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With the Ranji Trophy season kicking off, the MP allrounder is eager to show the world how he has improved

Vishal Dikshit04-Jan-2024Venkatesh Iyer thought he was having a pretty good 2022. An ODI debut, a few quickfire knocks at No. 6 in T20Is in the absence of Hardik Pandya, and he says he was at his fittest in the IPL that year, even though he didn’t score that many runs in the tournament. But when he was turning his T20 form around with blazing knocks in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) for Madhya Pradesh, he fell down the stairs in the team hotel and broke his ankle.After a disappointing IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 in which he managed just 182 runs in 12 innings and averaged under 17, Iyer’s next T20 series to get some runs under his belt was the SMAT. He started by blasting an unbeaten 62 off 31 at No. 3 against Rajasthan and grabbed a career-best 6 for 20, followed it with a 57 off 35 at No. 4 opposite Mumbai, then a 42 off 29 at No. 5 against Uttarakhand and a 28 off 22 facing Railways. With an average of 63 and strike rate of 161.53 after just four innings, Iyer heard that he was going to be picked for the New Zealand T20Is in November, before he dislocated his ankle which required surgery.It took him four months to get back on the field, in February 2023, when he was cleared for one Ranji Trophy game only as a batter, and then for IPL 2023 also purely as a batter, and another five months until he could start bowling again in domestic cricket.”I’ve always wanted to contribute in all three departments,” he tells ESPNcricinfo before the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season. “When there’s a problem with one, it feels like I’m not completely committed to my team. Obviously, there was an injury but when I can contribute in all three, the magnitude of contribution can differ, I think I’ll sleep peacefully. That’s what I was missing for a long time. Now that I’m bowling, I’m bowling long spells, bowling with the new ball, in SMAT [2023] also I bowled with the new ball. I’m seeing new dimensions of my bowling and batting, so it feels good.”The 2023 IPL was his first full series back from injury, and the pressure was mounting after a poor campaign the previous year, because he couldn’t bowl yet, and because being an India player now, he was being seen as Pandya’s back-up in the middle order. But even before he picked up the bat that IPL, he had benefited from two major factors. One was the introduction of the Impact Player rule, so he could be swapped in and out just for his batting. And the second was KKR had roped in Chandrakant Pandit, the MP coach, as their head coach. Iyer had the rather rare benefit of having the same coach in his domestic side and in his IPL team.

When I can contribute in all three (disciplines), the magnitude of contribution can differ, I think I’ll sleep peacefully. That’s what I was missing for a long time.Venkatesh Iyer on the frustrations that his ankle injury caused in 2022 and 2023

Pandit and KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayar decided to bat Iyer at No. 3 because their regular No. 3 and captain Shreyas Iyer was out with an injury.”It meant I would play multiple roles,” Iyer says. “If we’re batting first, I can anchor. If we’re chasing around 200, I have to go for it from ball one. The role was communicated properly and this season I did a lot of following rather than thinking myself. I did a lot of what Abhishek Nayar told me to do and that worked for me. Even if it didn’t, I was really happy with that because he was able to justify why I need to do and that gave me a lot of clarity to go out there and make decisions. It was very challenging but good fun.”Iyer repaid that faith and the backing he got with his most prolific IPL season: 404 runs from 14 outings, striking at nearly 146, and a scintillating century against Mumbai Indians. He revealed the seeds for a successful 2023 season were sown in 2022, first with Nayar in the IPL and then with Pandit during the domestic season.Venkatesh Iyer credits Abhishek Nayar seen here working with Rahul Tripathi for helping him understand cricket and life•kkr.in”I’ve never measured the game with respect to the runs I’ve scored or wickets I’ve taken,” he says. “I think 2022 was my best [IPL] in terms of the discipline I showed towards myself. Despite the failures that I had, I never missed a single practice session, I would always spend hours with Abhishek Nayar to work on my batting skills, bowling, fielding, fitness, diet as well. That was a phase that I didn’t cheat with even 1% with my diet. I was trying my best, but it was not happening, the runs weren’t coming. During IPL 2022 he identified that my batting wasn’t going well despite my hard work.”The instance that kicked off the camaraderie between them was when Nayar spotted Iyer batting waywardly in the nets and felt the need to interrupt. “This is not how we’re going to approach…” Iyer recalls being told by Nayar, “that’s how it started. And I was constantly in touch with him when I was injured before the last IPL. To start from there, to give mental strength. I spent a lot of time with him in Mumbai – from my gym to training to basic cricket practice, he covered multiple facets of the game. Obviously with this injury I couldn’t play certain shots because the ankle wasn’t so free. So how to cover for that, how to prepare for different conditions and grounds…he helped a lot with mental strength and the key to his coaching is communication.”In the 2022 IPL there was bio-bubble also, so it was all the more depressing. Abhishek Nayar played a very important role at that time to bring us together. Not just cricket, but his life traits are also sharp. Just the way he looked at life in general was something amazing for me. He has an answer for almost everything. I used to have deep conversations with him at the time in his room because we couldn’t leave the hotel. Good food, good discussions, watching some inspirational movies, it was tough but as long as you’re understanding that you’re not shifting away from the game, you’ll be fine.”

Rather than just running in to bowl, now I’m thinking about how to pick wickets, dominating through my bowling, so I feel I’m ready back to 100%.Venkatesh Iyer on his continuing evolution as an allrounder

A few months after the 2022 IPL, Iyer joined the MP squad for the SMAT, and Pandit said he wanted to make Iyer a more “versatile” batter by batting him at different positions.”I played just three-four games in Mushtaq Ali last year,” Iyer recalls. “I was batting at No. 4 and 3, and I was supposed to open the next day, but I had that injury. So I was going to bat in all positions in that tournament. This was Chandu sir’s calculative decision, it would be better for the team also. I was very happy when he had said, ‘I’ll provide multiple roles to you, just want to see how you respond in all of them’. That’s what you want as a batsman, how you are maturing in these kinds of situations.”Call it Pandit’s foresight so that Iyer was better prepared for a middle-order role in his next India series, or another one of the astute coach’s strategies for both MP and KKR.Compared to when he made his T20I debut in late 2021 and had to play the finisher’s role while he was originally a top-order batter in domestic cricket, Iyer feels he is much better equipped for the middle order now. He not only has more experience and runs under his belt at different positions now, he has also started bowling full time and is back to being a proper allrounder.KKR coach Chandrakant Pandit (L) has been instrumental in making Venkatesh Iyer more versatile•BCCI”Now I know what it takes to go there (the Indian team), it’s just a matter of time before I make my comeback,” he says confidently. “One good IPL I’ll be there, one good domestic season I’ll be there provided I keep bowling. Once you score a lot of runs in domestic and in IPL, to go back to the Indian team and play any role is…you will get that acceptance. Say, if I score a lot of runs while opening in the IPL, and I go to the Indian team and I know I’m going to play No. 6, that preparation will start there. But for that to happen I need to score runs here and to score big runs I feel batting at the top is extremely important to get maximum balls. Now I know what it is like to prepare to bat at No. 6, 5 or 4. So it doesn’t really matter to me, all I want to do is score big runs so that when I go there, I have the confidence of runs in my arsenal.”Two months after a cracking IPL in 2023, Iyer gradually increased his bowling workload in the nets and was named the Central Zone captain for the Deodhar Trophy. In the sapping heat and humidity of Puducherry, he returned to bowling in competitive cricket after a long wait and took advantage of being the captain to manage his bowling workload. In October he bowled in all five SMAT T20s and in the subsequent 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, he started getting close to the full quota of 10 overs. Iyer feels he is now ready to bowl long spells along with some variations in the Ranji Trophy that begins on January 5.”I think I can bowl around 15-20 overs a day,” he says. “NCA had a huge role in my workload management. I worked with Troy Cooley there on my bowling, even Sairaj Bahutule sir was there. They and the trainers paid a lot of attention on my workload. They managed it very well – like heavy bowling on one day, light bowling and training the next day. I think I’m good to bowl long spells in days cricket.”[Full bowling fitness] will come with the volume, as much as I get to bowl in games. But I’m extremely happy with the way I’m approaching my bowling right now. Rather than just running in to bowl, now I’m thinking about how to pick wickets, dominating through my bowling, so I feel I’m ready back to 100%.”I am adding a couple of variations to my bowling. For a player like me it’s very important to be accurate, even if I have two or three variations. I need to ensure that they are landing where I want them to land. I’m really happy that the red-ball season is coming now because red-ball bowling will give you a lot of consistency. With the white ball, you have to bowl a yorker, you might go for a bouncer or a cutter…things like that. Red-ball bowling is about discipline, the muscle memory will work, I’ll be able to land the ball in the right areas. Once I’m confident with the basic ball, then I can play around with it – same line, same length but from a different angle or from a different spot on the crease, just a little slower or faster, things like that. I feel I’m on the right track now.”This red-ball season I want to enjoy and explore my game, I want to bat for long hours. I really want to contribute in terms of batting, bowling, and fielding this season. So, let’s see, this Ranji Trophy wherever I get to bat maybe top of the order, you never know with Chandu sir. He’s very unpredictable, suddenly he’ll call you up in the evening and tell you, ‘Venkatesh, you’re opening tomorrow’. And he’ll give you the proper backing, he’ll give you the confidence to go out there and do it. He knows that if you have the skills, you’ll do it. He always likes to challenge players and I feel when you’re challenged, you’ll always get better.”The last time Iyer played an entire Ranji season was back in 2019-20. It was before his IPL debut, before he burst onto the international scene and before he had turned 25. With seven league games ahead of him, Iyer will hope he climbs the ladder towards another India call-up instead of slipping down the pecking order. Or the stairs.

Australia’s poor NRR could put them in trouble if they don’t win both their remaining games

S Rajesh30-Oct-2021England
England have been in outstanding form so far, winning each of their three matches with plenty to spare, but they aren’t quite assured of a semi-final place yet. If they lose their last two matches – as ridiculous as that sounds – and remain on six points, it is possible for both Australia and South Africa to leapfrog them and finish on eight. One more win should suffice, though: even though they could still be tied on eight with Australia and South Africa, their net run rate should be enough to take them through.South Africa
South Africa have won two and lost one, and one of their remaining games is against the form team of their group. If they beat Bangladesh and lose to England, they will be at the mercy of other results as both England and Australia can move up to eight points. Even with four wins, it could come down to NRR if Australia win their last two, and if England beat Sri Lanka.Australia
Australia’s net run rate has taken a battering after their defeat against England, but despite this huge loss, they are reasonably placed with two wins in three games. Their last two games are against the bottom two teams in the group, but neither can be taken lightly. Australia will want to win both, because it is possible for England and South Africa to get up to eight points.Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will have to win their last two matches and then hope other results go their way. Their best-case scenario will be if both Australia and South Africa lose their two remaining matches. In that case, England (8 points) and Sri Lanka (6) will qualify, with all the other teams stuck on four. There is a possibility of five teams being on four points each if England finish on 10, but that is not a fight Sri Lanka will want to get into.West Indies
West Indies’ NRR is the worst among the six teams in Group 1, so they will not want any scenarios where run rates come into play (unless they achieve huge wins in their last two games). Like Sri Lanka, their best-case scenario will be if Australia and South Africa lose their two remaining matches and stay on four points. Then, West Indies can qualify with six if they win their two remaining matches.Bangladesh
If England win all their matches and other teams distribute their wins evenly, it is still possible that five teams will be on four points each, fighting for the second semi-final spot. Bangladesh, though, will also have to win big to improve their NRR, which is currently languishing at -1.069.

Might it be that the batsmen were just better than him at that place and time?

Iain O'Brien05-Feb-2020Indulge me, for a second.Take the hammer
Smash the glass
Take the glass
Cut the Mother Earth
Opens up
And sucks you down
It sucks your sorry ass into the groundAre you pressure man or prey?
Do you suffer through the gravity?
Are you predator or prey?
Will you suffer my reality?
Are you pressure man or prey?
Do you suffer through the gravity?
Are you pressure man or prey
This 1998 New Zealand rock anthem from the Feelers, “Pressure Man” was the theme music for the precursor to T20, Cricket Max. You could say the first verse and chorus above are about short-form cricket. (Well, the song sums up a lot of life. Please replace with any non-gender-specific noun and sing along.)There is a photo of me from 2009, standing outside of a drink-break huddle. I had just dropped Gautam Gambhir at mid-off; it was day five, and it may have been the game changer.The song didn’t come to mind at the time, but for the rest of that Daniel Vettori over, I vividly remember carving out a long wound in the pristine McLean Park outfield with the smashed-glass spike of my boot and wanting it to open up and swallow me. In hindsight, the lyrics are as if I wrote them from that one experience.There are many of these moments in life and in sport. Except, in sport they are replayed and replayed and replayed. You suffer over and over.And it’s those who suffer over and over who either are or become legends and greats of the game.***A recent brief, innocent, and what seemed insignificant, back and forth on Twitter with the editor of allowed me to think about the “pressure man or prey” situation New Zealand were in recently while trying to overcome the India T20 team.”Why do they keep using Southee?” was the question I was posed after NZ Super Over loss.The demand of the question, the rhetorical, is that Southee shouldn’t be bowling that Super Over, ever. I don’t think it’s as black and white as that.Answer me these:Did Southee get the plan wrong and the execution right?Did Southee get the plan right and the execution wrong?Did Southee get the plan and the execution right and the batsman was just better?We, outside of the inner sanctum of the team, will probably never know.***In what turned out to be my fourth and last T20I, Scotland were our first opponents in the 2009 World T20. Rain cut the game short before it had even started. Seven overs each; a T7, if you like.ALSO READ: The glamorous life of a Test match bowler (2015)I bowled the first over. With The Oval Members End behind me, I ran in and delivered maybe my most perfect over. The plan locked in and every ball was perfect.The over went for 18, with two leg-byes. It was the best over I had ever bowled. It was the best I had ever kept to a plan. Ever! And I was ignominiously clubbed for four brutal fours.I do have to let you in on one thing, though. In the Scotland team, there was a Watts and a Watson. According to our scouting, Watts would open and Watson would bat about eight.I checked the plan for the opener and nailed it.Except, Watts wasn’t the opener. It was Watson, who normally batted eight. I missed the slight difference in name, which led to the massive difference in individual plans.I didn’t play another T20I. I admitted my mistake in the team debrief the next morning. I got the plan wrong but executed it right. Does that make me a bad bowler, or a good bowler who misread a name?I could have sat on that shame, that failure. I could have dwelled on the fact that no one on the park had thought to make sure I had the right plan after I was spanked for a couple of fours.

Players talk of ‘having a short memory’ when they’re asked how they deal with the massive lows of sport. But in reality, a lot have learnt to have the capacity to sit back and say, ‘I did my best, they were better’

I didn’t, though.Watts. Watson. Damn it!Some 11 years on from that game, I reflect with a greater knowledge of what I allowed myself then. It was probably the first time, and one of the very few times in my career, that I allowed myself some compassion.I failed many, many times. And almost every time I lived that failure. I endured the pain and allowed it to become more of me, more of my personality, than it should have been. All that self-loathing left me not knowing who I was and what I was. Putting on a mask to keep going, to keep being. Tired. Drained. Sleepless. Tears. Disgust.***Southee stepped up and took the ball. And failed in the third T20I against India, in the Super Over.And again in the fourth T20I, in the Super Over.But did he fail?ALSO READ: Martin Crowe: The masks we wear (2013)If we go back to the question of whether he nailed the plan and execution (and to the correct batsman – not like my stupid folly!), might it be that the batsmen were just better than him at that place and time?Fine lines. Very small margins.I think we need to give the opposition more credit than we strip credit from Southee. Or at least we need to consider doing so. And also consider that those piling onto the bowler here are adding to it their feelings and frustrations that New Zealand didn’t get over the line in regular time.You can succeed by failing. One such instance stands out in my mind – in a T20I at the SCG, against Australia, in the penultimate over.Cam White hit a straight, length delivery of mine to somewhere near the moon. Somehow, on its way down, it didn’t quite clear the rope and Vettori completed a special catch.Iain O’Brien: “I failed many, many times. And almost every time I lived that failure. I endured the pain and allowed it to become more of me”•John Walton/PA Photos/Getty ImagesWe celebrated the wicket – me, not quite so much. Vettori to me in the huddle: “Not quite your best ball, OB?” It certainly wasn’t, at all! Got lucky with the launch angle from White’s bat. Fine lines. Very small margins.But it was a success, right?***The more I study our stupid/bonkers/mad/brilliant human mind, the more I realise that in 2009 I had done something to myself that was just becoming a recognised form of mental healthcare.Compassion-focused therapy was just becoming a wholesome part of psychology. Being able to have compassion for oneself or another, as a way to deal with the emotions and outcomes of decisions and actions, whether good or bad, is an essential aspect of well-being.Imagine not being able to have compassion for yourself even if you have, to the best of your abilities, done what was required.Players hide behind the saying “having a short memory” when they’re asked how they deal with the massive lows of sport. But in reality, a lot have learnt to have the capacity to sit back, say, “I did my best, they were better,” shrug their shoulders, look for a lesson, let it all just wash over (like a kid would), and go again with the full backing of their team-mates.ALSO READ: Martin Crowe: How McCullum helped me let go (2014) That’s why I’d back Southee again. And again. That may be the definition of insanity (as in the quote attributed to Albert Einstein), but I’m backing that the plan and execution were right (or so damn close to right that no one in that line-up could have done better), and the opponent was just too good on that day. And the next.Michael Jordan once said: “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”If the execution was poor, then, yes it may be right for someone else to bowl those overs that nobody really wants to bowl. But I’d still back Southee in this instance – why waste the investment?Some people carry scars of battle; some people carry a smile. Some people sleep at night; some don’t. I wish I could have shown myself more compassion when I was playing.Are you pressure man or prey?

أعلن حلمي طولان، المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر، التشكيل الرسمي لمواجهة الإمارات، في المباراة التي تقام بينهما اليوم السبت، ضمن منافسات كأس العرب 2025.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع الإمارات، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الثانية من مباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب المقامة في قطر.

وتنطلق المباراة، في تمام الساعة 8:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، وتنقل عبر قنوات “إم بي سي مصر 2 وقناة الكأس وقناة بي إن سبورت المفتوحة بالإضافة إلي قناة أبو ظبي الرياضية”.

ويلعب منتخب مصر المباراة، وهدفه تحقيق الفوز من أجل الاقتراب من التأهل إلى الدور القادم لمنافسات كأس العرب، بعدما كان قد تعادل في لقاء الجولة الأولى أمام الكويت.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر، حاليًا في المركز الثاني من المجموعة الثالثة برصيد نقطة، بينما يتصدر الترتيب منتخب الأردن برصيد 6 نقاط حاسمًا التأهل من المجموعة قبل لقاء الجولة الختامية.

ويقود هجوم الفراعنة ثلاثي هجومي، بقيادة مصطفي سعد ميسي ومعه ومروان حمدي وإسلام عيسي.

طالع | بدلاء منتخب مصر أمام الإمارات في كأس العرب 2025 تشكيل منتخب مصر اليوم أمام الإمارات

حراسة المرمي: محمد بسام.

خط الدفاع: أكرم توفيق – رجب نبيل – ياسين مرعي – يحيى زكريا.

خط الوسط: محمد النني – غنام محمد – عمرو السولية.

خط الهجوم: مصطفى سعد “ميسي” – مروان حمدي – إسلام عيسى.

Newcastle United will need to show they can pick up results on the road consistently to continue their fine start to December.

At St James’ Park so far this month, which is the Magpies’ dependable fortress, Eddie Howe’s men have collected a draw and a win, with only two losses from eight matches coming their way on their own turf this season so far.

In stark contrast, three losses have been tallied up away from home, with only one away win next to their name sticking out as a worrying fact.

In their defence, the only success on the road this season saw them emphatically get the better of Everton 4-1 in the Premier League, which might well stand them in good stead against Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland to come.

Howe will hope his team’s up-and-down nature has been rectified by the time the January transfer window swings back open, with a potentially busy month ahead for the Toon in terms of incomings.

Newcastle looking to sign new midfielder

The unpredictability of January could also see Newcastle offload a couple of players, too, with reserve centre-forward option William Osula alleged to be keen to move away from St James’ Park.

There are also rumours bubbling away about fresh faces joining the building, with former Leicester City ace Bilal El Khannouss just one of many options catching the Toon’s eye in the middle of the park. On top of him, a cut-price £13m move for Ferencváros TC star Alex Tóth could be on the agenda.

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has added more fuel to the fire by revealing that Howe and Co are set to make a move for rising AZ Alkmaar star Kees Smit, with the reported transfer fee floating about for his services coming in at the £30m price range.

The inconsistent Toon have long been admirers of the well-rounded Dutchman, and with Manchester United and Liverpool circling, this would be seen as a statement move in January, as Newcastle prepare to spend the big bucks once more. Hope has already described the youngster as “one of Europe’s most exciting teenagers” so this one is certainly something to kick and scream about.

How Smit can be Howe's future Guimaraes

Howe will hope, by landing Smit, that he wins himself a future Bruno Guimaraes, which will be music to the ears of the devoted Tyneside fanbase, after the much-loved Brazilian only affirmed his legendary status at the club more with that audacious strike versus Burnley.

The 28-year-old is now synonymous with Newcastle, with his corner kick effort sailing straight over the head of Martin Dubravka, further backing up comments by his manager that he is a “difference-maker”.

Of course, Smit has some way to go before he’s pulling off screamers like Guimaraes’ ingenious effort regularly in the Premier League, but the 19-year-old does have a powerful effort up his sleeve, with his ability to conjure up a moment of magic from a very early age also seeing scout Jacek Kulig laud him as a “super talent.”

Indeed, this sumptuous effort in the U19 Euros in the summer shows off a star who is incredibly confident and assured in front of goal, with Smit now up to ten goal contributions in the senior ranks at AZ. Newcastle’s beloved captain is up to 27 goals and 29 assists himself in the senior picture at St James’ Park, with Howe hopeful that Smit could reach these levels in time, so he can replace the 28-year-old down the line.

It’s not just their output in terms of goals and assists that makes the two talents in question similar, however, with Smit’s energy and determination centrally also placing himself on the same pedestal as the industrious South American, which has led to the AZ number 26 even being branded as a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, a tag regularly placed on Guimaraes’ shoulders.

Games played

18

14

Goals scored

0

2

Assists

0

2

Touches*

38.8

62.7

Accurate passes*

23.3 (85%)

42.7 (89%)

Key passes*

1.3

1.8

Big chances created

3

3

Ball recoveries*

3.3

5.7

Total duels won*

2.9

3.3

Smit has certainly grown into being more of a lively performer centrally this season in the Eredivisie, when looking at the table above, making 5.7 ball recoveries and winning 3.3 duels per game.

In constract, the Newcastle skipper has made 5.1 ball recoveries, but he does blow Smit out of the water in the duels department, having won a fierce 5.4 duels so far this campaign in the demanding Premier League.

Still, with the upward trajectory the table outlines, he could reach Guimaraes’ commanding levels very soon, as Howe prepares to win himself a standout talent for the future in January, by securing Smit’s coveted services.

Newcastle star was entering Obertan territory, now he's their "best player"

This Newcastle United star is now beginning to turn around his underwhelming Premier League season.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 8, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt another blow with an injured star now facing several weeks on the sidelines.

Arsenal navigate plethora of injuries to top Premier League table

Considering the sheer number of key first team players who’ve been sidelined at various points already this season, Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League table is all the more impressive.

The Gunners have endured a torrid season with injuries, much like last campaign, which has severely tested Arteta’s squad depth.

While Arsenal have still begun the campaign very strongly, and are unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, their relentless succession of fitness problems has affected big-name personnel across multiple positions.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

August proved particularly damaging, with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and William Saliba all sustaining injuries.

Odegaard’s MCL knee injury against West Ham in early October proved especially problematic, keeping the captain out for nearly two months and robbing Arsenal of their creative heartbeat during crucial fixtures.

Gabriel Magalhaes remains absent for weeks following a thigh injury sustained during Brazil’s November friendly against Senegal. His regular partner Saliba has battled recurring problems, missing recent matches against Chelsea and Brentford due to an unspecified knock.

Related Arsenal handed Declan Rice injury twist after pre-Aston Villa update

The England international has been their arguable player of the season.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Dec 5, 2025

Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera compounds Arteta’s concerns after suffering a ‘complicated’ ankle injury that will require further testing to determine his recovery timeline.

Declan Rice provided fresh worries after limping off late against Brentford with a calf problem, and while the England midfielder insisted he felt “fine” ready to play against Aston Villa this afternoon, Arteta suggests he’s subject to a late fitness test.

Leandro Trossard has missed matches with muscular issues but should return within ‘days’ according to Arteta’s latest briefing, with the same going for Saliba.

Havertz suffered a setback in his knee rehabilitation and won’t return until possibly late December, while Gabriel Jesus finally returned to contention recently after missing nearly a year recovering from an ACL tear.

Summer signing Noni Madueke was out for two months after knee damage against Man City in September, though scans cleared him of cruciate ligament damage. The winger has since returned to action, providing Arteta with a renewed attacking threat.

That is a staggering 10 first-team stars who’ve been sidelined at various points, or still are, with a pretty concerning update now coming to light on Mosquera’s condition.

Cristhian Mosquera facing eight weeks out after Arsenal injury blow

The Spaniard was forced off early doors during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford in midweek, and according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, Mosquera now faces ‘at least’ six weeks out through injury in ‘another blow’ to Arsenal.

The key phrase there is ‘at least’, and it could be as long as two months, with Saliba’s fitness now becoming more crucial than ever.

If the Frenchman is still unable to start, then Arteta will have little choice but to play Jurrien Timber alongside Piero Hincapie for this afternoon’s crunch clash against Villa in the Midlands.

White would then likely be handed his second consecutive league start at right-back for the first time since May, with Arsenal’s strength in depth now set to play an even more pivotal role in their quest to win a first league title in 22 years.

It is important to note that the timeframe for Mosquera’s injury lay-off are initial concerns from within Arsenal, with the ex-Valencia starlet set for further testing to determine his exact recovery timeline.

It is a blow for the centre-back personally after his fine start to life at N5, despite having to contend with being a back-up to Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing.

Arsenal believe Mosquera could become one of the best centre-backs in world football in a few years, according to some reports, and nothing we’ve seen so far disproves that theory.

A spectator at PNC Park in Pittsburgh fell from the stands in right center field onto the field of play in the bottom of the seventh inning on Wednesday night as the Pirates hosted the Chicago Cubs.

Play was stopped for several minutes as the fan was attended to by medical personnel. The fan was eventually carted off the field.

The Pirates released a statement on the incident after the game.

"Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play,” the statement read. “Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Ezri Konsa has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa, with Liverpool keen on him, and now a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

The 28-year-old has matured into such an important player for the Villans, becoming a key starter and coming right into the prime years of his career.

In fact, Konsa will even be hoping of starting for England at the 2026 World Cup, with he and John Stones likely to battle to play alongside Marc Guehi in the right-sided centre-back spot for the Three Lions.

Worryingly, the Englishman has been linked with various clubs in recent weeks and months, with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City mentioned as potential options for him.

Konsa isn’t out of contract at Villa until the summer of 2028, and now a new update has dropped regarding his future at the Premier League club.

Key latest on Konsa's Aston Villa future

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Aston Villa won’t even entertain the idea of allowing Konsa to leave in the near future, with the player himself happy at the club.

“Aston Villa have been an example in recent years of how to build a team. It’s a testament to Villa’s recruitment that so many of their best players are attracting interest. The players they’ve brought in, like Konsa and Rogers for example, have reached new levels since they arrived and proved to be very important players for them.

“So Konsa, for example, has impressed at Villa and got himself into the England team. That only invites more interest, because he’s playing on a bigger stage, attracting more eyes on his performances, and that leads to more speculation. So Villa then have a hell of a job behind the scenes trying to keep him at the club.

“From what I’m told, they’re not massively concerned about his future, because by all accounts he’s happy at Villa and he’s been a crucial part of their success. Emery has no plans to let him go because of how important he is to Villa, and I think Villa will be confident that they can keep him. Even with teams like Liverpool or Chelsea looking at him, that won’t chance Villa’s position.”

Appearances

8

Starts

8

Minutes played

696

Clearances per game

3.4

Aerial duel wins per game

1.1

Pass completion rate

95.7%

Goals

0

Assists

0

This will come as a relief to Villa supporters, with Konsa arguably now one of the first names on Unai Emery’s team sheet, recently being hailed as “excellent” by Troy Deeney.

Aston Villa now join race to sign "insane" £35m former Bayern Munich striker

The Villans are looking to sign a centre-forward, with Unai Emery keen on greater strength in depth in attack.

ByDominic Lund Oct 28, 2025

As mentioned, he now feels like he is at his peak, which should remain the same for another three or four years or so, and if Villa are to continue heading in the right direction, they cannot afford to sell their best players to teams who are higher than they are in the table.

Liverpool learn true price for Ezri Konsa as PSR forces Aston Villa's hand

MatériaMais Notícias

Lucas Veríssimo, zagueiro do Corithians, criticou o pênalti marcado para o Santos nos acréscimos da segunda etapa. Em entrevista após o empate em 1 a 1, o camisa três disse que conhece o Soteldo dos tempos de Peixe, e que Daronco, árbitro do duelo, “deve ter ido na dele”.

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+ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

– Conheço o Soteldo, sei da jogada dele, esses toques curtos. Acredito que ele deu uma cavada e infelizmente o Daronco deve ter ido na dele – disse o zagueiro.

Nos minutos finais, Soteldo, pelo lado esquerdo do campo, partiu para cima de Bruno Méndez, que derrubou o atacante dentro da área. Depois de muita reclamação por parte dos jogadores do Peixe, Daronco foi ao VAR e assinalou penalidade máxima. Mendoza cobrou e igualou o placar.

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O zagueiro elogiou a postura do Timão durante a partida, principalmente na primeira etapa, mas lamentou as chances perdidas pela equipe ao longo dos noventa minutos.

– A gente viu o lance com o Daronco no telão… Acredito que não tenha sido pênalti, depois vou ver com calma. Fizemos uma boa partida, um grande primeiro tempo, mas perdemos muitas chances, precisamos converter elas. Lamentamos o empate, mas tenho certeza que a equipe vai crescer e sair dessa zona desconfortável – finalizou Veríssimo.

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Com o empate, o Corinthians permaneceu na décima quarta colocação, com 37 pontos conquistados. Na próxima rodada, a equipe do Parque São Jorge encara o Athletico, na quarta-feira (1º), em Itaquera.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez faces a major selection dilemma as Portugal heads into decisive 2026 World Cup qualifiers without injured star Nuno Mendes, a player the coach calls "the best in the world". With the Paris Saint-Germain full-back sidelined, Martinez admits there’s “no natural replacement” and turns to Diogo Dalot and Joao Cancelo to fill the void.

• Roberto Martinez calls Nuno Mendes irreplaceable

  Mendes suffered a left knee sprain during PSG’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in midweek, ruling him out for two crucial international fixtures. The 22-year-old has been central to Portugal’s defensive structure, combining pace, defensive stability and an ability to drive attacks down the left flank.

  “My assessment of Nuno Mendes is subjective, he’s like a son,” Martinez said. “There’s no other left-back who can defend one-on-one, make overlapping runs, and play inside or outside with the ball. He's a complete player, he can play centre-back. He's a decisive player for his club and for me, right now, he's the best in the world. Other coaches don't have to agree with me."

  With Nuno Tavares also sidelined, the absence leaves Portugal without a natural left-back, forcing Martinez to turn to tactical adjustments and versatile defenders.

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  Martinez calls Dalot and Cancelo to share the load

  To address the gap, Martinez is expected to deploy Dalot and Cancelo in hybrid full-back roles. Dalot, thriving at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, has evolved into a reliable two-way defender known for his composure, fitness and ability to play on either flank. Dalot was earlier the go-to left-back for Portugal but has since dropped in the pecking order with a loss in form and Mendes rise at PSG last year. Dalot has played 32 matches for Portugal across all competitions.

  Cancelo, meanwhile, offers Portugal creative flair and width. A natural right-back at Al-Hilal, he often drifts inside to dictate play, operating almost like a midfielder. While his offensive instincts differ from Mendes’ balanced profile, Cancelo’s experience and versatility make him vital to Portugal’s adaptability. Cancelo has played 62 games for Portugal across all competitions and has also scored two goals in the competition.  

  “We need to find solutions, to find balance on the wing, with Cancelo and Dalot,” Martinez explained. “We need to build on the chemistry we already have, there’s no time for drastic experiments before two important games.”

• Portugal will miss Mendes' impact

  Before his injury, Mendes had been a cornerstone of Portugal’s qualifying campaign. Featuring in all six matches, he provided crucial defensive stability and attacking thrust. His pinpoint assist to Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2-2 draw against Hungary not only saved a point but also helped the forward set the record for most goals in World Cup qualifying history with 41 goals.

  Mendes’ influence extended beyond numbers. His pace in recovery, ability to overlap in transition, and composure under pressure have been essential to Martínez’s system. Portugal have yet to lose with Mendes on the pitch in these qualifiers, which speaks volume about why the manager didn't really have to bother with an alternative in that space.

  His injury arrives at a delicate moment, with Portugal needing positive results against Ireland and Armenia to secure top spot and automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

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  Portugal’s road to qualification and the test ahead

  Portugal enters the final stage of World Cup qualifying unbeaten, with four wins and two draws from six games. They top Group F with 10 points, comfortably ahead of their nearest rivals Hungary. Ronaldo continues to lead by example being their top-scorer in the competition with five goals.

  Despite their strong position, Martinez acknowledges the challenge ahead: “We must adapt quickly and stay focused. Every player knows their role, we can’t depend on one individual, no matter how special he is.”

  As the team faces Ireland in Dublin on November 13 and Armenia on November 15 in Porto, Portugal’s depth and resilience will be tested. All eyes will be on Dalot and Cancelo to maintain Mendes’ standards, ensuring Portugal’s fluid wing play and defensive strength remain intact.