to show supporters and pundits alike just why Arteta wanted to sign him.

However, there is another winger on the continent who was once in Arsenal’s academy, someone who could have been their homegrown version of the former Chelsea ace.

Arsenal's former homegrown Madueke

Like any other big club, Arsenal have let their fair share of future stars go as youngsters, from Harry Kane to the recently re-signed Eze.

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However, perhaps one of the very worst instances of this for the Gunners is Michael Olise.

Before spending time in the academies of Chelsea, Manchester City and Reading, the young Frenchman spent a short period in Hale End.

The small saving grace here, then, is the fact that a couple of other ‘big six’ sides passed up on the incredible talent, but given his outrageous performances for Crystal Palace and now Bayern Munich, it must still frustrate the Gunners’ hierarchy that they didn’t keep him on the books.

Since moving to Germany for £50m last summer, the 23-year-old has been on fire.

Appearances

61

Minutes

4382′

Goals

24

Assists

25

Goal Involvements per Match

0.80

Minutes per Goal Involvements

89.42′

In 61 appearances, totalling 4382 minutes, the ten-capped game-changer has scored 24 goals and provided 25 assists.

That breaks down to an outrageously impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.24 games, or every 89.42 minutes, and more than justifies Oliver Glasner’s claim that he’s “one of the best talents in the world.”

Now, while he is clearly a more dangerous player than Madueke at the moment, there are some similarities between the pair, notably their ability to carry the ball into dangerous areas.

For example, FBref ranks the Bayern star in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for carries into the final third and the top 8% for overall carries.

In comparison, the Gunners’ new star sits in the top 1% for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area.

Even then, we can be fairly certain that Arsenal would rather have Olise in their team, and had they kept hold of him all those years ago, perhaps they would’ve had their own world-class homegrown Madueke.

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