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Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is fast earning plenty of admirers for his work at N17 so far, and some players have gone up another level since his arrival.

Thomas Frank slowly transforming Tottenham after Ange Postecoglou era

Ange Postecoglou, despite a torrid 24/25 season in the Premier League, had his own loyal section of Spurs supporters after the Australian helped to end Spurs’ 17-year wait for a major trophy last season.

Postecoglou also endeared himself to members of the Lilywhites fanbase with his personality, memorable quotes and ‘no-nonsense’ demanour, whilst those within the Spurs squad appeared to have a very strong relationship with Frank’s predecessor, including Yves Bissouma, who described the tactician as a father figure.

The likes of Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke, Son Heung-min, Guglielmo Vicario and more posted emotional tributes to Postecoglou after ex-chairman Daniel Levy and the board made the decision to part company, but since his departure, Frank has begun to steadily transform Tottenham.

Tottenham’s fragility defensively was a key complaint of Postecoglou’s tenure, and there is little denying that the north Londoners look far more assured in that respect under Frank.

Spurs have conceded just six goals in Frank’s first nine games in all competitions, and two of them came against European champions PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final.

Bar a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth, Tottenham have displayed real character when under the cosh too — mounting comebacks in each of their last two Premier League games against Brighton and Wolves.

Their very convincing 2-0 win away to Man City, where summer signing Joao Palhinha dominated the midfield, and 3-0 trouncing of London rivals West Ham were only overshadowed by the performances of some star players.

Barcelona are still regretting their botched deal for Lucas Bergvall, according to reports in Spain, with the midfield sensation, Palhinha, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Pape Sarr and others standing out among Tottenham’s best-performers of the season thus far.

A special nod also must go to Richarlison, who struggled with injuries under Postecoglou last season but has since found a new lease of life.

The Brazil international boasts three goals and an assist from his opening six league matches, replacing the injured Solanke with real aplomb, but Spurs chiefs may soon need to make a key call about his future.

The 28-year-old’s contract expires in 2027, meaning that Tottenham could be forced to sell on the cheap unless they agree an extension.

Richarlison could join Crystal Palace from Tottenham in £20m deal

As per BolaVip and journalist Alexsander Vieira, as relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are seen as a realistic destination for Richarlison if Spurs opt to sell — and the striker could go for around £20-25 million.

A return home to Flamengo is also touted, but Palace are seen as the likelier option, with Richarlison also having one eye on a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup next year.

Frank has already made his stance on Richarlison crystal clear, and the player himself has apparently expressed his commitment to Spurs.

However, given Richarlison’s contract situation, CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and the new-look Spurs boardroom could take the decision out of both their hands.

Antonio Conte was left fuming after Napoli’s 1-0 win over Lecce, hitting back at 'absurd' claims that Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term injury could somehow help his team. The Italian coach was frustrated by recent talk in the media, saying he has had enough of theories about injuries to veteran players like De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

• Napoli grind out tough win despite De Bruyne’s absence

  Napoli had to dig deep to claim all three points against a resilient Lecce side, securing a 1-0 win at the Via del Mare. It wasn’t their most convincing display, but Conte’s men did enough to hold their lead and stay top of Serie A. It was a crucial win for the Gli Azzurri, who went into the game without De Bruyne. The Belgian remains sidelined with a serious thigh injury, which is expected to keep him out of action until at least 2026.

  The former Manchester City midfielder suffered a serious thigh injury after scoring from the penalty spot against Inter. The 34-year-old had been central to Napoli’s attacking rhythm since joining from City this summer, contributing four goals and two assists in 11 appearances across all competitions.

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  Conte hits back at 'absurd' talk of advantage

  Conte couldn’t hide his frustration over recent media chatter from a few analysts suggesting that Napoli might benefit from an injury to a player of De Bruyne’s calibre. 

  "Let's not forget this start to the season, where we're making a virtue of necessity," the Italian said after Napoli's win on Tuesday. "Key players are getting injured, there's been talk of major reinforcements, and meanwhile we've lost Lukaku and now De Bruyne too. Some said we benefited from that, and I find that absurd.

  "I remember the headlines about his signing [De Bruyne] for Napoli, which was outpacing their rivals. Now, some dare say [his injury] could be an advantage, it's fantastic: I give up, I've heard all sorts of things. Lukaku has disappeared from the radar, now De Bruyne's absence is an advantage: it's Oscar-worthy.

  "Let's look at the goalkeepers: the third keeper broke, then [Alex] Meret, and some were wondering why we also brought in [Vanja] Milinkovic-Savic, while now he's the only one left. Maybe we need to keep quiet sometimes, because some people have a slightly longer view, and in the end, the facts prove them right."

  Despite Conte’s defence, his relationship with De Bruyne didn't get off to a positive start. The coach had previously warned the Belgian about controlling his emotions after the midfielder reacted angrily to being substituted during a 2-1 loss to AC Milan last month.

• Napoli suffer another injury scare

  Meanwhile, Napoli’s injury troubles continue to pile up. The team is already without De Bruyne, Lukaku and goalkeeper Meret, while Noa Lang provided another big scare by picking up a knock against Lecce. Conte, however, played down the concern after the match. 

  "Lang had two knocks in the same area, I think it's a stiffening of the muscle, but taking knees in the same area isn't easy. It's not a broken bone. I'm also happy for him, as it was his first game as a starter. We have to involve everyone in a difficult situation; we must never lack spirit," he added.

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  Injury-riddled Napoli need to dig deep to defend Serie A title

  Napoli’s title defence faces its biggest challenge yet without De Bruyne leading the pack. The Belgian’s injury has left a massive hole in Conte’s plans, forcing the coach to rely on squad depth to keep their momentum going. They will next face Como, who have been in fine form this season, before facing Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

  For now, Napoli can enjoy being alone at the top of the Serie A table, while waiting to see how Roma fare against Parma later tonight. But with several key players sidelined, the Italian manager knows his side will have to dig deep to stay ahead in the race.

For the past three seasons, Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker has been regarded as one of the better all-around players in the game. For instance, Tucker, Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts and José Ramírez are the only active players to hit 30 homers and steal 25 bases in a season while striking out fewer than 100 times. He also plays excellent defense.

But the idea of Tucker as a potential home run champion? That’s a new one.

With 13 home runs—including a tear of eight in his past 15 games—Tucker leads the American League. What we’re seeing is someone who at age 27 is not just on a hot streak but elevating his game to a new power level as he gets stronger and learns how to drive the baseball in the air with topspin. His .596 slugging percentage and league-leading .997 OPS would be career bests.

Just as Adrián González, Shawn Green and Tino Martinez were, Tucker is an excellent left-handed hitter who is growing into power with experience and added muscle. His ground balls and line drives are turning into doubles and homers. Tucker is hitting fly balls at a career-high 43.3% rate. Only Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy have a higher flyball rate. Last year Tucker ranked 23rd (32.7%). Only Bellinger and Edouard Julien have boosted their flyball rate more than Tucker has in 2024.

How has he done it? Rotation, posture, wrist position and extension.

Here are two swings to compare from Tucker, both on fastballs down the middle. The first swing is from last year. It resulted in a ground ball out.

Arsenal have been told by officials that a highly-rated France international could be available to sign in the near future, with the player attracting interest from Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Man City too.

Andrea Berta seals new William Saliba contract in boost for Arsenal

As first revealed by David Ornstein, star defender William Saliba has agreed to sign a new Arsenal deal which will keep him at the club until 2030.

This follows serious interest from Xabi Alonso’s Real, who are in the market for a world-class centre-back next summer, and Saliba’s contract was due to expire in just under two years.

Mikel Arteta was faced with a looming threat of losing the 24-year-old either next year — for a fee mooted to be around £70 million (El Desmarque) — or the summer of 2027 for nothing.

However, with Saliba now poised to pen a new long-term extension, all doubts surrounding his future have been removed. As a result, Arteta is set to benefit from having one of Europe’s best central defensive partnerships in the Frenchman and Gabriel – who also signed a new contract in the summer – for years to come.

Some reports have suggested that the ex-St Etienne star has been given a bumper pay rise to around £300,000-per-week — which would make him Arsenal’s highest earner above the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

New sporting director Andrea Berta was apparently key in securing Saliba’s future, with the Italian seriously upping the ante in talks since his appointment in March.

Interestingly, the ever-present Saliba could even help Arsenal secure a 2026 summer signing.

Agents tell Arsenal they could sign Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate

After missing out on Saliba, Real are likely to seriously pursue Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate, who’s available for nothing next year as things stand.

Since joining the Reds for just £36 million in 2021, Konate has formed an excellent partnership with Virgil van Dijk, but Arne Slot faces the prospect of losing him at the end of this season.

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, while Real are deemed top contenders for his signature, agents have now told Arsenal that they could sign Konate too, with his intermediaries reaching out to suitors as they prepare for the possibility of an Anfield exit.

As Konate’s camp refuse to rule out a move to one of Liverpool’s Premier League rivals, Arteta’s side already have a secret weapon.

William Saliba is like a "brother" to Ibrahima Konate

Saliba may well push the case of Arsenal to Konate given their friendship, with the 26-year-old already describing Arsenal’s star as like a “brother” to him despite their Premier League title rivalry.

The “sensational” defender would be a snip for Arsenal on a free transfer, but a lot could depend on whether Berta opts to trigger Piero Hincapie’s £45 million option to buy.

The Ecuadorian has been struggling with a groin problem, and as a result, hasn’t yet got a consistent run in Arteta’s team.

Juventus have confirmed the appointment of Luciano Spalletti following Igor Tudor's dismissal earlier this week. Tudor succeeded Thiago Motta in Turin in March and was handed a three-year contract after guiding Juventus to the Champions League. Juventus currently sit seventh in Serie A following their midweek 3-1 win over Udinese, though they are just three points behind rivals Inter in third.

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  Tudor out and Spalletti in at Juventus

  Tudor oversaw a disappointing eight-game winless run in all competitions in the final weeks of his time in charge of Juventus. In addition, the Old Lady were mired on a four-goal goalless streak as the Serie A powerhouse struggled in the opening weeks of the season.

  Massimo Brambilla was placed in interim charge following Tudor's exit and the reserve team boss coached Juventus to a 3-1 win over Udinese in midweek as goals from Dusan Vlahovic, Federico Gatti and Kenan Yildiz saw the Italian giants end their winless spell in style.

  Juventus will look to make it back-to-back wins when they make the trip to Cremonese at the weekend, and will do so with Spalletti in charge after the Italian return to management. The 66-year-old had been out of work since leaving his role as Italy head coach in June.

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• 'Welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach'

  "Luciano Spalletti is the new head coach of Juventus, signing an agreement with the Club until June 30, 2026," a statement read on the club's official website.

  "We are delighted to welcome a coach with such expertise and experience to the Bianconeri family: welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach!"

  The role is Spalletti's first in club football since he left Napoli in 2023 having replaced Gennaro Gattuso in 2021. Spalletti guided the Naples powerhouse to a first Scudetto since 1990 in his second, and final, season at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona helm.

  In addition, the experienced Italian has also coach Inter, Roma – twice – Udinese, and in Russia, where he was head coach of Zenit St Petersburg between 2009 and 2014.

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  Major clause in Spalletti contract – revealed

  While Spalletti has put pen to paper on a deal with the Old Lady until the end of the season, there is reportedly a major clause in his contract. Said clause stipulates that his contract will be automatically renewed should Juventus qualify for the Champions League.

  Juventus are currently three points off third-placed Inter and six behind league leaders and former side Napoli, who are currently managed by Antonio Conte. Spalletti's first game in charge will come at the Giovanni Zini, where Juventus take on Cremonese.

  Davide Nicola's side claimed just their third league win of the season in midweek as a Federico Bonazzoli brace saw ease to a 2-0 win at Genoa. The result leaves Cremonese just one point and one place behind Saturday's opponents Juventus.

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• Spalletti has tough start to life in Turin

  Spalletti makes his home bow against Sporting in the Champions League next week and faces a real baptism of fire as Juventus welcome rivals Torino to the Juventus Stadium for the Turin Derby in the final round of games before the international break. Juventus then travel to rivals Fiorentina after the domestic hiatus as Spalletti looks to rescue the Old Lady's stuttering season.

  Spalletti returns to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in early December as the former Italy boss gears up to take on former employers Napoli, while his first Derby d'Italia in the Juventus dugout takes place in mid-February.

  It remains to be seen whether Spalletti will continue with the three-man backline that Juventus have favoured this season. It was his go-to setup for the Azzurri during his brief stint as Italy boss and one that the Turin giants have used in all but one of nine league matches.

  Juventus have also used the setup in all three Champions League matches this season. Spalletti's side have made a sub-par start to the competition having fought back valiantly to rescue a point in an entertaining 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund last month. However, Juventus followed that up with another stalemate as they conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Villarreal and then lost 1-0 to Real Madrid.

  They have a fairly navigable run of European games between now and January as they face Sporting, Bodoe/Glimt, Pafos, Benfica and Monaco in the coming months.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has confirmed winger Daniel James’ ankle injury will rule him out for up to six weeks.

James, who has recently struggled with a core muscle injury which kept him out of last week’s home draw against Bournemouth, has turned an ankle in training and will be sidelined until November.

The Wales winger will miss Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Tottenham at Elland Road and both his country’s upcoming matches against England at Wembley and the World Cup qualifier against Belgium.

Farke said: “Daniel James will be out for a few weeks, he’s rolled his ankle sadly in training.

“The doctors say he’s likely out four to six weeks so realistically we expect him back just after the November international break.

“If he would be back before it would be a bonus and a surprise. It’s not great news.”

Gnonto and Gray could also miss Spurs

Farke, whose side currently sit 12th in the Premier League, also revealed Willy Gnonto has not yet recovered from a calf injury which has kept him out of the last two matches.

Teenager Harry Gray will also miss out against older brother Archie’s Tottenham after sustaining a hip flexor injury.

Farke can drop Aaronson by starting "dynamite" Leeds star & it's not Gnonto

Leeds United can take Brenden Aaronson out of the XI by bringing this star into the team.

By
Dan Emery

Mar 29, 2025

On the plus side, goalkeeper Lucas Perri has returned to training following a thigh problem, although the Brazilian summer signing will not be included in Farke’s squad this weekend.

Tottenham made the long trip to the Arctic circle in the Champions League on Tuesday night, fighting back to draw 2-2 against Bodo/Glimt, but Farke does not think this will have a bearing on Saturday’s encounter at Elland Road.

The German added: “I don’t think so because nowadays you don’t travel with a bicycle or on a ship or a coach. They have their private jets, so it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.

“It’s not like in my generation when the travel was horrendous. They have chefs around.

“But it could be tricky sometimes, say if it was a Wednesday night (match) and then early Saturday kick-off.

“From Tuesday, I wouldn’t expect anything (adverse) and I also expect he will bring some fresh legs on the pitch.”

Tottenham are fourth in the table having lost one of their eight league matches this season and head to Leeds after drawing their previous two, against Brighton and Wolves.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has urged patience with Alexander Isak as the striker returns to full training ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City. The £125 million record signing has missed four games with a groin injury, but Slot insists the Swedish forward needs "time" to regain match sharpness after a frustrating stop-start beginning to life at Anfield.

• Isak could be available for Man City clash

  Isak is set to return to Liverpool training after three weeks on the sidelines as Slot’s side prepare for a crucial trip to Manchester City this weekend. The Swedish forward, who sustained an adductor injury during last month’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, has not featured since and has spent the past fortnight undergoing a personalised rehabilitation programme. Liverpool’s medical team confirmed that Isak is now back in full training, though his availability for the City game will depend on how he responds over the next 48 hours.

  The 26-year-old’s return is a timely boost for Slot during a demanding stretch of fixtures. Isak’s absence has coincided with a dip in Liverpool’s attacking efficiency, forcing the Reds to rely on wide Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo to shoulder the goalscoring burden.

  However, Isak’s fitness woes have become a recurring theme since his blockbuster summer move from Newcastle United. After missing most of pre-season due to transfer complications, he has struggled to find rhythm or consistency in Slot’s system. The Liverpool manager has therefore stressed the importance of easing his record signing back carefully, with no desire to risk a relapse ahead of a congested winter schedule.

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  Slot not putting pressure on record signing

  Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot confirmed Isak’s return to team training and cautioned against expecting an immediate impact. "He will train for the first time today with the team again, after being three weeks out," Slot said. "I know that I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended, so now it’s time for us to see where he is. But I have to come back to those words, because if you are only three weeks with the rehab, that doesn’t bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago."

  Praising Liverpool’s medical staff for their work behind the scenes, Slot continued: "Although our rehab team is doing an incredible job, you cannot compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team. As much as we try to replicate it, that’s simply not possible. So, again I have to say, give him some time."

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  Massive fee on Isak's mind?

  Isak’s return comes amid mounting scrutiny over his early struggles since completing a £125 million ($164m) switch from Newcastle in the summer, a move that made him the most expensive player in British football history. The transfer saga dominated headlines throughout pre-season, with reports claiming the forward pushed to force through the deal, leading to tension with his former club. As a result, Isak began his Liverpool career behind schedule, lacking match fitness and sharpness during his first few weeks under Slot.

  That slow start has been compounded by injuries. The striker has missed multiple fixtures due to persistent muscle problems, preventing him from developing chemistry with key teammates like Salah, Gakpo, and Ekitike. His current record – one goal and one assist in eight appearances – stands in stark contrast to his prolific spell at Newcastle, where he scored 54 goals in 86 league games.

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• Reds face fellow title outsiders at Etihad Stadium

  Liverpool’s upcoming clash with Manchester City will provide the first major test of Slot’s injury management approach. While Isak is expected to be included in the travelling squad, the likelihood is that he will begin on the bench with Ekitike starting instead. Slot and his medical staff will make a late decision after assessing Isak’s reaction to full training, but the emphasis remains on caution rather than risk.

If the Atlanta Braves make the playoffs this season, they will head into October baseball without star third baseman Austin Riley.

Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that a CT scan of Riley's broken hand on Monday concluded that it won't heal fast enough to allow him to contribute in the postseason.

Riley suffered the injury by getting hit by a pitch in the Braves' 3–1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 18. He was placed on the 15-day injured list the following day and initially hoped to be back for the Braves' playoff run.

Riley, a two-time All-Star, batted .256/.322/.461 with 19 homers and 56 RBIs in 110 games this season.

Entering Tuesday's slate of games, Atlanta (85–71) sits 1.5 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks (87–70) for the third and final National League wild-card spot. The Braves are set to begin a three-game series Tuesday at Truist Park against the New York Mets, who are two games ahead of Atlanta in the wild-card race.

The Braves have made the playoffs in six straight seasons dating back to 2018, winning the NL East crown each year. The Philadelphia Phillies officially put an end to the Braves' divisional reign by clinching the NL East title on Monday night.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are riding high at the top of the Premier League table, and supporters have been told one player doesn’t get the praise he deserves.

Arsenal's set-piece kings on course to win the Premier League

Their explosive start has not just positioned them as Premier League title favourites, but also as the current kings of set pieces — a deadly weapon that’s wreaking havoc on opposition sides domestically and in Europe.

Arsenal have scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other top-flight side so far (11), with star defender Gabriel at the heart of it with four contributions to those strikes as the Gunners make their best weapon known.

Corners, free kicks and even throw-ins have become golden scoring opportunities, as Arsenal turn these situations into major results with surgical precision.

Their aerial strength, combined with clever routines, has made them a nightmare for defenders who can’t afford to lose focus for even a moment.

However, at the heart of Arsenal’s success is their impenetrable defence which has conceded the joint-fewest goals, not only in the Premier League, but across Europe’s top leagues (3), with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma also conceding just three.

The arrival of no-nonsense new backroom coach Gabriel Heinze is viewed as a real contributor to Arsenal’s increasingly water-tight backline, which has somehow become even more solid, despite already leaking the fewest league goals of any Premier League side in each of the last two seasons.

David Raya is in line for this third-successive Golden Glove award, and only a complete disaster in terms of injuries to key defenders would disrupt Arteta’s side right now.

That being said, even when William Saliba was briefly forced out of the side through injury, Cristhian Mosquera performed exceptionally well next to Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, and fellow summer signing Piero Hincapie is also on hand to step in.

Given their imperiousness at the back, Viktor Gyokeres has been somewhat overshadowed.

The Swede, who was brought in to take the mantle of Arsenal’s new prolific number nine, got off to a flying start but went seven games without a goal before his much-needed brace against Atlético Madrid last week.

Gyokeres has attracted some criticism for his fairly underwhelming return so far, but journalist Graeme Bailey insists that he’s actually a pretty underrated new member of the team.

Viktor Gyokeres adds extra element to Arsenal that people don't see

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey says that Gyokeres brings an “extra element” to Arsenal that “people don’t really see”.

Interestingly, this thought is echoed by Arteta, who says that Gyokeres makes Arsenal a much more “unpredictable” side.

His in-game play is there for all to see, and the former Sporting CP star has already proved a handful for defenders since his blockbuster summer switch.

Now, Gyokeres just needs to add more goals, then the critics will soon be silenced.

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea that they are 'lucky' to have a player like Estevao Willian after the teenager dazzled with a goal in the Selecao's 2-0 win over Senegal in an international friendly on Saturday. The Blues wonderkid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro were on target as the five-time world champions secured the victory.

• Estevao stars in Brazil victory

  Brazil handed Senegal their first defeat in over two years as they beat the African giants 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Estevao and Casemiro. United's star forward Matheus Cunha hit the woodwork twice before Estevao broke the deadlock around the half-hour mark.

  Casemiro then doubled his team's lead minutes later as he finished off a free-kick from Rodrygo. It was a stellar performance from the five-time world champions, who have now won four out of the six games they played under Ancelotti. The match also witnessed some heated moments as Arsenal's Gabriel and Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr were forced off with injuries ahead of next week's north London derby. 

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  Ancelotti sends message to Chelsea fans

  After the game, Selecao boss Ancelotti lavished praise on Estevao for yet another impressive outing with the national team as he told reporters: "Estevao has incredible amount of talent. It’s a surprise this level at his age. He’s good at finishing, has a lot of magic… and he works very hard. I can say this: with Estevao, Brazil have a guaranteed future."

  The Italian coach added: "He’s a very talented player. He is able to show every game, in Chelsea too, and he doesn’t need a lot of minutes to show his quality. He can play five minutes and he can show his quality. I think the Brazil national team is really lucky to have him, and also Chelsea."

• Ancelotti apologises to Arsenal

  Following Gabriel's injury, which came as a major blow for Arsenal, Ancelotti apologised to the club's fans as he said of the issue: "Bad? I don't know, he had a problem on his adductor, the medical staff have to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When players have an injury, I hope they can recover well and soon." 

  The Brazilian centre-back has displayed stellar form for the Gunners in the 2025-26 campaign, scoring two goals in all competitions. Such is the former Lille defender’s importance to the Gunners that he has featured in all 17 of their games this season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side rise to the Premier League summit in addition to being joint-leaders in the Champions League standings.

  Arteta would hope that Gabriel's injury is not too serious and he recovers in the remaining few days of the international break and returns to action by November 23 when the Gunners face Spurs in the north London derby. 

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  How is it going for Estevao?

  Estevao has appeared in 16 matches across all competitions for the Blues, although his game time has been limited as Enzo Maresca remains sceptical of giving the teenager too much exposure. The Chelsea coach, however, has always been full of praise for the youngster, as he said earlier this season: "It’s exciting to see him. The good thing about Estevao, sometimes with young players we are worried, because they have one good game and they think they are already [at the] top. Estavao, he’s playing well but he’s polite, he’s humble, he wants to learn. I think his family are also doing a big job there, so we are very happy not only with the way he’s performing. But he’s a nice boy, a good boy.

  "In the Premier League he needs a little bit more time. I think he’s more [of a] winger, but he’s going to finish playing inside the pitch, in the pockets. For me, it’s very, very similar to Cole [Palmer]. I had Cole at the same age as Estevao at [Manchester] City Under-23 and they are very similar. Cole started playing wide because he needed a bit [more] physicality; now he’s playing inside. And Estevao, they are quite similar, now he’s playing wide but in the future I think he’s more of an inside player."