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There was a lot of news in the world of Major League Baseball on Monday night. This is not exactly a surprise in the lead-up to the trade deadline, but many of the biggest stories from the diamond on Monday were wholly unrelated to real or proposed future deals.

The biggest story in the sport was obviously the death of Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg at the age of 65. Tributes came in from across the sport as fans, players, and Sandbergs peers celebrated his life.

But beyond remembering Sandberg’s incredible career, a whole lot of mesmerizing baseball moments took place on Monday.

Take a look below at some of the strange, fascinating, and strangely fascinating highlights from around the league.

Maikel Garcia Gets Stung by a Bee

It was a big day for Maikel Garcia. The 25-year-old cousin of Ronald Acuna Jr. and his Royals teammates were facing off against the Braves, and Garcia was determine to get the better of the family rivalry.

Garcia was able to slide in under the tag when Acuna fired a bullet from the outfield in an attempt to stop him from scoring, and Garcia celebrated with a playful taunt.

But the real highlight of Garcia’s night came a few innings later, when he shook off getting stung by a bee to drill a single which he legged out to turn into a double.

This Might Be the Worst Ump Call of the Season

Listen, we’ve covered a lot of bad officiating calls through the baseball season so far. While the presence of the human condition in the calling of balls and strikes has long been a part of the DNA of the sport, it’s calls like this one from Brian Walsh in Monday’s game between the Orioles and Blue Jays that have people calling for the robot revolution.

O’s pitcher Zach Eflin delivered a pitch right down the middle… for a ball. The broadcast booth was rightfully stunned and appalled by the call.

The Angels Find New Way to Give Up Two Runs

There’s no good way for an outfielder to miss an easy catch, but there are several degrees of bad, and Angels outfielder Gustavo Campero unlocked a painful level of bad with his error against the Rangers.

With Los Angeles holding a 2–0 lead in the fifth inning and trying to get out of a bases-loaded jam, it appeared that Campero had the out to end the inning right above his glove. It was even in his glove… until it wasn’t.

The Rangers scored two runs on the play, tying the game.

Everyone Was Getting Hit by Pitches and Forced to Leave Their Game

It’s been a scary season to be a baseball this year, with sluggers like Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani all hitting dingers at a ridiculous pace.

But on Monday, the baseballs struck back, as a string of players were hit by pitches. Some of these HBPs were scarier than others, but by the end of the night, it was impossible to ignore the sheer volume of hits.

Eugenio Suarez, who is one of the hottest names on the market ahead of the trade deadline, was caught on the hand in a scary moment for the Arizona Diamondbacks and any contenders hoping to secure his services for the rest of the year.

Thankfully, x-rays were negative and Suarez is considered day-to-day.

George Springer took a pitch to the helmet in another horrifying moment for the Blue Jays. He was down on the ground for an extended period but eventually was able to walk off the field with some help from team staff. Hopefully he’s doing okay.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was also forced out early after getting tagged with a pitch on the elbow.

Even pitchers weren’t immune from the carnage, with Dylan Cease catching a grounder to the back of the head. Though he stayed in the game after taking the shot, he was clearly (and understandably) rattled.

All four of these plays came across the timeline within just a few hours, and at the time, it felt like it might be best to simply unplug baseball for the night and try again tomorrow. Best wishes to the health of all players involved.

Fernando Tatis Jr. Submits Catch of the Year Contender

Just look at this. It simply does not get better.

Another look:

Anything can happen on any given night during baseball season, but on Monday night, it felt like happened.

Wrexham's seven-match unbeaten run in the Championship came to an end on Wednesday as they went down 2-0 against a dominant Hull City on the road. The Red Dragons' star forward Kieffer Moore had a night to forget as his two costly misses cost Phil Parkinson's side crucial points. Wrexham have dropped to 14th place in the second tier after the defeat.

Hull return to winning ways with dominant performance

Hull headed into the game on the back of a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Middlesbrough and were naturally under a lot of pressure. However, the Tigers took control of the game right from the start. It took the hosts just 10 minutes to break the deadlock as Kyle Joseph came up with a clinical finish.

The move started with a long ball from their own half, which went straight to Mohamed Belloumi, who outpaced Dominic Hyam on the right side and entered the box before feeding Matt Crooks. Crooks attempted a first-time shot, which was initially stopped by Arthur Okonkwo but Joseph found the back of the net from the rebound.

Wrexham striker Moore had a golden opportunity to restore parity just six minutes later as he found himself in a very good shooting position inside the Hull box, but his effort went wide of the far post. Hull dominated possession in the first period and created more positive goal-scoring chances as Parkinson's side found it difficult to break down the home defence.

Moore then had yet another opportunity to equalise at the start of the second half as the Red Dragons earned a penalty, but the striker's weak spot-kick failed to trouble Ivor Pandur, who comfortably parried the ball away by diving to his right.

The Wales international was punished for his wastefulness as Hull's Oli McBurnie came off the bench and doubled his team's lead with a clinical finish in the 67th minute. The 29-year-old forward, who returned to action after two months, made an immediate impact as he pounced on Ryan Giles' low cross inside the Wrexham box and put the ball past Okonkwo.

This was Wrexham's first defeat in their last seven Championship matches as they dropped to 14th position in the league after today's result, while Hull moved up to sixth and the playoff places. 

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Sergej Jakirovic's decision to bring in McBurnie in the second half proved to be a masterstroke as the experienced striker doubled Hull's lead and sealed three points for them just four minutes after coming onto the pitch. The Scot had been sidelined since October due to a calf injury, but he has now regained fitness and is ready to star for the Tigers again.

The big loser

Moore joined Wrexham from Sheffield United in the summer transfer window and has proved to be a successful signing right from the off. He is the club's top goal-scorer in the 2025-26 campaign, with 10 goals in 20 matches across all competitions. However, on Wednesday, the star striker had a rare off day as his two costly mistakes, including a penalty miss, cost the Red Dragons crucial points.

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The two wins so far haven’t masked their issues with left-arm spin, top-order inconsistency and bowling options

Vishal Dikshit11-Oct-20251:14

Rana: India’s batting ‘not a major concern’

Are India a bowler short? Why are India losing so many wickets to left-arm spinners? Are India using spin too much in the death overs? How does the team regroup and move on from the loss against South Africa?The way allrounder Sneh Rana was grilled at the press conference ahead of the match against Australia, it would create the impression that India weren’t winning anything at the women’s ODI World Cup . That’s not the case at all.But it’s true that though India have won two of their three games and came close to winning the third, they have been far from convincing. There have been batting collapses in all three outings with low scores from their senior batters Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues. Their fielding hasn’t been up to the mark either, and they have mostly had to complete their 50 overs with five bowlers.Related

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After seeing the ease with which boundaries were being scored in the death overs by both India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam, where India next play Australia on Sunday, the hosts would love the comfort of a sixth bowler, especially some added experience in the pace attack that currently features Kranti Gaud and Amanjot Kaur, who have all of 21 ODIs between them.Their options on the bench could tempt them. Either Renuka Singh, who was at the 2022 ODI World Cup as a squad member, or Arundhati Reddy, who has 49 internationals under her belt, are waiting for a chance. But such is the balance of this team that a bowler would have to come in at the cost of a batter because replacing an allrounder would again cut down a bowling option.”I think that call is for the management to take, and I can’t comment much on it,” Rana said about the make-up of the XI. “But we already have good bowlers, and even Pratika [Rawal] and Harman bowl, so it won’t make a big difference at this stage.”Harmanpreet and Rawal have been rolling their arms over in the nets but how many overs can they send down in batting-friendly conditions, that too against a top side like Australia? Harmanpreet has bowled all of 15 overs in the last three years and last picked up a wicket over three years ago.The other option is to drop a batter, but doing so early in the tournament is also unlikely, even though the dot-ball percentage of Rawal and Harleen Deol has come under scrutiny, and Rodrigues has bagged two ducks in three innings. Leaving out a batter would again make it tricky for a line-up that’s not been up to the mark at this World Cup.Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol’s dot-ball percentage has come under scrutiny•SLC

Replacing one batter with another in the XI later in the tournament – whether for form or a niggle – would also, possibly, not be an option for India because their only batting reserve in the squad of 15 is wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry, who hasn’t received her ODI cap yet.”See, I don’t think it’s a major concern because our batters have handled these situations very well in the past,” Rana said. “Ups and downs are part and parcel of the game, they can happen anytime. But we have some of the best batters in the world on our side. It’s just a matter of one good knock, and I’m hopeful they’ll bounce back very soon.”All the batters are working on their strengths, and everyone knows where they need to improve. Each player is taking individual training for that. If we talk about strike rate, whatever has been lacking in the past few months, everyone is aware of it and, as a team, we discuss it, regroup, and work towards improving it.”India will hope for a big batting effort against Australia on Sunday, which they got in the three-ODI series preceding the World Cup. There, India scored 369 chasing 412, won by 102 runs after scoring 292, and went down by eight wickets after scoring 281. The series was lost, but they put up good scores. Here, another loss will push them down towards the middle of the table, with their next game against England, the current table-toppers, and the one after that against New Zealand, who have returned to winning ways recently. Whatever they do, they must do it quick.

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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​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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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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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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تحدث هيثم فاروق، نجم منتخب مصر السابق، على مواجهة المغرب والأرجنتين في نهائي بطولة كأس العالم للشباب.

ويلتقي منتخب المغرب، نظيره الأرجنتين في نهائي كأس العالم للشباب تحت 20 عامًا المقامة في تشيلي.

طالع.. ليكيب: المغرب أضاع حلم فرنسا في كأس العالم للشباب.. ويجب الندم

وقال فاروق، عبر بي إن سبورتس: ” أنت لن تصل إلى نهائي كأس العالم في كل بطولة، فهذه المرة الأولى التي يحدث فيها ذلك”.

وتابع: “قد تكون هذه أهم مباراة لهذا الجيل أنتم قادرون على كتابة أسمائكم بحروف من ذهب ودخول التاريخ بلا أدنى شك”.

وواصل: “المغرب الآن متقدمة عربيًا وإفريقيًا، وهذا ليس وليد اللحظة، وليست خطة سنة أو اثنتين، بل نتيجة سنوات طويلة”.

وأتم: “الدليل أنك تحصد النتائج في الفترة الأخيرة فأنا أرى أن هذا الجيل مُعد إعدادًا جيدًا للفريق”.