O fato do Grêmio ter terminado o jogo diante do Juventude com a vitória fora de casa por 3 a 2, na última quinta-feira (10), pelo Campeonato Gaúcho, rendeu uma crítica por parte do técnico Renato Portaluppi.
Na avaliação do treinador, após a vantagem de 3 a 0 que foi construída na etapa inicial, o time apresentou uma acomodação que colocou em risco a conquista dos três pontos no Alfredo Jaconi. Algo que, em sua visão, precisa ser conversado e trabalhado para que não se repita.
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>Reinaldo comemora primeiro gol com a camisa do Grêmio
-Abdicamos de jogar no segundo tempo e pagamos pelos próprios erros. Nos acomodamos, o adversário não se acomodou, achou os dois gols e tivemos um sofrimento no final que não era necessário. Futebol é assim mesmo, vamos aprendendo, vamos conversar para que não se repita – apontou Renato.
-Primeiro tempo estivemos muito bem, construímos, tivemos posse de bola, fizemos três gols. Sabemos o quanto é difícil jogar aqui, sempre muito perigoso, fizemos o mais difícil no primeiro tempo, um placar elástico. Falei no intervalo para voltar a mesma pegada, mesmo foco, porque não poderíamos colocar o Juventude no jogo. A equipe recuou demais, o Juventude fez o primeiro gol, depois o segundo, óbvio que iam crescer na partida – acrescentou.
Apesar do “alerta”, o Grêmio manteve não apenas a invencibilidade na temporada como também os 100% de aproveitamento. São sete vitórias em sete jogos e a liderança isolada do Gauchão com 18 pontos conquistados em seis compromissos, já que o sétimo se trata da Recopa Gaúcha.
O Fluminense estreou com o pé direito no Campeonato Carioca e derrotou o Resende por 2 a 0, no Raulino de Oliveira. No entanto, o primeiro gol do Tricolor na temporada foi contra. Depois do cruzamento de Jhon Arias, Germán Cano cabeceou, mas a bola tocou em Joanderson e enganou o arqueiro do Gigante do Vale. Com isso, relembre o autor do primeiro gol do clube carioca em cada temporada desde 2000.
+ Confira as novidades do mercado de trabalho
Vale destacar que o segundo gol do triunfo tricolor foi marcado pelo atacante Alan, que retornou na temporada passada. Após um passe primoroso do estreante Keno, o camisa 18 foi derrubado na área e cobrou com categoria para sacramentar o resultado.
RelacionadasFluminenseKeno e Alan dão cartão de visitas do Fluminense na temporada e evidenciam perspectivas do elenco de DinizFluminense14/01/2023FluminenseAlan exalta elenco do Fluminense e fala sobre gol na estreia do Carioca: ‘Trabalhei muito nas férias’Fluminense14/01/2023FluminenseDiniz explica estratégia e valoriza atuação do Fluminense na estreia: ‘Satisfeito com o que vi’Fluminense14/01/2023
Na lista estão jogadores emblemáticos como o ídolo Fred, que se despediu dos gramados na última temporada e retornou ao clube como diretor. Além dele, estão o baixinho Romário e Thiago Neves, que marcou três gols na decisão da Libertadores 2008 pelo clube.
+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca
No próximo compromisso, o Tricolor entrará em campo na terça-feira, dia 17, às 21h10, contra o Nova Iguaçu, no Maracanã. Atual campeão, o clube carioca busca voltar a ser bicampeão Estadual, já que a última vez em que conseguiu tal feito foi em 1984. Na ocasião, o Fluminense foi tricampeão na sequência (83, 84 e 85).
Confira a lista completa:
2023 – Joanderson (Contra) – Alan foi o primeiro jogador do Fluminense a marcar (fez o segundo do jogo) Resende 0 x 2 Fluminense – 14/01/2023 – Campeonato Carioca
2022 – Jhon Arias Madureira 0 x 1 Fluminense – 30/01/2022 – Campeonato Carioca
2021 – Alexandre Jesus Resende 2 x 1 Fluminense – 04/03/2021 – Campeonato Carioca
2020 – Nenê Cabofriense 0 x 1 Fluminense – 19/01/2020 – Campeonato Carioca
2019 – Ibañez Fluminense 1 x 1 Volta Redonda – 19/01/2019 – Campeonato Carioca
2018 – Caio Boavista 3 x 1 Fluminense – 17/01/2018 – Campeonato Carioca
2017 – Henrique Fluminense 3 x 2 Criciúma – 24/01/2017 – Primeira Liga
2016 – Fred Volta Redonda 3 x 1 Fluminense – 31/01/2016 – Campeonato Carioca
2015 – Vinícius Fluminense 2 x 1 Friburguense – 01/02/2015 – Campeonato Carioca
2014 – Leandro Euzébio Madureira 3 x 2 Fluminense – 18/01/2014 – Campeonato Carioca
2013 – Wagner Nova Iguaçu 0 x 2 Fluminense – 20/01/2013 – Campeonato Carioca
2012 – Araújo Fluminense 3 x 0 Friburguense – 21/01/2012 – Campeonato Carioca
2011 – Fred Bangu 0 x 1 Fluminense – 20/01/2011 – Campeonato Carioca
2010 – Everton Americano 0 x 3 Fluminense – 17/01/2010 – Campeonato Carioca
2009 – Diguinho Cabofriense 3 x 1 Fluminense – 25/01/2009 – Campeonato Carioca
2008 – Thiago Neves Fluminense 2 x 0 Cardoso Moreira – 19/01/2008 – Campeonato Carioca
2007 – Alex Dias Fluminense 1 x 0 Friburguense – 24/01/2007 – Campeonato Carioca
2006 – Evando Fluminense 4 x 0 Portuguesa-RJ – 15/01/2006 – Campeonato Carioca
2005 – Alex Fluminense 3 x 1 Madureira – 23/01/2005 – Campeonato Carioca
2004 – Romário Fluminense 2 x 1 Madureira – 25/01/2004 – Campeonato Carioca
2003 – Fábio Bala Fluminense 1 x 1 Olaria – 19/01/2003 – Campeonato Carioca
2002 – Roger Fluminense 1 x 1 Corinthians – 20/01/2002 – Torneio Rio-São Paulo
2001 – Agnaldo Palmeiras 1 x 3 Fluminense – 18/01/2001 – Torneio Rio-São Paulo
2000 – Roger Corinthians 0 x 1 Fluminense – 23/01/2002 – Torneio Rio-São Paulo
Cameron Bancroft insists a specialist opener would be best placed to take over from the retiring David Warner, believing experience at the top is crucial in the difficult role.Australia have named an unchanged 13-man squad for this week’s third Test against Pakistan at the SCG, but crunch time is coming in the quest to replace Warner as he bids farewell to the Test arena.Bancroft remains one of the leading contenders, with selectors set to make a decision ahead of the Adelaide Test against West Indies on January 17.Related
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Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw can also make a fair claim for the job, but coach Andrew McDonald has refused to rule out going with a non-specialist opener instead.McDonald on Saturday left the door ajar for Cameron Green to replace Warner, while another batter could theoretically shift to the top to accommodate Green’s return.But when asked whether it would be an easier job for a specialist opener, Bancroft was adamant that was the case.”Yeah, absolutely,” he told AAP. “I’ve opened the batting in Shield cricket for over 10 years. It’s not an easy place to bat. It comes with challenges, and my whole career I’ve problem-solved trying to find ways to flourish in those sort of circumstances.”Some players have switched and gone and opened the batting and done really well. But not everyone puts their hand up to go and open the batting.”I feel like it probably is a specialist position and it’s certainly a really challenging one. But a very rewarding one as well.”Cameron Bancroft has had two very productive Sheffield Shield seasons•Getty Images
Bancroft’s comments come after Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Mike Hussey each made similar arguments this week.If Australia do go with a specialist opener, Bancroft has made the strongest case of any contender in recent years.He was the leading run-scorer in last summer’s Sheffield Shield with 945 runs at an average of 59.06, and again tops this season’s charts with 512 at 56.88.Harris and Renshaw have both been part of Australian squads in that time, while Bancroft has not featured since being dropped during a poor 2019 Ashes.”I’ve had some conversations [with selectors] over the last 12 months or so and asked some questions about what I can do to improve,” Bancroft said. “I’m always looking to improve and get better. I wanted that feedback from them.”But I guess it always comes down to scoring runs, so I’ve just tried to go out and do the best I can no matter what format of the game that I’ve been playing.”Bancroft is also hopeful runs in the BBL will help his cause, with Sydney Thunder to play games against Hobart and Perth before the Adelaide Test.The opener is the competition’s second leading run-scorer, with 181 from his opening five games.”Runs are runs,” Bancroft said. “There’s no red-ball cricket, obviously. So coming out and playing in the Big Bash is the format of the game that I can play in right now.”Selectors have always talked about players scoring runs and things like that, and that runs count. And I’d agree with that.”Anyone that’s in a position to go to the next level, you want them to be scoring runs. I’ve just tried to tried to do that no matter what format of the game. Hopefully that puts me in a position to be selected.”
An unbeaten century by Charlie Wakim has put Sheffield Shield leaders Tasmania on top after day one of the clash with Victoria at the Junction Oval.Wakim finished the day on 148 not out and had guided the Tigers to 282 for 4 at stumps after the hosts had won the toss and elected to bowl. The day hadn’t started well for Tasmania with Matthew Wade ruled out prior to the toss due to back spasms that had also kept him out of the Marsh Cup match against Queensland last week. Jake Doran was called in for his first game of the season as the replacement wicketkeeper.But Wakim covered Wade’s absence. The 32-year-old shared a 147-run stand for the second wicket with Tim Ward that set the tone, with the opener compiling a patient 67. It is a record second-wicket partnership for Tasmania against Victoria in Shield cricket.Wakim brought up his century with a late cut to the boundary off spinner Todd Murphy. It was his third first-class century and second this season. The late bloomer made a century on debut for the Tigers in 2019, a brilliant 160 against South Australia, and this season he has looked at home at the top of the order. He made 110 earlier in this season against the Redbacks and has been a key reason why the Tigers have started the Shield season strongly.Victoria started the day well with veteran paceman Peter Siddle claiming Caleb Jewell early as he edged seaming delivery to Sam Harper.The hosts had a window of opportunity in the first session during Murphy’s opening over. Ward edged Murphy’s first delivery low to the boot of Peter Handscomb at slip. Next ball, Wakim offered a sharp chance to Travis Dean at short leg but it was dropped.The bowlers then toiled without joy until Ward drove to Dean at short cover off spinner Matt Short.Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster was with Wakim at stumps on a day when 38-year-old Siddle asked the most questions for Victoria with his probing seam bowling, having come into the side in place of Scott Boland who was rested.
تفقد مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، برئاسة محمود الخطيب ومجلس إدارة شركة القلعة الحمراء برئاسة محمد كامل، أعمال الحفر بمشروع الاستاد ومركز خدمة الجماهير، في حضور مجلس إدارة شركة الأهلي للمنشآت الرياضية برئاسة تامر نصر.
وخلال الزيارة الميدانية استفسر محمود الخطيب عن معدل ساعات العمل وما تم إنجازه خلال الفترة الماضية، كما أوضح محمد كامل العديد من الأمور الخاصة بسير العمل والتعاون مع الشركات القائمة على المشروع.
طالع| خاص | لاعب جديد يرحل عن الأهلي إلى الدوري التونسي
وأكد سامح علي كامل، المستشار الهندسي، على أن معدل الحفر يسير وفق الخطة الموضوعة بشكل طبيعي وتم إنجاز 33% من المطلوب بعمق 9 أمتار حتى الآن، مضيفا أن عملية الحفر قد تنتهي خلال 4 شهور على الأكثر.
وحرص محمود الخطيب على تسليم بعض المشجعين الذين تواجدوا في مركز خدمة الجماهير درع تخليد أسمائهم على جدران الاستاد، في حضور مجلس القلعة الحمراء برئاسة محمد كامل بجانب كل من خالد مرتجي القائم بأعمال نائب رئيس النادي وأمين الصندوق، وأعضاء المجلس طارق قنديل ومحمـد الجارحي ومحمـد سراج الدين وسعد شلبي المدير التنفيذي للأهلي.
وفي ختام الزيارة، أبدى محمود الخطيب ارتياحه الشديد لمعدلات تنفيذ خطة العمل بمشروع الاستاد والالتزام بعامل الوقت، وفقا للخطة الإنشائية التي تم الإعلان عنها في السابق.
Cameron Bancroft will get a chance to stake a claim for David Warner’s soon-to-be vacant Australia Test opening spot after being named in Australia A’s four-day squad to face New Zealand A in Queensland later this month with fellow candidates Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris resting from the series.Bancroft has been named in the squad for the two four-day games, including a red-ball game in Brisbane and a pink-ball day-night game in Mackay, which are followed by three 50-over matches. Bancroft is set to open with one of Tasmania duo Tim Ward or Caleb Jewell likely to be his partner.Related
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Renshaw has been included for the one-day matches with Marnus Labuschagne also set to feature in those games following his omission from Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad. Todd Murphy is also part of the 50-over squad.Harris was the reserve opener for the recent UK tour but did not play a game as the under-pressure Warner retained his place for all six Tests, including the World Test Championship final against India and the five-Test Ashes series that followed. Australia do not play Test cricket again until the first Test against Pakistan in Perth starting on December 14.Warner has said he intends to retire from Test cricket after the third Test against Pakistan at the SCG in early January but it remains to be seen whether his wish will be fulfilled, although a half-century in his last Test innings at the Oval did his chances no harm despite a tour where he reached 24 in eight of his 12 Test innings but only made two half-centuries, with a highest score of 66 at Lord’s.That opens the door for Bancroft who has been third in the queue of potential Test openers and has not been involved in a national squad since he was dropped from the Test side during the 2019 Ashes series.Bancroft has been prolific in Sheffield Shield cricket over the last 18 months. Since January 2022 he has made 1380 runs in 32 innings at 49.28 with six centuries. One of those came in the first innings of the 2021-22 Sheffield Shield final which helped WA secure the title.Bancroft’s state coach Adam Voges, who will also coach Australia A for the series against New Zealand A, believes he is in the best form of his career and has the chance to make a statement in the Australia A series.”I think, results wise, he’s been outstanding over the last 12 months,” Voges told ESPNcricinfo. “I think technically he’s going as well as he has done and he’s got confidence in the way that he’s playing at the moment. I think he’s really settled in his game plan, the way that he’s tried to approach each innings and we saw that consistency last year in his run-scoring output.Cameron Bancroft had an outstanding 2022-23 season•Getty Images
“This is just another opportunity for him along with six Shield games before the Test summer to continue to pile on the runs and really put pressure on the selectors to get him at the front of the queue when the opportunity does present. So that’s his challenge over the next little bit but what a great opportunity to try and kick start things off next month.”Bancroft’s technical improvements have come on the back of a power of work with both WA’s batting coach Beau Casson and former Australia and WA coach Justin Langer. Bancroft reached out to Langer after Langer had left the Australia coaching job in early 2022 and the pair did some one-on-one work privately to supplement his work with Casson.”I don’t they’re massive changes,” Voges said. “But he looks as balanced at the crease as he has done and that’s the great work that Beau’s done with him. He’s worked with JL as well in the background and I think both of them together have come up with a more balanced and complete version of what we’ve seen of Cam at the moment.”But ultimately, his absolute strength is that ability to bat for long periods of time. That concentration to be able to do it for longer is something that he’s always had. And I think that’s a strength that he’s certainly drawn on over the last 12 months. He’s been able to navigate some difficult periods, particularly opening the batting at the WACA ground but equally when he’s got himself in he’s been able to really apply some pressure to opposition attacks as well and that’s been pleasing to see.”Warner gave Renshaw a strong endorsement to be his successor at the top of the order but Australia may need a second Test opener not long given Usman Khawaja is also set to turn 37 during Australia’s next Test match on December 18.Harris has been the long-time understudy ever since he was omitted from the XI during the 2021-22 home Ashes series following Khawaja’s triumphant return to Test cricket. Harris remains highly regarded by Australia’s selectors as a long-term successor for either Warner or Khawaja.Harris and Bancroft both missed the last Australia A series in New Zealand during April to play county cricket in England, at the behest of Australia’s selection panel. Renshaw made scores of 112, 78, 2 and 140 against New Zealand A on that tour having made a return to the Test side in Sydney earlier in the year before playing once on the tour of India.Renshaw was included in the Ashes squad but omitted as surplus to requirements following the second Test at Lord’s. He been named in Australia A squad but is set to only play the 50-over gamesHarris spent four months in England with Gloucestershire and the Australia squad straight off the back of last domestic summer where he mixed touring with Australia’s Test side with his state duties for Victoria. The selectors decided to give Harris time to rest at home in Melbourne before the start of the domestic summer.Australia A four-day squad Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jordan Buckingham, Ben Dwarshuis, Caleb Jewell, Campbell Kellaway, Matthew Kelly, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan McAndrew, Nathan McSweeney, Joel Paris, Jimmy Peirson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Tim WardAustralia A one-day squad Wes Agar, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Liam Hatcher, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben McDermott, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Matt Short, Mark Steketee, Will Sutherland, Ashton Turner
Arsenal secured passage to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the second successive season this week, but away from Europe, it would be hard to describe the campaign as anything other than a disappointment.
Mikel Arteta’s side wanted to finally end their wait for a Premier League title at the third time of asking this year, but as things stand, they sit 15 points off leaders Liverpool.
Moreover, instead of making amends for their poor form in the domestic cups in recent seasons, the Gunners crashed out of the FA Cup in the Third Round and were soundly beaten by Newcastle United in the League Cup Semi-Finals.
Arsenal's KaiHavertzwith manager MikelArtetaafter being substituted
There are two primary, somewhat interlinked reasons why things have gone wrong this term: injuries and a lack of a cut-throat centre-forward.
Both problems could have been addressed in the winter transfer window but weren’t, and to make matters worse, a striker Arteta let go for nothing a few years ago has recently won comparisons to Harry Kane, of all people.
Bayern Munich'sHarryKaneduring the warm up before the match
Why Arsenal are desperate for a striker
So, there are three reasons why Arsenal are in such desperate need of a new striker, with the most apparent, at the moment anyway, being injuries.
Arsenal's KaiHavertzreacts
The Gunners’ two centre-forward options, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, are out of action for the rest of the campaign, and the latter won’t be fit again until next year.
However, even when they are fit, neither one can be relied upon to be a consistent scorer of goals, which is the second reason the team needs a new number nine.
For example, the Brazilian international found the back of the net on seven occasions in 27 appearances this season, while the German did marginally better, scoring 15 goals in 34 games.
This lack of clinical cutting edge up top brings us to the third reason why the North Londoners find themselves in their current predicament: a severe lack of investment in the forward line.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
According to figures from The Athletic, since taking the job in December 2019, Arteta has spent around £299.2m on defenders and goalkeepers, £275.4m on midfielders and £140m on forwards, which includes the £65m spent on Havertz.
On top of not spending enough on attackers, he’s also let plenty leave, including a striker who outscored the entire Arsenal team last season and has been compared to Kane this year.
Where Are They Now
The former Arsenal star compared to Kane
When it comes to former Arsenal attackers who have gone on to thrive since leaving in recent years, Alexandre Lacazette, who left for nothing in 2022, is certainly near the very top of that list.
Before we look at how he fared last season and how he’s doing this year, it’s worth examining this comparison to Kane and where it has come from.
The comparison stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the most similar forward to the Lyon star.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.66
0.64
Progressive Carries
0.93
1.02
Progressive Passes
3.33
3.47
Goals per Shot
0.19
0.16
Goals per Shot on Target
0.32
0.38
Key Passes
1.36
1.33
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.30
1.43
Live Passes
23.6
23.5
Tackles Won
0.31
0.31
The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, progressive carries and passes, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the penalty area, key passes, tackles won and more, all per 90.
On top of being compared to arguably the best striker in world football, the veteran Lyon star has been in fine goalscoring form himself in recent years, finding the back of the net on 22 occasions in 35 games last season.
This year, the 33-year-old star has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 32 games across all competitions, but in Ligue 1 specifically, he’s produced nine goals and two assists in 22 appearances, totalling 1469 minutes.
In contrast, Havertz has scored nine goals and provided three assists in 21 league appearances.
However, he did so in 1842 minutes of football, meaning the French “goal machine,” as dubbed by former teammate Sokratis, has been a more clinical forward than the German.
Ultimately, at the time, Arsenal probably did the right thing in letting Lacazette leave for free. Still, with hindsight and the knowledge that they failed to adequately invest in the attack since then, we reckon Arteta wouldn’t mind having him back in the team.
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The incredible Premier League star would be a game-changing signing for Arsenal.
Arsenal are now leading Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign an “extraordinary” striker, who has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s top target ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Arteta's striker search
Arteta was known to be keen on signing a striker in January, with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Dušan Vlahović among the players linked with moves to north London, but it ultimately wasn’t possible to get a new forward through the door.
Since then, the Gunners’ title hopes have been seriously dented, with Kai Havertz being ruled out for the season, and they have now started to work on bringing in a new striker in the summer.
Plans have been put in place to hold talks with Inter’s Lautaro Martinez, who reportedly incoming sporting director Andrea Berta is believed to be a big fan of, while Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is also known to be a target, with a number of Premier League clubs keen on the Nigerian.
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Another striker who has attracted widespread interest is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with it recently being revealed that Arsenal are set to battle Tottenham for the forward’s signature.
However, according to a report from Football Insider, the Gunners have the edge over Spurs in the race to sign Sesko, as they have now moved ahead of their rivals in the race for his signature.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoscores their first goal from the penalty spot
The north Londoners are said to be among the favourites to sign the Slovenian, who has now emerged as their top target for the summer transfer window.
Although the Leipzig star is contracted until 2029, there is a £58m release clause in his contract, which makes a summer move more likely – and he would prefer a move to Arsenal over Spurs.
Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Man Utd (a)
March 9th
Chelsea (h)
March 16th
Fulham (h)
April 1st
Everton (a)
April 5th
Brentford (h)
April 12th
"Extraordinary" Sesko impressing in Germany
The 21-year-old has scored 17 goals for Leipzig in all competitions this term, including four in the Champions League prior to his side’s exit from the competition, but he is far more than just a goalscorer.
Tony Cascarino has also praised the former RB Salzburg man for his dribbling ability, saying: “He will run at people and he will literally go around them.
“That’s the extraordinary thing he has got, I have not seen a 6 foot 5 player play like him. I have seen him in wide positions. He is not as traditional as a No 9, but he can certainly go into a deep area and pick up the ball and he will go past people.”
As such, it is exciting news that Arsenal are seemingly in a strong position to win the race for Sesko, and a release clause of just £58m seems very reasonable, given that he is young enough to lead the line for the Gunners for the next decade.
Chelsea are now closing in on a deal to sign an “exciting” midfielder, and they are eager to wrap it up quickly as other clubs are starting to show interest, according to a report.
Blues eyeing more talented youngsters
The Blues have developed a reputation for signing young players, who are often sent out on loan to prove themselves at sister club Strasbourg, and they are continuing to scour the market for talented prospects ahead of the summer transfer window.
Sunderland’s Chris Rigg is the latest young player to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, having now been cleared to leave the Championship side this summer, should a potential suitor be willing to fork out £25m.
However, there is now a feeling the west Londoners’ transfer approach could be deterring young players from joining the club, as revealed when it emerged Arsenal are set to win the race for Santos left-back Joao Victor de Souza.
De Souza and his agent were unimpressed with the Blues’ ideas about his future, which opened the door for a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea on alert as "wonderful" midfield target cleared to leave for £25m
The Blues are in the race to sign a wonderkid who will be allowed to leave his current club this summer.
By
Dominic Lund
Feb 9, 2025
According to a report from The Sun, Chelsea could face a similar problem in their pursuit of Sporting CP’s Dario Essugo, although they are now closing in on a deal.
Essugo is only keen to join the Blues if he is going to be a part of the squad, rather than being shipped out on loan to Strasbourg, with the midfielder having reservations about the move.
Despite the 19-year-old’s concerns, however, a deal is now close to completion, with Enzo Maresca’s side eager to agree a fee as quickly as possible, as he has started to attract interest from other clubs, having impressed on loan at Las Palmas.
Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi in action with GD Chaves's DarioEssugo
Essugo is one for the future
The teenager is keen to be a part of the Chelsea squad immediately, and there are some indications he could be capable of making an instant impact at Stamford Bridge, given the level of his defensive performances over the past year.
The Portuguese starlet, who could cost around €25m (£21m) ranks in the 98th percentile for interceptions per 90, the 87th percentile for clearances, and the 81st percentile for tackles, when compared to his positional peers.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also tipped the central midfielder for future success, having made a solid start to life in La Liga, calling him “one of the most exciting DMs in Europe”.
Having also signed Mathis Amougou in the winter transfer window, Chelsea have a multitude of options in midfield, but if Essugo is able to replicate his performances in La Liga in the Premier League, he could push for a starting spot sooner rather than later.
Arsenal’s Hale End academy has once again taken centre stage this season as they continue to produce talents for the first team at an impressive rate.
While Mikel Arteta’s side have seen the likes of Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe all move on to other Premier League sides since graduating from the academy under the Spaniard’s tutelage, youth continues to dominate the Arsenal squad.
Now, it is a mantle taken up by precocious talents Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, both of whom are already staking their claims to be first-team regulars as the Gunners look to challenge for major honours this season and in the years to come.
They would not be the first academy stars to step up and become key men for the first team, and indeed Arsenal have an excellent record of promoting youth to help inspire success. With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at the 11 best players to have come out of their academy, focusing mostly on the ones who have made a telling impact at Highbury and the Emirates Stadium.
11 Emile Smith Rowe 2018-2024
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Affectionately known by Arsenal fans as the “Croydon De Bruyne”, Emile Smith Rowe made the move to north London from south London at an early age and came through the ranks as part of a strong crop of Arsenal talent.
After several loan spells away, he was finally thrown into the first team by Mikel Arteta in 2020 and made an almost instant impact, playing a central role as Arsenal’s form improved drastically in what was otherwise a tough behind-closed-doors season for the club.
Alongside Bukayo Saka, he ushered in a new feel-good factor at the Emirates Stadium in the early parts of the 2021/22 campaign, hitting 10 goals as Arsenal finished fifth.
Injuries and new signings pushed him down the pecking order in north London in the seasons that followed, and he was sold to Fulham in a £34m deal in the summer of 2024, becoming the Cottagers’ record signing and recouping the second-largest transfer fee in Arsenal’s history.
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ByCharlie Smith Dec 28, 2024 10 Michael Thomas 1986-1992
“It’s up for grabs now!”
An iconic line of commentary accompanied the goal that forever etched Michael Thomas into the Arsenal history books, with the Lambeth-born star scoring the winning goal against Liverpool in the 1988/89 season to crown Arsenal as First Division champions at Anfield ahead of the hosts – an event that is considered one of the greatest in the club’s history.
A midfielder by trade, Thomas appeared over 200 times for the Gunners alongside several partners as he helped Arsenal challenge at the top of English football before falling out with George Graham and eventually being sold to Liverpool, where he racked up another 150 appearances.
9 Paul Merson 1986-1997
Also part of that title-winning side of 1989 was a young Paul Merson, a tricky winger who was capable of playing on either flank.
Merson appeared over 400 times for the Gunners across an 11-year stint with the senior side, and after being on the fringes of the squad, it was the 1988/89 campaign where he really rose to prominence, playing 37 of their 38 league games and finding the net 10 times, before going on to better that figure in 1990/91 as Arsenal tasted title success once more.
Winning every domestic trophy with the Gunners across his 11 years with the club, Merson was another instance of the academy striking gold.
8 Andy Cole 1989-1992
Though none of his success came in north London, it felt wrong leaving out one of the Premier League’s greatest goalscorers.
Cole only ever played twice for Arsenal’s first team before he was sold to Bristol City, but proved everyone in north London wrong as he scooped five Premier League titles across a storied career that spanned spells at Manchester United, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers, among others.
A poacher who found the net 34 times in a single season for Newcastle, Cole was a part of Manchester United’s 1999 treble-winning side, and at the time of writing, he sits fourth in the list of Premier League all-time goalscorers with 187, though Mohamed Salah may soon have something to say about that.
Appearances
597
Goals
264
Assists
103
Major honours
12
7 Jack Wilshere 2008-2018
Perhaps the last great academy talent of Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal reign, plenty of Gunners fans will go to bed wondering what Jack Wilshere could have become had he been able to stay fit, such was his immense talent.
Announcing himself to the world aged just 19 in the Champions League as he bossed a midfield consisting of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, there was plenty of hype around Wilshere both in Arsenal and England colours.
But injuries meant that the 2010/11 campaign remained the highlight of his career, with Wilshere unable to replicate his availability in any of the campaigns that followed. Nonetheless, his rise remained a source of inspiration for those in the academy, and he returned to the Arsenal setup as a coach following his early retirement from the game.
6 Martin Keown 1984-1985 and 1993-2004
Martin Keown’s Arsenal career was far from straightforward, with the defender coming through the academy, but failing to break into the first team, leading to Arsenal selling the Englishman to Aston Villa in 1986.
After seven years at the top, the Gunners opted to bring him back to north London, and it was in this second spell that he became a cornerstone of Arsenal’s history.
A regular in defence, he helped shepherd Arsenal to three Premier League titles, including being a bit-part feature of their famous Invincibles campaign, going on to make almost 450 appearances for his boyhood club.
5 Ray Parlour 1991-2004
Like Keown, Parlour’s final flourish in Arsenal colours came as a part of the Invincibles squad as he helped Arsenal go unbeaten across the 2003/04 campaign. It was the end of a storied career in north London for the “Romford Pele”, which saw him make a mammoth 465 appearances for the club as an industrious, rather than prolific, midfielder.
A fan favourite for his work rate, Parlour enjoyed a trophy-laden time in north London, winning a League Cup, three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.
4 Bukayo Saka 2018-present
The current poster boy of Arsenal, Bukayo Saka is rapidly making his way up these rankings.
Since making his debut in the 2018/19 Europa League under Unai Emery, the Englishman has made himself a talismanic figure for both club and country despite still being just 23 years old.
Appearances
250
Goals
67
Assists
63
He has helped spearhead back-to-back title charges in north London, though on both occasions his side have fallen short. So far, he has just a single FA Cup to show for his efforts at the Emirates Stadium, but if he remains at Arsenal, he will surely go down as one of their best-ever players, and almost certainly their best academy talent.
3 Tony Adams 1983-2002
Nicknamed “Mr Arsenal”, Tony Adams spent 20 years at the top level with the Gunners in a controversial career. Adams was a key part of Arsenal’s famous back four during the 1990s, and won four top-flight titles during his time in north London.
Though struggling with addiction and being sent to prison on one occasion, he remained a fabulous footballer when he took to the pitch, racking up a massive 655 appearances for the club he joined as a youth.
Such was his impact, he is one of four statues currently outside Arsenal’s home ground, as rock-solid in retirement as he was during his playing career.
2 Ashley Cole 1999-2006
From one of Arsenal’s most popular players to arguably their least, Ashley Cole was England’s best left-back for the best part of two decades, racking up over 100 caps for the national team.
He was successful at Arsenal, too, playing 32 times in the Invincibles season and looking like a cornerstone of Wenger’s side before swapping north London for west London as he joined Chelsea on a free transfer.
With Arsenal’s rivals, he was even more successful, winning the Champions League, Europa League, the Premier League and four FA Cups. Though unpopular, he was one of Arsenal’s best youth products.