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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and his ‘scattergun’ approach to the transfer window continues, with a fresh report claiming that discussions are now being held over a marquee Serie A star.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 19, 2025

Berta operates a different transfer strategy to his predecessor, Edu. Rather than identifying one key target to seriously pursue, the Italian is known to work on numerous deals simultaneously before landing on the best one for a key position.

“The best way of describing it is that Andrea Berta’s approach is different to Edu. If he was going to a party, he would lay out three or four outfits, try them all on and finally decide what to wear,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on talkSPORT recently.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)	Money on new signings
19/20 – winter	£0
20/21 – summer	£81.5m
20/21 – winter	£900k
21/22 – summer	£156.8m
21/22 – winter	£1.8m
22/23 – summer	£121.5m
22/23 – winter	£59m
23/24 – summer	£208m
23/24 – winter	£0
24/25 – summer	£101.5m
24/25 – winter	£0

“With this race for a number nine, what’s happening is that both deals, for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, are being advanced or ‘tried on’ before a bid is made. Andrea Berta is out in the market, effectively lining up both deals, whereas Edu tended to pick one and be very meticulous, and then discreetly try and get it over the line, often with a series of bids.

“It was either a very smart tactic because Arsenal had confidence that they would get that man, or it dragged on, and we got more summer sagas. We won’t see that with Andrea Berta.”

This was echoed by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg last month, who revealed that Berta held talks over “numerous” transfer targets for the wide area.

Recent reports from Turkey state that one of the many wingers on Berta’s Arsenal radar is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

Yildiz was said to have emerged as a “prime” Arsenal target recently, and a further update has now come to light on their interest.

Arsenal in discussions with Juventus over signing Kenan Yildiz

As per news outlet Juve FC, the Turkey international commands a valuation of around £85 million, following an excellent 2024/2025 campaign where he finished the Serie A campaign as the Old Lady’s best-performer by average match rating, according to WhoScored.

It’s also reported that Arsenal have entered discussions with Juventus over signing Yildiz, despite their unwillingness to sell the 20-year-old, as they also try to tie him down with a new deal which could run until 2031.

Juve view Yildiz as a future star and cornerstone of Igor Tudor’s team, while the player himself isn’t exactly chomping at the bit to leave either, despite some contact made with his “close” circle.

The Turk is currently starring at the Club World Cup for Juve, scoring in their 5-0 win over Al Ain, and with £97 million worth of prize money on offer to the victors, Tudor won’t want to lose one of his star men before the tournament ends.

India turn their attention to the Super Eight stage of the tournament now where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2024Match abandoned The T20 World Cup 2024 game between India and Canada was called off due to wet outfield. There wasn’t a lot of rain on the day – a passing drizzle – but the ground at Lauderhill had taken enough water on Friday when USA and Ireland had to settle for a point each as well for it to still be unfit for play.There were two inspections by the umpires and the groundstaff worked hard for over three hours but nothing could be done to convince the officials that the outfield was safe enough.India turn their attention to the Super Eight stage of the tournament now where they will face Afghanistan on Thursday. Canada’s campaign, though, has come to an end, but it was a memorable one where they upset Ireland and can also look forward to an improved chance of making the 2026 T20 World Cup. Only one of the participating teams in the Americas regional qualifiers can go through to the World Cup. But now that USA are already through, Canada stand a stronger chance making it through the pathway.Lauderhill is meant to host one more match at this T20 World Cup – Ireland vs Pakistan on Sunday. Both teams have already been eliminated from the tournament. There is forecast for rain in the morning which may once again affect the cricket.

In recent days reports have emerged that clubs around Europe have already been left stunned by the swift and aggressive approach Arsenal are taking to the transfer window under Andrea Berta.

For those who support the club, this should be music to their ears. The January window was a slow and laboured affair, one that ultimately ended without a single incoming. Rewind to last summer and while faces like David Raya, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori all arrived, a centre forward continued to elude them.

So, what does this summer have in store? Berta needs a striker. Mikel Arteta needs a striker. Arsenal need a striker. Not signing one would be disastrous.

Arsenal's striker shortlist this summer

Pick one of the top strikers in European football and it’s likely the Gunners will have been linked with them.

The dream signing, obviously, is Alexander Isak but if Newcastle secure Champions League football, the Swede feels even more untouchable than he already is.

So, alternatives will be required and in long-term target Benjamin Sesko, they may find their man. Reports from David Ornstein last week indicated that they have ‘done a lot of work’ on potentially signing the Slovenian.

But, Berta’s pick would appear to be another Swede in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, a man possessed in front of goal over the last two seasons.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Reports over the last week or so have suggested that Arsenal are locked in talks to sign the forward from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP, but fresh news now indicates a deal is moving closer to completion.

One reporter in France claims that ‘Gyokeres and Arsenal have reached full agreement’ over personal terms and that the ‘Sporting striker wants to join Arsenal’ this summer.

Exciting news indeed. So, what could he offer besides goals?

How Viktor Gyokeres compares to Alexander Isak

In the words of data analyst Spencer Mossman, Gyokeres is certainly “the best finisher in the world” at the moment.

It’s hard to dispute that claim, especially considering the remarkable form the 26-year-old has been in since trading Coventry City of England’s second-tier for the Portuguese top-flight.

In that final campaign with Coventry, the hulking centre-forward found the net on 22 occasions and once departing, he has truly exploded, scoring 43 goals in 50 outings last term and registering a jaw-dropping 53 goals in 51 outings throughout 2024/25.

It is hardly a surprise to see that he is leading the race for the European Golden Boot. He’s streets ahead of Isak for goal involvements, which rather says it all.

The Toon forward has been seriously impressive in his own right but boasts a meagre haul of 27 goals in all competitions in comparison. Impressive, of course, but this is a man who may also cost in the region of £150m. In Gyokeres, Arsenal would be getting more bang for their buck, so to speak.

Arsenal need a goalscorer, however, and there is an argument to suggest that they could be getting a more complete package here.

Gyokeres vs Isak in 2024/25

Metric (per 90 mins)

Gyokeres

Isak

Shots

4.07

3.11

Passes completed

16.2

16.7

Pass success %

71%

74%

Key passes

1.96

1.39

Progressive passes

2.18

2.84

Shot-creating actions

4.90

3.07

Successful take-ons

1.92

1.42

Progressive carries

4.20

2.77

Aerial duels won

1.15

0.88

Stats via FBRef.

One thing that’s necessary to state is that Isak is playing in a better league, but even so, some of the numbers Gyokeres is registering in Iberia are simply off the charts.

While he’s scoring more than one goal per game, he’s proving to be more creative than Isak – although only just – he carries the ball more regularly and he’s more likely to win you an aerial duel. That final statistic could be key considering what Arteta has asked of the likes of Kai Havertz and Merino as his central strikers.

That said, data analyst Ben Mattinson has shared what he describes as a few “red flags”.

A heavy first touch and his inability to turn on a dime could well be turn-offs, particularly considering the explosiveness of Isak, but first and foremost, Arsenal need goals.

Gyokeres has provided that in abundance over the last few years and if his fellow Swede turns out to be off the table, he could well be Arsenal’s very own Isak anyway; a proven goalscorer set to take the Premier League by storm.

Related Arteta has struck gold on Arsenal star worth millions more than Gyokeres

The experienced international will have a significant role to play for Arsenal next season.

Posts 2 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 18, 2025

It’s hard to think of too many positives from this season for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been diabolically bad in the Premier League and crashed out of both domestic cup competitions, leaving their campaign hinging on winning the Europa League.

With that said, there has been a shimmer of hope to come out of the club’s disastrous season, which has been the development of their youngsters like Mikey Moore, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

It looks like the Lilywhites want to add to their array of talented prospects by signing Southampton’s Tyler Dibling in the summer as well, but they might be able to save millions by trusting another of Postecoglou’s young signings.

The latest on Dibling to Spurs

Tottenham’s interest in Dibling has been long-established now, with reports on the topic emerging as far back as October last year.

However, things picked up in the winter transfer window and have not quieted down since, with reports from late last month claiming that the club were doing the ‘groundwork’ necessary to facilitate a possible move in the summer.

However, it could prove challenging to get their man once the window reopens, as reports from earlier this week revealed that Manchester United and Chelsea are also keen to land the exciting prospect.

On top of that, it could prove an expensive deal, as the same report claimed that it would require a fee of around €40m to get him out of Southampton, which is about £35m, and could be seen as too dear by some for a player who’s scored two goals and provided one assist in 27 Premier League games this season.

Moreover, if the Red Devils and Pensioners are genuinely interested in signing the 19-year-old, there is every chance that the price will increase further.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

In all, while Dibling is an undeniably exciting prospect, it might not be in Spurs’ best interest to splash the cash on him when they need more first-team-ready stars and when they already have another promising winger coming back to the team next season.

The Ange signing who could save Spurs millions

So, with Brennan Johnson still finding the back of the net on a somewhat regular basis, it seems likely that if Dibling is signed in the summer, he’d be used as a rotation option off the right, which seems unnecessary when Yang Min-Hyeok will be back in North London next season.

The North Londoners signed the South Korean winger last summer from Gangwon FC, but due to the K League running from February to November, he didn’t move to England until the end of last year.

It’s easy to see why his team wanted to keep him in South Korea for their entire campaign, as even though he was just 17 at the start, he was incredibly important.

Team

Gangwon

QPR

Appearances

38

10

Minutes

3050′

448′

Goals

12

1

Assists

6

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.20

Minutes per Goal Involvement

169.44′

224′

For example, he racked up a seriously impressive haul of 12 goals and six assists in just 38 appearances, totalling 3050 minutes.

That means the dynamic teenager, who analyst Joel Kim claims is blessed with “power and pace”, averaged a goal involvement every 2.11 games, or every 169.44 minutes.

After officially joining up with the North Londoners at the end of last year, the Gwangju-born gem was sent out on a short-term loan to Championship side Queens Park Rangers, where he has since impressed.

In ten appearances, five of which have been starts, the “underrated” 18-year-old, as dubbed by Kim, has scored once and provided one goal, which must’ve turned heads back home, as he won his first senior cap for South Korea in late March.

Ultimately, we are not necessarily claiming Yang is a better player than Dibling, but like the Englishman, he’s showing plenty of potential.

So, if Spurs want a backup to Johnson who could develop into something special, promoting the South Korean gem and using the money saved on another area of need seems sensible.

An Eriksen repeat: World-class Spurs star will be "interested" in leaving

The incredible international would be a massive loss for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 9, 2025

A 46-ball 90 against India restored his touch and confidence, as he reignited interest ahead of the IPL auction

Firdose Moonda11-Dec-2025Timing, as we say in cricket, is everything, and Quinton de Kock’s best T20I score in 19 innings could not have come at a more opportune moment.De Kock made his comeback for South Africa exactly two months ago but his returns in this format: 1, 23, 7, 0 and 0, were cause for concern. The question hung in the air: did he still have it to contribute at the highest level in this format? There is also the not-so-small matter of next week’s IPL auction, and he was added to the shortlist earlier this week after initially being left off, which suggests one or more franchises are interested in him. Another question: had he done anything recently enough to suggest he’d be an obvious choice?Throw in a 46-ball 90 against an attack that includes Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya into the mix and both of those have been answered with the same yes. De Kock is back, and back properly.His first big shot signalled it. Arshdeep went slightly short, got his line a little wrong as the delivery was directed down leg stump and de Kock barely had to move towards offstump to pick up and flick it over backward square for the game’s first six. He would hit five more in that area and two in the ‘V,’ for a total of seven sixes in an innings also punctuated by five fours.Related

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What stood out was the clean ball-striking, his ability to pick up the short or slower ball early and decide where he wanted to hit it and the nonchalance with which he went about the innings. Too much, maybe, as he was run out on 90 and the chance for a second century in this format was squandered, but to see de Kock show the shades of old will be reassuring, to both South Africa and the IPL franchises.So far, his trip to India has been all or nothing with a duck and 8 in the first two ODIs before a 106 in the third, which was his seventh against India. Then, he got a duck in the first T20I, to a wonderful Arshdeep ball that swung away from him as he edged behind. He grinned and bore it but inside had the same thoughts we all did. “I didn’t know what’s going on, it was all just happening,” de Kock told the host broadcasters afterwards. “I guess it’s just when I do get going, I have to just try and make it count.”Arshdeep was the first bowler he faced again in this match and with much less swing on offer in New Chandigarh than Cuttack, he was able to get his own back. As Arshdeep struggled for consistency – he bowled nine wides all told – de Kock took 27 runs off the 14 balls he faced against him, and three of those were big sixes. Was he claiming any bragging rights? Doesn’t sound like it. “The guy’s got me out plenty of times, that I know for sure,” he said.

“I just let the instincts take over and kept making sure I was in good positions. That was all it was.”Quinton de Kock

In T20Is, de Kock is the batter Arshdeep has dismissed the joint-most number of times so de Kock’s memory serves him well. It’s also against a bowler like Arshdeep that he measures himself. “I judge myself and how good my technique is under moving balls because that’s how I think I get the best out of myself,” de Kock said at the post-match press conference. “Against guys like Arshdeep and Booms (Jasprit Bumrah), you have to be strong in your positions. Otherwise, they are going to find you out. You can’t be loose.”De Kock’s footwork, use of the crease and the way he accesses the legside were all on display in this innings and it came because he didn’t think too hard about it. “I just let the instincts take over and kept making sure I was in good positions. That was all it was.”It was also about who he was up against. India is the country de Kock has enjoyed most of his white-ball success. While he puts that down to the frequency with which South Africa play them, it’s also about the desire to step up against the best. “Before my retirement, it would be hard to wake up and go play for the team again, especially when you play a series over and over where you’ve played India multiple times, home and away. Over time, I was getting sick of it. I was looking for a new challenge and I wasn’t getting it,” he said. ‘Coming back, I feel like this is actually what I missed. As everyone knows, you never know what you have until you’ve lost it. That’s kind of now coming back. I feel I can play much longer than what I thought previously.”Against India and in India, which also bodes well for next week’s auction. De Kock may well have caught the eye of the franchise that let him go, Kolkata Knight Riders, as they have retained neither him nor their other wicket-keeper opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz but they wouldn’t be the only ones looking. Mumbai Indians, whose South African wicketkeeper-opener Ryan Rickelton is not even in this South African squad and Delhi Capitals, where Faf du Plessis has opted out, may also consider de Kock for next season.

They’ve not been as dominant as the previous Australian teams, but they’ve fought hard and have found a way to win – which is as Australian as it can get

Osman Samiuddin18-Nov-2023In the simple, inarguable fact of Australia making the final of this World Cup, this has been a very Australian campaign. They have been here seven times before after all, and are arriving on the back of an eight-game winning streak. For anyone with even passing interest in this sport, this is familiar territory. Australia? Where else would you expect them to be right now?But it has been a very Australian campaign not in the way of the best-remembered Australian surges. Sure, they have won eight on the trot, but it’s not been with the aura of their dominant, flawless campaigns of 2003 or 2007. No, this run has highlighted that other Australianism, that thing that reminds you of German football teams of the past; the thing for which there absolutely must be a long German word that describes the ingrained refusal to lose a game, to never knowingly be beaten until the last wicket has been taken, ingrained so deep that it turns a loss inside out into a win.Because littered right through this winning streak are periods of extreme vulnerability punctuated by that very thing, by moments that now, in hindsight, gather together to form whatever might become that German word.Related

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Such as when Sri Lanka were cruising along at 125 for no loss in Lucknow just over a month ago. Australia were already 0-2 from their opening games, chastening defeats both, before Pat Cummins brought himself back, knocked over both openers and Sri Lanka lost 10 for 83.Or Marcus Stoinis doing likewise to Pakistan’s openers and throttling what had been an ominous start to a mammoth chase in Bengaluru in the very next game.Or, despite having one less fielder on the boundary in Dharamsala for the last over against New Zealand, conceding five wides and bowling one in the slot and one a thigh-high full toss to Jimmy Neesham, somehow scraping through to a five-run win (and Australia have rarely looked as vulnerable to conceding 19 in a last over to lose as they did in that game).Nobody needs reminding of Glenn Maxwell’s epic 201* and the circumstances from which it was forged, though do recall the moment of his dropping by Mujeeb Ur Rehman. All batters, at least one day, make opponents pay for dropping them, but somehow it never feels as cruel and excruciating as a reprieved Australian batter makes it feel – Mujeeb, Usama Mir in Bengaluru last month, and Herschelle Gibbs last century all deserve a kinder place in our hearts.You might need reminding of Adam Zampa’s last-ditch intervention in Ahmedabad against England. Australia needed to win that game but were rarely in control, until Zampa smashed a 19-ball 29, added 38 with Mitchell Starc. and turned an innings that might have folded for 250 into something 300-ish. They won that by 33.

Cummins doesn’t have the scowl or snarl of past Australian captains and neither does the team. But that only ever supplemented the aura of those great sides, it didn’t create it. That came from how good those players were and all their achievements

And how about that Josh Inglis, fairly anonymous World Cup behind him, turning up to douse the heat of a semi-final no less with an ice-cool and under-celebrated 28? In some ways that was the most Australian thing of this campaign; slightly unheralded player who didn’t start the tournament, becoming a little bit of a hero, proving that all of them are in it together, and any of them are capable of doing this.It speaks both to the strengths and weaknesses of this campaign because take them all out and they have been, as the kids might say, a pretty mid team. A collective batting average that is fourth best, a collective pace-bowling average that is fifth-best; the fifth-best batting average in the powerplay – though, importantly, the second-best strike rate; third-best batting average in the middle overs but fifth-best strike rate; fourth-best bowling average in the middle overs, the sixth-best economy; third-best bowling average at the death, fifth-best economy.In some ways, the unevenness of performance has mirrored the World Cup of their captain. More than anything, Cummins has looked a little spent. Which should not be surprising given the draining assignments he has overseen, and that only one fast bowler – Matt Henry – has bowled more overs than him in international cricket this year.Cummins brings such strong leading-man energy, though, that it’ll never not be odd seeing him come on first change (even after doing it 55 times in his 87 ODIs) and do the grunt work after the powerplay, effectively the economy class of bowling phases. Given what Josh Hazlewood and Starc bring with the new ball, though, it’s difficult to have it any other way. But it adds to the impression that this format hasn’t always brought us the best of Cummins.2:34

Cummins: Have to be brave with variations in India

Instead, like his team he has stepped up in the space of these small, critical moments. The double-strike against Sri Lanka (and the castling of Kusal Perera was a thrilling reminder of his quality), the unbeaten 12 in the chase against Afghanistan, and the catch of Quinton de Kock in the semi-final, part of a fierce Australian fielding performance in the powerplay. If anything, in a strange, understated way these little bits have added to his status as leader.He doesn’t have the scowl or snarl of past Australian captains and neither does the team. But that only ever supplemented the aura of those great sides, it didn’t create it. That came from how good those players were and all their achievements. As well, of course, as that Australianness, however ill-defined it remains. That is true and alive in this squad, seven of whom, remember, have won an ODI World Cup.”Yeah, I think with experience, and fortunately some of that experience is playing in World Cups where we’ve been dominant,” Cummins said. “We’ve won before. We’ve had to fight for every win, but we’ve found a way to win. And different players have stood up at different times. So, I think taking that confidence, knowing that we don’t have to be at our absolute best to challenge any team we can find a way through it.”They stand now on the cusp of something monumental. Defeat India in Ahmedabad on Sunday and it will mean that a chunk of this group will have won two World Cups, a T20 World Cup only two years ago, the World Test Championship, and retained an Ashes series this year.Whichever way you cut that, that’s about as Australian as you can get.

Prowess against legspin could prove critical in first big test of England’s credentials

Matt Roller29-Oct-20211:48

Is the fifth-bowling option a worry for Australia?

In theory, England’s players were meant to arrive at the T20 World Cup on the back of a month of limited-overs cricket, spread across the IPL and tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan. In practice, half of their squad landed in Oman for a training camp in early October after a month’s break from the game entirely.With concerns about the prospect of a full winter on the road and uncertainty about their ability to see their families, four players – Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan and Chris Woakes – withdrew from their IPL contracts at relatively short notice. It was the sort of trade-off that multi-format cricketers find themselves making increasingly often, weighing up mental health, family time, financial gain and match practice and attempting to find a conclusion that keeps everyone happy.Related

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While nobody would argue with their decisions, it has been notable that England’s two star performers since the start of their World Cup campaign were both playing regularly for their franchises after the IPL’s resumption: Moeen Ali, whose Powerplay wicket-taking has set up two convincing wins has spoken about the confidence he gained from his senior role at Chennai Super Kings, while Jason Roy has extended his run of form for Sunrisers Hyderabad after a month adjusting to the UAE’s slowish surfaces.By contrast, those coming in off a break have found things slightly tougher since arriving in the Emirates. Buttler hit 73 in the final practice game against New Zealand but has not quite looked at his fluent best since; Malan was scratchy in the warm-ups though will have benefitted from time in the middle in the chase against Bangladesh; and even Woakes, who has impressed in his first two outings, has admitted he “didn’t feel too good” in the lead-in, finding his way back after a while without a game.Perhaps the only man who hit the ground running was Jonny Bairstow, who immediately issued a reminder of his worth in England’s middle order with innings of 49 off 30 against India and 30 off 21 against New Zealand in their warm-up fixtures. He has faced only 10 balls in the tournament itself, out cheaply in pursuit of quick runs against West Indies and pulling the winning boundary against Bangladesh, but there are positive signs with sterner tests to come.Such is his importance to England’s limited-overs set-up, it defies belief that this is Bairstow’s first T20 World Cup since 2012, when he was a 22-year-old floating up and down the order in a side captained by Stuart Broad. He returns nearly a decade later as one of the world’s premier limited-overs batters, and playing a clearly-defined role in this England side that has slipped under the radar.Bairstow hit the winning runs in England’s victory against Bangladesh•ICC/GettyHeading into their series in South Africa last winter, England had a big decision to make about the make-up of their batting line-up: Malan’s form at No. 3 demanded inclusion but Buttler, Roy and Bairstow were ensconced in the first-choice XI and only Buttler had much recent experience batting outside of the top three. But England had faith in Buttler as an opener, giving their best batter the opportunity to face as many balls as possible, and instead moved Bairstow to No. 4.To some it looked like another slight against a player who had been messed around by England’s management throughout his career. In fact, it was a glowing endorsement. There is no tougher position to fill in a T20 batting line-up than No. 4 given the range of situations batters find themselves facing when they come in; in particular, it requires you to face the opposition’s best spinners more often than not.So Bairstow’s success at No. 4 should not be taken for granted: he made 207 runs at 51.75 with a strike rate of 146.80 there across series in South Africa and India last winter, managing to combine consistency with fast-scoring. His role has been more flexible since, with England occasionally experimenting over their home summer, but he has still shown his ability to take down spin through the middle overs, developed over his career but honed through his experiences in the IPL.It is Bairstow’s ability to take down wristspin that has been particularly crucial. Since the start of the 2019 IPL, only two players have scored faster against wristspin in all T20 cricket, and both of them – Moeen and Nicholas Pooran – have the advantage that right-arm legspinners’ stock balls turn into their hitting arc. Bairstow, by contrast, often finds himself hitting against the spin, but his ability to read lengths early means that he can either rock onto the back foot and pull or come forward and time fuller balls into gaps (the vast majority of his runs against wristspin come in front of square on the leg side).That skill will be vital on Saturday night in Dubai, when England come up against an Australia side that have shown some vulnerabilities in their two opening wins but know that victory will put them on the brink of semi-final qualification. Despite their impressive seam stocks, Australia’s key bowler to date has been Adam Zampa, who has taken 4 for 33 across his eight overs; Bairstow’s task will be to take him down.Bairstow’s legacy as one of England’s greatest white-ball batters is already secure, whatever happens in this tournament: without his hundreds against India and New Zealand, their 2019 World Cup win might not have been possible. But if they are to succeed in their bid to hold both trophies simultaneously, it will surely owe much to Bairstow’s versatility, adaptability and skill.

Arsenal suffered a devastating 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime, surrendering their five-point lead atop the Premier League table in dramatic fashion.

Emiliano Buendia’s stoppage-time winner completed a remarkable comeback for Unai Emery’s side, dealing a significant blow to the Gunners’ title aspirations.

Matty Cash gave Villa a deserved first-half lead with a thunderous finish at the back post in the 36th minute, capitalizing on Arsenal’s struggles to contain the hosts’ energetic pressing.

The right-back’s half-volley from a deflected cross caught David Raya off guard, sending Villa Park into raptures and rewarding the home side’s dominant opening period.

Mikel Arteta responded decisively at the interval, introducing Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres for the ineffective Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino.

Aston Villa now want to tempt Chelsea summer signing with surprise January move

It would be a head turner.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 5, 2025

The Belgian substitute made an immediate impact just seven minutes into the second half, converting a rebound after Emiliano Martínez could only parry Bukayo Saka’s initial effort. Trossard’s poacher’s instinct at the back post hauled Arsenal level and appeared to shift momentum decisively in the visitors’ favour.

Arsenal dominated possession throughout the second period, creating numerous opportunities to snatch victory. Noni Madueke struck the side netting late on when well-positioned, while Declan Rice orchestrated attacks from deep despite struggling with the calf complaint that troubled him against Brentford midweek.

However, Villa refused to surrender tamely.

Emery’s tactical substitution proved inspired as Buendia replaced Matty Cash in the 85th minute, pushing the hosts into a more aggressive attacking shape with Lamare Bogarde dropping to right-back.

The Argentinian playmaker delivered the decisive intervention deep into stoppage time, reacting quickest to a loose ball inside Arsenal’s penalty area and firing home to secure all three points.

The defeat represents Arsenal’s second loss of the campaign and ends their 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions. More significantly, it allows Man City the opportunity to reduce the gap at the summit to just two points, should they defeat Sunderland later today.

Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal – best players	Match Rating
Emiliano Martínez	7.8
Declan Rice	7.7
Matty Cash	7.5
Boubacar Kamara	7.5
Martin Odegaard	7.2
via WhoScored

For Villa, the victory extends their remarkable home form to just one defeat in their last 25 league matches at Villa Park, maintaining their challenge for Champions League qualification while sitting third in the table.

It also begs the question, are Emery’s men now genuine title contenders?

Stuart Pearce says Youri Tielemans stole the show against Arsenal

With that debate now set to rumble on, former England defender Stuart Pearce has picked out one Villa star to thank for an absolutely incredible afternoon for Emery in the Midlands.

Commenting on the game for talkSPORT, Pearce named his Player of the Match — £150,000-per-week midfielder Youri Tielemans.

The Belgian international apparently stole the show against Arsenal, with Pearce calling his display in the engine room ‘outstanding’.

Tielemans, who is out of contract in 2027, has just made a firm case to the Villa hierarchy when it comes to his long-term future.

The 28-year-old returned to full fitness fairly recently after missing six league games with a calf problem and was left out of the starting eleven for Villa’s thrilling 4-3 win at Brighton.

Emery’s decision to start Tielemans today was a masterful decision, and that performance will give the player huge confidence ahead of Villa’s trips to FC Basel and West Ham.

Waite Hoyt pitched for seven MLB teams over the course of a 21-year career from 1918 to '38, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Diego Rivera was one of 20th Century art's towering figures—the Mexican icon who brought mural art onto the world's biggest stages.

On the surface, these facts would seem to be unrelated—but on Wednesday, they fused together to create a financial windfall.

A painting given to Hoyt by Rivera as a thank-you for baseball tickets in 1932 has sold at auction for $190,000, according to a Thursday morning report from Larry Holder of .

The painting is titled , which roughly translates to . According to a blurb written for Sotheby's by Tim Manners—the co-author of Hoyt's posthumous memoir, released in 2024—the pitcher and Rivera are said to have crossed paths in 1932, when Hoyt was playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Rivera displayed the fresco at what is now 30 Rock.

Citing "family lore," Manners wrote that Hoyt gave Rivera tickets to see the Dodgers and Rivera—learning that Hoyt had begun painting extensively in retirement—gifted him in 1951.

Collaborations between baseball and fine art are rare, but they do happen. Banksy and Shohei Ohtani, we're ready when you are.

Kartikeya, Jain created a late collapse that skittled South Zone after a 192-run stand

Ashish Pant14-Sep-2025For close to two sessions, Ankit Sharma and C Andre Siddarth kept Central Zone waiting on the fourth day of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy final. But a frenetic last half an hour, where South Zone lost their last four wickets for 12 runs, which included Ankit falling on 99, saw them get bowled out for 426, leaving Central Zone 65 to chase on the final day.Having reduced South Zone to 222 for 6 before lunch, leading by 140 runs, Central Zone were in pole position to inflict an innings defeat. But a stunning rearguard action from Ankit and Siddarth, where they added 192 runs for the seventh wicket, ensured the final went into day five.Resuming on 129 for 2, Ricky Bhui showed intent straightaway, jumping down the track and lofting Saransh Jain over long-off on the fourth ball of the day. While Ravichandran Smaran was prepared to graft it out, Bhui continued to attack. Smaran, though, did cut Deepak Chahar through point when he was offered width.C Andre Siddarth scored a patient fifty•PTI Bhui’s sprightly knock ended on 45 when he chased a harmless fuller-length delivery from Chahar and edged a comfortable catch to Shubham Sharma at first slip. Smaran, meanwhile, reached his half-century off 70 balls with a clip to deep midwicket.Mohammed Azharuddeen had an enterprising 40-ball stay in the middle. He was dropped twice – once by Patidar at short cover and then by Danish Malewar at first slip, who failed to latch on diving to his right. He also got Central Zone to burn a review when Chahar thought he had the South Zone captain strangled down leg.In between, Azharuddeen clubbed Aditya Thakare through midwicket and smashed Jain over mid-on, but failed to carry on. Kumar Kartikeya dropped one short with the ball holding up a touch and Azharuddeen, early into his shot, top-edged a pull to Kuldeep Sen at midwicket.Salman Nizar took the aggressive option immediately, sweeping Jain through square leg and then pulling him through midwicket. But he soon fell, when his across-the-line miscue off Kartikeya was held brilliantly by Patidar running to his left from mid-on. Ten balls later, Kartikeya struck again, sending back Smaran, who swept a fuller-length ball straight to deep square leg, for 67.With South Zone still well behind in the game, Ankit took his chances early. He launched Kartikeya straight over long-on second ball before working Jain through midwicket for four. Siddarth was more circumspect. He twice went after Kartikeya before lunch, punching him past mid-on and then through point off the back foot.South Zone folded quickly after Kumar Kartikeya got Ankit Sharma•PTI While Siddarth was largely unhurried, Ankit looked a bit fidgety after lunch. As Sen went short to him, he would often clear his front leg, looking to hack across the line. He got a few top-edges which fell safely, but once he got a hang of the surface, his defence got tighter.With the pitch having flattened out, the fast bowlers did not get any movement even with the new ball as Ankit reached his 13th first-class fifty by thumping Sen over mid-off. It was an attritional afternoon session, where South Zone added 86 runs in 23 overs.Siddarth and Ankit upped the scoring rate after tea, with Siddarth also finding the boundaries regularly. He jumped down the track, lifting Jain over mid-on to reach his fifty before Ankit took South Zone into the lead in the 99th over, paddling Shubham to the fine-leg fence.Ankit swiftly moved through his 80s and 90s but lost focus, one short of his century. With the field up, he tried to mow Kartikeya across the line, got a top edge, and Patidar at short midwicket did the rest.It was a quick end thereafter. Jain sent back Gurjapneet Singh, while MD Nidheesh was run out. V Koushik was the last wicket to fall, with Jain getting him stumped, leaving Siddarth unbeaten on 84.If Central Zone manage to chase down the 65-run target on the fifth morning – which they should – it will be their first Duleep Trophy win since the 2014-15 season.