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Arsenal fan favourite and makeshift striker Kai Havertz has heaped praise on a £30 million member of Mikel Arteta's squad, explaining how he stuns everybody at London Colney with his ability.

Arsenal held to 1-1 draw at home to Brighton on Saturday

Much to the disappointment of Arteta and the Emirates Stadium home crowd, Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton on Saturday, while fellow Premier League title contenders Man City secured victory at West Ham.

Edu was planning shock late Arsenal bid to sign once-£100m star pre-deadline

Chelsea were after him too.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 31, 2024

With a tough run looming after the international break, Saturday lunchtime was an opportunity for Arsenal to seal another crucial three points as they look to win their first league title in 21 years and loosen City's stranglehold on domestic dominance.

In what was a thoroughly entertaining draw in north London, star midfielder Declan Rice got sent off after receiving two yellow cards, with Brighton star Joao Pedro cancelling out Havertz's excellent lobbed finish in the first half.

After their draw to Brighton, Arsenal face very tough back-to-back Premier League contests, with a crunch north London derby clash away to Tottenham on September 15 and an all-important trip to City one week later, as well as the start of the Champions League being sandwiched in between.

Tottenham Hotspur (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 20

"It was a very emotional afternoon, for sure," said Arteta on Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton.

"We started the game really well, created three or four chances that we didn’t convert. After that, we had a period with some issues, particularly with the ball and we lacked some dominance in that period.

"We then score a really good goal in a moment when we take advantage of the opponent. Then we go in at half-time, come back and we were really strong. Then the referee makes a decision that changes the course of the game. With 10 men, the team reacted unbelievably well, the stadium reacts unbelievably well and we should have won the game."

Raheem Sterling signed in a last-minute transfer to Arsenal from Chelsea after talks, but couldn't contribute yesterday as he missed the squad registration deadline.

Havertz, as evident by his terrific finish against the Seagulls, looks set to play a crucial role this season, as does club captain Martin Odegaard.

Havertz says Odegaard blows everyone away in training at Arsenal

Speaking on TNT Sports in an interview with pundit Rio Ferdinand, Havertz made a training revelation in regard to the Norwegian, who cost Arsenal just £30 million to sign from Real Madrid.

Havertz revealed that Odegaard is "ridiculous" in Arsenal training, via TBR, and often leaves those around him completely flabbergasted at the player's ability.

"I think the connection with him was there from the first second, to be honest," said Havertz.

"I loved him always as a player, I used to watch him a lot, especially the season before I came to Arsenal, when we played them.

"He’s ridiculous in what he does, not only in the game but in training, it’s crazy, like, I don’t know, you follow him and he has the ball in front of you and he just does those movements and I’m like 'where do I go now?'

"Everyone is thinking like 'how is he doing that?' He plays so simple, he plays so easy but he always, like, plays so dangerous as well."

Over the last two summers, Manchester United have spent £108.5m on new strikers: £36.5m on Joshua Zirkzee and £72m on Rasmus Hojlund.

Now, while he had a slow start last season, the Dane showed real glimpses of quality towards the end of the campaign, and while it's still early doors this year, the Dutchman has also impressed here and there.

That said, while these young forwards are promising, it does not feel like either one will ever be prolific enough to challenge Manchester City's goalscoring monster, Erling Haaland.

However, the good news for Erik ten Hag, if he can stay in the job for a few more years, is that the club look set to land an exciting youngster who lookS like he could potentially put up numbers akin to the Norwegian in the future, and he's been compared to Victor Osimhen to boot.

Erling Haaland's incredible form

United fans might not like the man for fairly obvious reasons, but there can be no denying that as a pure, out-and-out goalscorer, nobody in the world is better than Haaland.

The Norwegian superstar has dominated defences wherever he's played, racking up 26 goals and assists for Molde, 36 for RB Salzburg, 109 for Borussia Dortmund and, as things stand, 111 for City.

Moreover, at just 24 years old, he could maintain this sort of form for the best part of a decade, and considering he has already scored six goals and provided three assists in just seven games against United, that's not going to be music to the ears of Sit Jim Ratcliffe and Co.

The good news, however, is that over the summer, the club managed to convince one of the most exciting young strikers in the world to join the project at Old Trafford, and while there are some complications at present, he looks like he could develop into a lethal number nine akin to Haaland.

Why fans should be excited about Chido Obi-Martin

Yes, the youngster in question is former Arsenal academy star Chido Obi-Martin, who left the Gunners this summer before accepting an offer from United, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

However, due to his age and the role the Gunners played in his development, the move has not yet been ratified.

According to the Manchester Evening News last week, United are now awaiting approval from the Premier League, but for all intents and purposes, Obi-Martin will be moving to Manchester this year, where he is expected to make occasional first-team appearances.

Now, that might seem a little preemptive for a 16-year-old, but the Danish poacher is no typical youngster, as during his time with the North Londoners, he looked practically unstoppable, even scoring a mind-blowing ten goals in one game for their youth side. Those are numbers not even Haaland can top.

For example, in just 24 appearances for the various youth sides last season, the sensational striker scored 32 goals and provided three assists, equating to an average of 1.45 goal involvements per game, which sounds an awful lot like Haaland numbers.

Moreover, if his incredible record isn't enough to convince you of his quality, then you only have to listen to analyst Ben Mattinson, who described him as "Osimhen 2.0."

Appearances

24

Goals

32

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

1.45

Mattinson claims that this comparison stems from the Glostrup-born gem's "aerial dominance" and his impressive "strength" for someone so young.

Ultimately, not only is Obi-Martin a youngster putting up Haaland-esque numbers in the youth teams, but he's also been compared to one of the other leading strikers in Europe over the last few years. What more could you want?

He's like De Jong: Man Utd have already sold their next Gomes for just £850k

The talented midfielder looks promising.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 12, 2024

How much do the Magpies players earn annually and who receives the most into their account?

Newcastle United had a pretty bleak 2010s decade, but they have returned amongst the Premier League's upper half, both in terms of results as well as finances.

They are one of the most valuable teams in England thanks to Saudi Arabia-backed Public Investment Fund's (PIF) total takeover of the club back in 2021. Since then, the Magpies have been contenders for a top four spot and even featured in the 2023-24 season of the Champions League.

They have, evidently, taken massive strides financially, allowing them to secure big names like Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Alexander Isak in recent years.

So, who is the highest earner at the St. James' Park this season? And who is on the opposite end of the spectrum?

GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!

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(C)Getty ImagesGoalkeepers

Newcastle have five goalkeepers on their payroll, with Nick Pope standing out as the highest-earning goalkeeper with an annual salary of over £3m.

Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and veteran Martin Dubravka are not too far behind, though, with the duo earning more than £2m each.

English goalkeepers Mark Gillespie and John Ruddy complete the list. Given that they barely feature, if at all, for Eddie Howe, they are the among the lowest-paid members of the squad.

Name Salary

Nick Pope£3,120,000Odysseas Vlachodimos£2,600,000Martin Dubravka£2,080,000Mark Gillespie£520,000John Ruddy£416,000AdvertisementGettyDefenders

If you guessed Kieran Trippier to be the highest-paid defender in the Newcastle squad, then you got it wrong. That distinction actually goes to 26-year-old Lloyd Kelly, who joined the club on a free transfer from Bournemouth last summer.

Matt Targett and Sven Botman are also on hefty salaries as the next-best paid defenders. Newcastle fans believe these players are fairly compensated, but won't be too pleased to find out that Emil Krafth is earning close to £3m annually, despite not having a prominent role. That's more than the earnings of Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, and Jamal Lascelles.

Youngsters Lewis Hall and Alex Murphy are the lowest-paid defenders earning in six figures annually.

Name Salary

Lloyd Kelly£7,800,000Kieran Trippier£6,240,000Matt Targett£5,200,000Sven Botman£4,680,000Emil Krafth£2,860,000Dan Burn£2,860,000Tino Livramento£2,600,000Fabian Schar£2,340,000Jamal Lascelles£2,080,000Lewis Hall£364,000Alex Murphy£156,000Getty Images SportMidfielders

This one's a no-brainer. Yes, Bruno Guimaraes is the best-paid midfielder in the squad, just ahead of Joelinton and Sandro Tonali.

Joe Willock is earning a respectable salary, but it’s understandable that he, along with players like Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden, isn’t on the same level — both in terms of prominence and wages — as some of the club’s more high-profile players.

As the only player in the list not making seven figures annually, and rightfully so, 18-year-old Lewis Miley is the lowest-paid midfielder of Newcastle.

Name Salary

Bruno Guimaraes£8,320,000Joelinto£7,800,000Sandro Tonali£6,240,000Joe Willock£4,160,000Sean Longstaff£2,600,000Isaac Hayden£1,144,000Lewis Miley£260,000ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty Images SportAttackers

Among forwards, the highest-earning player is Anthony Gordon, which might come as a surprise to some readers as they might have expected prolific striker Alexander Isak to take the cake. The Swede is, however, the second-highest paid Newcastle player among forwards.

Wingers Harvey Barnes, Miguel Almirón, and Jacob Murphy are among the lower-earning forwards, yet they still make significantly more than young prospects William Osula and Garang Kuol, who are gradually being integrated into the first-team setup.

Name Salary

Anthony Gordon£7,800,000Alexander Isak£6,240,000Harvey Barnes£4,160,000Miguel Almiron£3,120,000Callum Wilson£2,392,000Jacob Murphy£1,820,000William Osula£1,040,000Garang Kuol£260,000

“I wanted to attack Babar from the very first ball, bringing the ball in to him using the blind spot,” the seamer reveals

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jun-2021Peshawar Zalmi’s two new boys Hazratullah Zazai and Abrar Ahmed may have caught the eye in a statement-making thumping of champions Karachi Kings but the win was set up by a rare bout of new-ball swing. And pace.The example was set by captain Wahab Riaz with a searing first-over dismissal of Babar Azam before Sameen Gul picked up two in two in the third over – all three deliveries hooping big. Azam’s failure was a rare one for the Pakistan captain this season but so too was the method of Riaz’s success: a new-ball yorker, swinging in.”In Abu Dhabi, the ball swings a lot under lights and it’s not just for me but everyone who is bowling with pace,” Riaz told ESPNcricinfo. “The first three to four overs are crucial and that is where everyone is trying to extract maximum advantage given the dew later on. Mostly, teams have been struggling against the new ball and losing a bulk of wickets early.”With a new hard ball and pace, you will get everything if you bowl in right area. I had worked out a plan and wanted to attack Babar from the very first ball, bringing the ball in to him using the blind spot [the left-arm over angle creates]. But once the game goes on, after five overs or so, the swing is reduced and batsmen control back.”The good work of Riaz and Gul was built upon by Ahmed, playing for Zalmi for the first time this season and in only his fourth T20 game since his debut in the PSL four seasons ago. Ahmed is a rare breed for Pakistan: a finger-spinner who can bowl the carrom ball; his 3 for 14 were the first wickets he’s taken at this level. He had caused a flutter of excitement when he emerged in the 2016-17 season for the Karachi Kings – then coach Mickey Arthur saw him potentially as an answer to Pakistan’s middle-overs bowling – but back injuries have kept him out of the game until last year.The other new arrival, Zazai, then tore into the total, a remarkable 26-ball 63 on his PSL debut taking Zalmi to 99 in the ninth over, when he was dismissed. His fifty, off 17 balls, was the joint-fastest in the PSL. He took 21 off a Mohammad Amir over, and then 20 by himself off Aamer Yamin. The first six off the latter went outside the ground.”When my shots started coming off early on, I thought I need to cash in as it’s my day today,” Zazai said after the game. “I liked all the sixes I hit today but the first one off Aamer Yamin was probably my favourite.”The win took Zalmi to joint-second with the Lahore Qalandars, with some fresh impetus with Ahmed and Zazai in the squad now.

Kagiso Rabada’s 17 runs off the final over dragged his side to 165

Firdose Moonda19-Jul-2021South Africa dominated Ireland in the first T20I meeting between the two teams despite a performance that would need some polishing with both bat and ball.Their top scorer Aiden Markram made 39 and there were two partnerships in the 30s, but they were reduced to 115 for 5 at one stage and appeared in danger of missing out on a score around 160. Offspinner Simi Singh and left-armer Josh Little were particularly successful in keeping South Africa relatively quiet, but the rest of the attack conceded at least nine runs an over each. However, a strong finish by South Africa’s lower order took them to a competitive total. And even if the visitors were not entirely happy with their score, they had reason to be because Ireland did not look like an outfit that could come close in the chase, despite South Africa’s inability to eventually bowl them out.The hosts were 38 for 4 after the powerplay, before Tabraiz Shamsi, the top-ranked bowler in the format, had even been introduced. Shamsi took four wickets for the second time in his career – also the second time in 2021 – to become the year’s leading wicket-taker in the format so far. He tossed the ball up to bowl Singh, broke through Shane Getkate’s defences with a wrong ‘un, had Mark Adair caught on the long-off boundary and had Harry Tector stumped, as he came down the track to a googly.George Linde provided good support at the start and in the middle of the innings, but South Africa drifted towards the end with Ireland’s last pair putting on 44, their highest of the innings.Openers out? No problem, we have some more
Ireland would have been relieved to see the back of Quinton de Kock after he had faced only nine balls. He did some damage when he hit Barry McCarthy over long-on for the first six of the South African innings and Mark Adair for back-to-back boundaries, before mistiming a drive to mid-off to depart in the third over. But South Africa had another opener in reserve. de Kock’s ODI partner Janneman Malan was in at No.3 and did not get going at all before he hit Adair to Singh at mid-on.Enter a fourth opening batter in Markram, who outlasted Temba Bavuma after the captain under-edged a reverse-sweep, and also starred in the two highest partnerships of the innings. Markam and Rassie van der Dussen put on 35 for the fourth wicket before Markram and David Miller shared 36 for the fifth, and South Africa had a solid foundation to build on. They seem to have identified Markram as someone who can move around the order, and though it leaves no room for Kyle Verreynne or Heinrich Klaasen, it allows them to play all their openers in the same XI.Kagiso Rabada hit 17 off the final over, including four boundaries•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesRabada, the batter
South Africa’s coach Mark Boucher has repeatedly said he believes Kagiso Rabada is selling himself short when it comes to his batting, and Rabada seems to have taken the thought seriously. He showed his potential and his finishing skills by giving South Africa the most profitable over of the innings, which also happened to be the last one. Rabada had faced just three balls and scored two singles before Adair delivered the final six balls, but had seen enough to know what he needed to do.He dispatched a low full-toss through the covers for four, then cleared the front leg to send a full ball through midwicket, after which he drove Adair down the ground and finally pulled a slow ball to deep square leg for a quartet of fours. Doubtless Rabada had a full house of boundaries on his mind, but he was beaten by lack of pace as he tried to heave the fifth one away and finished with a single. He scored 17 off the last over, and was unbeaten on 19 off nine balls to stake a claim for a spot higher in the order.No score for O’Brien
Things are not getting any easier for Ireland’s headline batter. Kevin O’Brien has played six international matches this year and has managed just 27 runs, and followed up his no score against Netherlands last month – in what turned out to be his final ODI – with a duck again today. He was rooted to the crease when he chipped the first legal delivery he faced back to Rabada for a simple catch. O’Brien’s dismissal was South Africa’s second wicket in seven balls after Paul Stirling was bowled by Linde the ball after hitting the first delivery of the innings for six. At that stage, Ireland were 7 for 2 with both openers gone.Drop, drop, catch
South Africa’s fielding standards have not been at their highest on this trip. They dropped four catches in the second ODI to lose to Ireland for the first time, and two again in the powerplay today, though they were of little consequence. First de Kock made significant ground to try and pouch the top edge off Tector’s attempted scoop off the penultimate ball of Lizaad Williams’ first over, but the chance popped out of his hands as his elbows hit the floor.The batters had crossed and Williams had a chance to dismiss Andy Balbirnie with his next ball when the Irish captain smacked the ball to Malan at backward point. Malan dived full stretch to his right but could not hold on. Balbirnie didn’t last much longer, though. After Lungi Ngidi removed George Dockrell with the first ball of his first over, he had Balbirnie caught behind with the first ball of his second. Thus, Williams was the only bowler to go wicketless.

Sunderland now reportedly face a nervous wait to find out the severity of the injury sustained by one of their summer signings after he attended a public event wearing a protective brace over his knee.

Sunderland injury news

Regis Le Bris’ side hit their first stumbling block in his otherwise perfect reign so far when they suffered shock defeat up against Plymouth Argyle. Wayne Rooney’s side became the first to take points off the Black Cats this season in what those at the Stadium of Light will hope is not a regular occurrence in the coming months.

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On that front, Plymouth aside, it looks as though victory is likely to come more often than defeat, given that Sunderland won four of their first five which included a 1-0 win over recently relegated Burnley. But there is of course plenty more work to do and as the Championship fixtures begin to come thick and fast ahead of the packed festive schedule, Sunderland will hope to have their full squad available.

Before that period, however, they’re at least likely to be without one player this weekend as Middlesbrough travel to the Stadium of Light. As reported by The Northern Echo, Alan Browne was spotted wearing a protective brace in a recent question and answer session with Sunderland fans.

The summer signing was quick to downplay the brace as a mere precaution, but the result of his knee scan will paint a better picture as Sunderland face a nervous wait over the severity of Browne’s injury.

It could be a case of a short-term blow for the sake of long-term availability for Browne, who has reportedly been complaining about discomfort in his knee, which has been through several tests. The scan results will tell Sunderland just how long they’ll be without their midfielder, but the protective brace suggests that he’s likely to at least miss the Middlesbrough game this weekend.

"Dynamic" Browne will be a frustrating miss

An experienced midfielder and former Preston North End captain, Browne arrived ready to make an impact at Sunderland in the summer, signing a deal reportedly worth £15k-p/w. Just months into his move, however, and the 29-year-old could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

The injury blow would come at a frustrating time too, given that Browne is yet to earn a nailed-on starting place in Le Bris’ side, playing from the start just twice in five Championship games, though scoring his first goal for the club in his first full 90 minutes against Portsmouth.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman was quick to praise the veteran midfielder as he put pen to paper in the summer, saying via Chronicle Live: “Alan is a dynamic and versatile midfielder, who will complement the players within our squad and bring fresh qualities to our midfield.

“His availability is something we have closely followed throughout the last eight months and his ambition was at the forefront of our discussions. He believes he can fulfil those ambitions at Sunderland and after seeing our potential, he wants to play an important role in creating future success. We are delighted to welcome him to the club.”

The 19-year-old Bajraktarevic will join PSV, making him the first ever homegrown sold overseas by the Revolution

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Bajraktarevic joins PSVFirst homegrown player sold overseas by RevsDeal could rise to $6 millionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Promising young New England Revolution forward Esmir Bajraktarevic is heading to Eredivisie side PSV, New England announced Thursday.

The deal is reported to be worth up to $6 million for the Revs and will have a sell-on clause for the 19-year-old. Bajraktarevic has tallied nine goal contributions in 57 appearances across three seasons with the Revolution.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

With the deal, Bajraktarevic becomes the first homegrown player to be sold overseas by the Revolution. They have, however, been consistent sellers of American-based talent to Europe.

Names such as Matt Turner, Djordje Petrovic, and Tajon Buchanan have all joined European sides in recent years. The teenage winger made one appearance for the USMNT, before using his one-time switch to represent the Bosnian national team.

Bajraktarevic joins a strong American contingent at Eindhoven, with Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and Richy Ledezma all featuring for the team.

WHAT CURT ONALFO SAID

“We are happy to facilitate this well-deserved move for Esmir, which will allow him to continue his development in one of Europe’s best leagues for young players,” Revolution Sporting Director Curt Onalfo said in a statement. “We are proud that Esmir’s rapid ascent through our pro pathway has positioned him to take this next step in his journey. His success is a credit to his work ethic and professionalism, which will serve him well at PSV. We thank Esmir for all of his contributions to the Revolution, especially the wonderful example he has set for the other young players in our system.”

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IMAGNWHAT NEXT FOR BAJRAKTAREVIC?

He will join PSV immediately with the Dutch club set to return to action on Jan. 11 against AZ.

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his Saudi Pro League "dream", with the Portuguese superstar sparking a transfer trend in the Middle East.

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Moved to the Middle East in 2023Joined by other household namesContract set to expire in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After seeing his contract at Manchester United torn up in acrimonious circumstances, CR7 took the decision to step out of his comfort zone and leave European football. A record-breaking contract was signed at Al-Nassr, with that deal set to expire in the summer of 2025.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There has been talk of Ronaldo taking on another new challenge, as he prepares to turn 40, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has often spoken of his happiness in Riyadh. He committed to a long-term project in Saudi Arabia and intends to see that through.

WHAT RONALDO SAID

Ronaldo has told the , having been joined in that division by a number of other household names: "For me, it is an honour that the league is growing and many star players are coming to make the league even better and more competitive. To be the first one – let’s say a star – to come here is an honour, but what I’m looking forward to is the next five to 10 years of the league still improving, not only the first teams but also the academies.

"Not just for the future of the Saudi [players] and the league, but for the country and to compete with other leagues – this is my dream. And this is what I will try to help the country and league reach and be there at that level."

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo has no plans to walk away from his contract at Al-Nassr, with more silverware in his sights. He has savoured just one trophy triumph in the Middle East and said when asked to pick out his favourite memory: "Probably when we won the first title [the 2023 King Salman Arab Clubs Cup, in which he scored both goals in the 2-1 victory against Al Hilal that captured the crown]. The final against Al-Hilal was probably the most intense one that we lived.

"You know, when you win titles, things come easier, and to have the privilege to win in my first year here my first trophy was amazing. But I want more. I will continue to push and help my team Al-Nassr to win titles. I believe that this year will be a good year for Al-Nassr."

A poor start to the season almost turned disastrous for Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side travelled to Championship team Coventry City in the Third Round of the League Cup, and instead of playing a full-strength team, the manager opted to play a considerable number of second-string players, which nearly cost his team the game.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half, only for two late goals to secure a win that even the staunchest of Spurs fans would struggle to say was deserved.

However, the important thing is that the North Londoners are still in the competition, and at least two players made a good case for their inclusion going forward. At the same time, one starter who took fewer touches than Fraser Forster certainly didn’t.

Spurs' saviours

So then, let’s start with the two positives from a win that had very few indeed: the goalscorers.

The equaliser was scored by Spurs’ forgotten man, Djed Spence, who came on at the start of the second half to replace Destiny Udogie, and while his goal is the stand-out moment from his 45 minutes of action, he did more than that.

In fact, football.london’s Alasdair Gold awarded him an 8/10 on the night, writing that alongside the goal, for which he showed ‘real desire to run through and prod the ball home’, he also ‘made a good interception in his own box’ that kept the score 1-0 earlier on in the game.

Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, the North Londoners didn’t register him in their Europa League squad this season, so he’ll have to hope his performance was enough to earn him some minutes in the league.

However, it wasn’t just the former Middlesbrough ace that dug Postecoglou out of a vast hole of his own making, as one of Sunday’s villains, Brennan Johnson, scored the 92nd-minute winner to avoid a penalty shootout.

The Welshman was hounded by pundits and fans after his disappointing display against Arsenal over the weekend, and truth be told, he wasn’t spectacular for much of the game yesterday after coming on to replace Wilson Odobert in the 18th minute.

That doesn’t matter, though, as when his opportunity came in the dying embers of the game, he took it and, in the process, may well have earned another start against Brentford on Saturday.

However, while fans should celebrate the goals and the goalscorers, it was still a turgid performance from the team overall, and one player in particular proved without a doubt that he cannot start anymore.

Timo Werner's game in numbers

Yes, the player in question is, of course, German attacker Timo Werner, who may well have put in his worst Spurs performance to date last night.

The former Chelsea ace consistently made the wrong choices when in possession, overhit passes and fluffed his lines, and had Spence and Johnson not won the game, he would likely have been public enemy number one among the fans.

Unsurprisingly, Gold was equally unimpressed with the 28-year-old and gave him just a 2/10 in his match ratings, writing that ‘he was dreadful and offered nothing’ in attack, and perhaps most damming of all, ‘had Spurs played on with 10 men his absence probably wouldn’t have been noticed.’

Minutes

74′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (0)

Touches

47

Passing Accuracy

26/31 (84%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (0)

Duels (Won)

5 (1)

Lost Possession

14

Offsides

1

Errors Leading to a Shot

1

It may sound harsh, but it’s not an unfair assessment, and his statistics from the match back it up. In his 74 minutes of action, he failed to complete any of his three dribbles, took 47 touches – ten fewer than Forster – maintained a passing accuracy of just 84%, misplaced his three crosses, lost four of five duels, lost possession 14 times, was offside once, and made one error that led to a shot.

Ultimately, it was a match that few, if any, fans would have enjoyed watching, and while Spence and Johnson made a claim to start the next game, Werner certainly did not.

Spurs could axe Johnson by unleashing "outstanding" academy teen instead

The incredible youngster could be something quite special.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 17, 2024

Seamer suffers back problem after playing role in Fire’s opening two victories

Matt Roller05-Aug-2021Welsh Fire’s availability issues in the men’s Hundred have been compounded with Jake Ball ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a back injury.Fire were already without Liam Plunkett (injured), Lungi Ngidi (personal reasons) and Jonny Bairstow (Test duty), and will now have to cope without their main death bowler for the rest of the competition.Ball limped off with an injury during Fire’s defeat against Manchester Originals on Saturday after bowling only 10 balls, and missed their loss against Oval Invincibles on Monday following a scan. He has now been replaced by his Nottinghamshire team-mate Luke Fletcher in the squad, who will be available for selection against Trent Rockets on Friday.Related

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Morgan: 'In clinical parts of the game, we didn't finish the job'

Stirling replaces injured Conway at Southern Brave

Ball has suffered badly from back injuries over the last three years, and has been limited to four first-class appearances since the start of the 2019 season. He was the leading wicket-taker in last summer’s Vitality Blast and has been in several England squads in the last year.Fletcher was a £30,000 pick by Trent Rockets in the October 2019 draft, but was released ahead of the 2021 re-draft after making only four appearances in the Blast last summer. He took 12 wickets in 12 games for Notts this year, and while he was expensive in the Powerplay and the middle overs, he conceded just 120 runs from his 16 overs at the death.Fire started the men’s competition with back-to-back wins but have lost both of the two games they have played since Bairstow’s departure to link up with the England squad at Trent Bridge. Ben Duckett, their stand-in captain, said after their defeat at The Oval: “It’s not ideal and if you lose big names it’s obviously going to hurt you, but we believe we’ve got the squad to come in and cover for that.”Fire have already brought in Matt Milnes – who dismissed Jason Roy with his first ball in the Hundred on Monday night – and Graeme White to cover for their absentees, while Jimmy Neesham’s contract has been extended.