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تقدم مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، بعرض خاص لـ محمد شوقي، نائب المدير الرياضي، بعد رحيله عن منصبه، عقب انتهاء مهمة الجهاز الفني المؤقت بقيادة عماد النحاس.

وأعلن الأهلي، اليوم الخميس، التعاقد مع جهاز فني جديد يقوده الإسباني جوزيه ريفيرو، المدير الفني السابق لفريق أورلاندو بايراتس الجنوب إفريقي لمدة عامين.

طالع.. عاجل | الأهلي يعلن رحيل ثلاثة لاعبين ويوجه لهم الشكر

ويبدأ الجهاز الفني الجديد، مهمته مع فريق الكرة بداية من السبت المقبل، حيث يستعد الأحمر لخوض منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، المقامة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

وقال أحمد شوبير، عبر قناة الأهلي: “الأهلي قدم عرضًا لمحمد شوقي أن يكون مديرًا فنيًا لقطاع الناشئين ويوجد منصب آخر ولكن النادي لم يتلق ردًا منه حتى هذه اللحظة”.

وتحاول إدارة الأهلي، برئاسة محمود الخطيب ترضية محمد شوقي، واستمراره في العمل داخل النادي خاصة أنه تولى منصبه خلال الأسابيع الأخيرة لـ مارسيل كولر، المدير الفني السابق، واستمر مع الجهاز الفني المؤقت.

ورحل الجهاز الفني المؤقت بقيادة عماد النحاس عن الأهلي، بعدما انتهت مهمته بالتتويج ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز أمس الأربعاء، لكن الأخير تولى منصب المدرب العام رفقة ريفيرو.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na manhã desta sexta-feira, na Academia de Futebol, o Palmeiras realizou mais um treino técnico e tático em preparação ao confronto com o Atlético-MG, no domingo, às 16h, no Allianz Parque, pela nona rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Recuperado de lesão na coxa esquerda, o zagueiro Luan pode ser uma novidade para a partida.

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Vale lembrar que último embate do camisa 13 foi no dia 12 de fevereiro, contra o Chelsea-ING, pela final do Mundial de Clubes. De lá para cá, foram quase quatro meses afastado e muito a agradecer.

– Primeiramente, agradecer a todos que passaram comigo por esse momento chato, que nenhum jogador quer passar, mas, às vezes acontece, por mais que a gente se cuide e faça as coisas da maneira certa. Estou feliz por ter superado mais esse obstáculo e, graças a Deus, estou em um grande clube, que me fornece a melhor estrutura e profissionais capacitados que me ajudaram muito na recuperação. Hoje me encontro bem, saudável e 100% para fazer o que mais amo, que é jogar futebol – afirmou o zagueiro bicampeão da Libertadores.

Durante a transição física, Luan participou de alguns amistosos com Crias do sub-20 e até de um jogo-treino, contra o Ska Brasil-SP.

– Por ter sido uma lesão séria, que envolve músculo e tendão, e um pouco traiçoeira, o clube preferiu adotar cautela para que eu não tivesse outra lesão em seguida no mesmo local, e considero que tudo foi feito da melhor maneira. Primeiro, os treinos físicos, depois fui sendo introduzido aos poucos ao grupo e, por fim, fiz alguns amistosos com os juniores. Então, me sinto pronto para esse momento, que é muito bom para o grupo, e agora é dar sequência ao trabalho – disse o defensor de 29 anos.

No clube desde 2017, Luan soma 183 jogos e sete gols, além do título brasileiro de 2018, dos Paulistas de 2020 e 2022, da Recopa Sul-Americana de 2021, da Copa do Brasil de 2021 Libertadores de 2020 e 2021. Enquanto esteve afastado, ele praticou seu lado torcedor.

– Eu falei com a minha esposa que não aguentava mais ver os jogos porque a gente se acostuma tanto a estar ali dentro, vivendo as emoções de dentro do campo… Estar fora só nos resta levantar as mãos para o céu e torcer para os companheiros. Mas o grupo está de parabéns por tudo o que vem fazendo. Espero poder voltar para ajudar, somar e conquistar ainda mais, porque é isso o que nos move, é o que nos traz até aqui todos os dias – relatou.

Luan projetou o duelo com o Atlético-MG e fez questão de falar do apoio do torcedor, que já adquiriu 38.500 ingressos para domingo.

– A semana cheia foi boa para todos. Para mim, que estou voltando, para pegar mais ritmo, e para a rapaziada, que vem jogando, para dar uma descansada e treinar bem. Desenvolvemos nestes dias um bom plano de jogo e fico feliz por saber também que a minha volta será com o estádio cheio, o que já era de se esperar porque a nossa torcida sempre comparece. Estou feliz e ansioso e espero que possamos fazer um grande jogo domingo e sair com os três pontos.

Com o possível retorno de Luan, o Palmeiras deve ser escalado para enfrentar o Galo com: Marcelo Lomba; Marcos Rocha, Luan (Naves), Murilo e Piquerez; Gabriel Menino, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga; Dudu, Gustavo Scarpa e Rony.

O Verdão é o atual líder do Campeonato Brasileiro, o dono da melhor defesa (cinco gols sofridos), ostenta a maior invencibilidade (sete confrontos, ao lado do Internacional) e a maior sequência de vitórias (três). Na temporada, está invicto há 14 partidas (11 vitórias e três empates), a maior sequência de invencibilidade da era Abel Ferreira.

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Arsenal need every man available as they attempt to make up ground on Liverpool in the Premier League title race, yet a credible media source has now shared news of a very possible high-profile exit.

Arsenal without host of key players for North London Derby

The Gunners are preparing for an all-important North London Derby clash against Tottenham on Wednesday, which stands out as one of their most vital games of the campaign to date.

"Special" Arsenal striker target with 14 G/A now rejects January transfer

It comes as Arsenal desperately search for attacking reinforcements.

ByBen Browning Jan 14, 2025

They seriously trail Arne Slot’s side at the top of the table, and nothing but a win will do against their fierce rivals as manager Mikel Arteta is also forced to cope without many key first-team players for the encounter.

Tottenham (home)

January 15

Aston Villa (home)

January 18

Wolves (away)

January 25

Man City (home)

February 2

Leicester City (away)

February 1

Arsenal are set to be minus Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus against Tottenham, while Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt as he faces a late fitness test (Premier Injuries).

Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are actively scouring the market for January transfer opportunities, and they are reportedly set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as first reported by The Mail today, but he won’t be joining until the summer.

“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, and that’s been the same since day one,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s January plans.

“It would be naive not to do that because it is always an opportunity to evolve the team and improve the squad, especially with the circumstances. So yes, we are looking, and we are trying and let’s see what we are able to do.”

They must also take into account potential exits, with Jorginho prepared to leave Arsenal before deadline day (ESPN) and Kieran Tierney attracting interest from former club Celtic.

Oleksandr Zinchenko in "concrete talks" to leave Arsenal

Now, as per Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, a departure for £150,000-per-week defender Oleksandr Zinchenko is very much on the cards.

The Ukraine international is wanted by Borussia Dortmund, who are exploring a deal to bring him to the Bundesliga pre-February 3. Plettenberg, writing via X, states that Zinchenko’s camp are in “concrete talks” with Dortmund as the 28-year-old sets his sights on leaving Arsenal.

Arteta’s side, meanwhile, are open to the possibility of a loan including an obligation to buy set at £17 million.

The former Man City left-back has been a bit-part player for them this season and Zinchenko’s also had his fair share of fitness problems in that time, but he has attracted praise for his quality since joining Arsenal.

“Zinchenko has been absolutely unbelievable,” said Armand Traore to talkSPORT in 2023. “Every time I see him play, you see his passion and you saw him scream after the game [against United] and it’s absolutely amazing.

“I’m thinking [back to] the game against Man United, a few times when Arsenal were maybe not finding a way, he goes and makes things happen. He moves out of his position and gets into little pockets to try and make things happen and this is quite incredible. You can tell that he’s played under Pep Guardiola because he plays in a similar way.”

Manchester United are set to make a move for Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman as they seek competition for Andre Onana this summer.

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Onana has struggled for formUnited want goalkeeping competitionCould make bid for Preston goalkeeperFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

reports that Woodman is a target for the 13-time Premier League champions, after impressing for Preston at Championship level. Woodman will be available on a free transfer as his deal ends with the second-tier club.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Onana has struggled for form this season, making high-profile errors against Ipswich and Brighton in recent weeks. Woodman has Premier League experience having played four times for Newcastle in the 2021-22 season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Woodman was the hero for England at the Under-20 World Cup in 2017, saving a late penalty as they beat Venezuela 1-0 in the final. He was the stopper in a squad that featured Ezri Konsa, Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

United take on City in the Manchester derby on Sunday before facing Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final this month. Woodman is out with an ankle injury and may well never play for Preston again.

A dominant bowling performance from New Zealand pinned down Ireland to 216 and helped the visitors sew up the three-match ODI series, with one game to go. Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips shared the spoils for New Zealand. That Ireland passed 200, on a Malahide track that favoured both the seamers and spinners, was largely down to George Dockrell’s counterattacking 61-ball 74 – his highest score in ODI cricket – and Mark Adair’s unbeaten 27 off 15 balls.Adair then let it rip with the ball, castling Martin Guptill and Will Young for ducks with his first two deliveries. Guptill was yorked first ball and then Young was bowled by a full nip-backer. Finn Allen and Tom Latham then settled the chase with half-centuries, but New Zealand still needed a cameo from Bracewell (42* off 40 balls) to finish it off. He did so in grand style once again, launching a six over mid-on.Related

• Bracewell turns on Beast mode to script Malahide miracle

With Adair and co. also zipping the new ball around, Allen, who usually loves bat on ball, had to rein himself in. He was on 6 off 18 balls at one point but found the release when he fetched a hip-high short ball from outside off and pulled Craig Young to the square-leg boundary. And when Adair erred too full, Allen pumped him for four successive boundaries, including a six over mid-off, in the ninth over. Allen powered to his maiden ODI fifty, in his second game, off 47 balls. However, when he looked good for more, he toe-ended Curtis Campher to mid-on for 60 off 58 balls. His dismissal snapped a 101-run third-wicket partnership with Latham.Latham was the more circumspect of the two, often cautiously hiding his bat inside the line when Ireland moved the ball away from him and hitting through the line when the ball was in his arc. Andy McBrine and Simi Singh both tested Latham and it was Simi who trapped him lbw for 55 off 71 balls. Phillips then chopped on for a run-a-ball 16, but Bracewell coolly closed it out for New Zealand after having set it up for them with the ball.Bracewell and Santner bowled 20 overs between them in the afternoon, claiming 4 for 58. Bracewell, in particular, made the most of the grip, turn and bounce that was on offer, ending with 10-1-26-2 – the most-economical ten-over spell by a New Zealand spinner since Daniel Vettori’s 4 for 18 against Afghanistan in Napier in the 2015 World Cup.After overnight and early-morning rains delayed the start by half an hour, it was Henry who had set the tone for New Zealand by swinging and seaming the new ball. The mandatory powerplay, in which Ireland managed only 19 for 2, was straight out of a passage of play from Test cricket. Henry relentlessly plugged away in the channel outside off, as did Duffy, who was making his ODI debut at the expense of Lockie Ferguson, threatening both the outside and inside edges.Believe it or not, Henry’s powerplay analysis read 5-3-4-2. He struck in the very first over when he swung a full ball into a crease-bound Paul Stirling’s back pad in a wicket-maiden. Andy Balbirnie misjudged a similar inswinger and watched it thud into the bails after he offered no shot. Much like Henry, Duffy began his shift with a maiden but unlike Henry he extracted significant extra bounce.Ireland needed 21 balls to get off the mark and 57 balls to find the fence. It was McBrine who ended the boundary drought when he belted Duffy through the covers. In the next over, bowled by Henry, McBrine hit two more fours to briefly repair the innings.McBrine scored 28 off 48 balls before Bracewell pushed an offbreak well wide of off stump and had him stumped. It was Bracewell’s second wicket of the day. He had stuck in his first over, too, when he had an advancing Harry Tector slicing a catch to long-on.George Dockrell stood out for Ireland with his ODI best of 74•Sportsfile/Getty Images

Bracewell, who was introduced into the attack in the 13th over ahead of Santner, showed control with his lengths and lines, something that was missing in the Test series in England and also in the first ODI against Ireland.Santner, who was brought into the attack in the 20th over, marked his return from a bout of Covid-19 with a beauty that drifted in and turned sharply past the outside edge of Campher. After turning another stock ball past Campher’s bat, he found the outside edge by shifting wide on the crease in the 28th over. When part-time offspinner Phillips removed Loran Tucker for 19, Ireland were 126 for 6 in the 37th over.Dockrell and Simi got together at this point and struck up a 59-run seventh-wicket stand off 48 balls. After seeing off threatening spells from Bracewell and Santner, Dockrell lined up the seamers by regularly manufacturing swinging room and lifting the ball over the off-side infield. That the ball had now stopped swinging for Henry, Duffy and Blair Tickner also aided Dockrell. He notched up his third ODI fifty off 48 balls and celebrated it with a sequence of 4,4,4, 6 in six balls; the highlight being the straight six off Santner in the 44th over.In the next over, however, Dockrell holed out to long-on to give Duffy his first ODI scalp. Simi rode his luck – he survived a tight stumping on 11 – and miscued a brace of reverse-sweeps before he was run-out for 16. Santner capped his spell by having Craig Young nicking behind to Latham for a duck.Ireland, ultimately, folded in 48 overs and there would be no way back for them, despite Adair’s two-in-two at the start of their defence.

Chelsea have now made an enquiry over a deal for an “outstanding” midfielder this month, whose own club are enduring financial difficulties, according to a report.

Chelsea eyeing a midfielder

The Blues are on the lookout for a new midfielder, and they have identified 17-year-old Lille sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi as a potential target, with a deal possible if they are willing to stump up a fee of around €30m (£25m).

AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana is also on Enzo Maresca’s radar, and Chelsea are willing to make an offer of £50m to get a deal done this month, displaying just how highly he is thought of at Stamford Bridge.

Another player who Chelsea are hopeful of securing a deal for is Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan, but there is likely to be competition for his signature, with Manchester United also believed to be keen.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (a)

January 4th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

January 14th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

January 20th

Manchester City (a)

January 25th

West Ham United (h)

February 3rd

Nypan is not the only midfielder the Blues may have to do battle with Man United over, as reports from Spain (via Sport Witness) have now revealed that Barcelona’s Dani Olmo is being targeted by the two Premier League clubs.

It is explained that Barca are unable to register Olmo at the moment, which means he could leave as a free agent at some point this month, with a number of teams from across Europe aware of the situation and ready to take full advantage.

Chelsea hold talks with £203k-per-week forward's camp over January transfer

The west Londoners have been in contact.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jan 1, 2025

England’s “big six” are all keen on the midfielder, while there is also interest from Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig in Germany, so he will not be short of options if he departs the Camp Nou this month.

Chelsea are said to have taken the first step towards signing the Spaniard by making an enquiry, but the report states that it is his lifelong dream to play for Barcelona, meaning he is hoping to be re-registered.

Olmo impressing when given the opportunity

It has not been an ideal start to life at Barcelona, but the attacking midfielder is making the most of the opportunities he’s been given, scoring five goals in his first 11 La Liga outings.

Some of the former RB Leipzig’s performances will no doubt have impressed manager Hansi Flick, and he also received high praise from former boss Julian Nagelsmann during his time in Germany.

Nagelsmann dubbed the £150k-per-week Spain international “outstanding”, while also adding: “He has exceptional abilities and is very safe with the ball. When he gets put under pressure, he knows how to provoke a foul.”

As such, Olmo could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, but it may be extremely difficult to win the race for his signature, given that a number of top clubs are interested, and the fact he wants to make things work at Barcelona despite the registration issues.

Leeds United were left disappointed coming from Lancashire on Saturday after they could only scramble to secure a draw away at Preston North End.

They found themselves 1-0 down to a strike from Brad Potts in the first-half and spent the rest of the game struggling to break down Paul Heckingbottom’s side, before a stoppage time own goal from Jack Whatmough made it 1-1.

The result has left the Whites in second place in the Championship table, three points behind Sheffield United in first, and Daniel Farke will surely have his sights set on moving to the top.

One player who could be ruthlessly ditched from the starting line-up in order to help Leeds to go one step further is attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who has struggled in recent weeks.

Brenden Aaronson's recent form for Leeds

The USA international lined up as the number ten in the 1-1 draw with Preston and produced an underwhelming display for the West Yorkshire outfit.

He failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 65 minutes on the pitch and missed a ‘big chance’, as Sam Byram’s flick to him in the box presented a fantastic opportunity to hit the target – only for Aaronson to fire well over the bar.

The former RB Salzburg star has now produced one goal, zero assists, and zero ‘big chances’ created in his last eight matches in the Championship for Leeds, with the goal coming in the form of a tap in from close range against Middlesbrough.

Farke must, now, finally ditch him from the starting line-up because of his lack of production at the top end of the pitch, and he could do so by unleashing another player in a new role at Elland Road.

The Leeds star who could learn a new role

Mateo Joseph initially thought he had secured the draw off the bench for the Whites on Saturday, only for it to end up being an own goal from Whatmough, after his run and attempted flick at the near post created the equaliser.

The Spain U21 international, who has played the vast majority of his career as a centre-forward, appeared to be in a slightly deeper role when he came on, with Patrick Bamford ahead of him, and it almost worked perfectly after he jumped onto a loose ball around 25 yards out and drove forward before firing an excellent shot from distance that forced Freddie Woodman to parry it wide.

Joseph, who was hailed as “dynamite” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a dynamic forward who can drive with the ball, create chances for his teammates, and link-up play, which is why he could suit playing as a number ten.

Appearances

21

Starts

10

Goals

2

Big chances created

4

Assists

3

As you can see in the table above, the academy graduate has not found his feet as a goalscorer, yet, but has shown impressive creativity, with four ‘big chances’ created in ten starts.

This suggests that he could thrive as an attacking midfielder, in a position to create chances for his teammates, and that is why Farke should finally ditch Aaronson to unleash Joseph in a new role.

Farke could drop Solomon in Leeds swoop for "incredible" 15-goal star

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ByDan Emery Dec 13, 2024

With results gradually beginning to pick up under Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace and Dougie Freedman have reportedly made their first contact over a possible deal to sign a winger worth a hefty £50m.

Crystal Palace transfer news

After an alarming start to the season, the Eagles have lost just once in their last five games in all competitions and even managed to pick up an impressive 2-2 draw against Aston Villa last time out. Still one point adrift of the dropzone, however, there’s no doubt that those in South London must return to the transfer market for reinforcements in the January transfer window.

On that front, rumours are already beginning to emerge, with players such as Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa recently linked to Selhurst Park in what would be an impressive coup for the Premier League strugglers. Now 29 years of age, the Argentine forward could rediscover his best form whilst handing Palace a much-needed boost.

Correa’s not the only attacking player reportedly on the Eagles’ radar ahead of 2025, however. According to Caught Offside, Crystal Palace have asked to be kept informed about Patrick Dorgu – making their first contact with Italian club Lecce – over a possible deal that would cost a hefty £50m.

Whether Palace have the means to spend such money remains to be seen, but even if they do, it is reportedly London rivals Chelsea who currently lead the race to sign the winger in 2025.

Glasner must unleash "fantastic" Crystal Palace star who can save his job

Glasner must unleash “fantastic” Palace star in order to save his job

ByConnor Holden Nov 29, 2024

With sporting director Freedman seemingly eyeing a move to sign the 20-year-old, there’s no doubt that Dorgu will be one to watch, especially if Palace want to finally fill the void left behind by Michael Olise when he swapped South London for Bayern Munich last summer. For £50m, Palace would certainly steal the headlines too.

"Unique" Dorgu could sharpen blunt Crystal Palace attack

Only basement side Southampton have managed to score less than Crystal Palace’s eight goals in the Premier League, as they continue to recover from losing Olise during the summer transfer window. What was an exciting attack spearheaded by an in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was joined by Eberechi Eze and Olise is now a far cry from its best version. And Glasner’s side have suffered as a result.

Dorgu could help change that, however. The 20-year-old, who can play left-back and on both wings, has gradually made the transition from full-back into a dangerous winger, scoring three goals so far this season. As a versatile option, he could solve both Glasner’s attacking problems and hand him another defensive option in what would be vital depth.

Described as a “unique specimen” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Palace could be getting one of Europe’s most interesting young talents by signing Dorgu in 2025.

What was supposed to be a triumphant campaign to finally lift the Premier League title is quickly deteriorating into a disappointing battle for a Champions League place for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a rough start to the season, which sees them down in fourth place and nine points behind league leader Liverpool.

What’s worse is that, alongside Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and a few other names, the Gunners could now be without Leandro Trossard for the upcoming game against Nottingham Forest after he came off injured for Belgium last night.

Arsenal Injuries
Player	Injury	Return
Ben White	Knee Surgery	Early 2025
Bukayo Saka	Fitness	Unknown
Declan Rice	Fitness/Toe	Unknown
Leandro Trossard	Unknown	Unknown
Takehiro Tomiyasu	Knee Injury	Unknown
Riccardo Calafiori	Knee Injury	Unknown
Kieran Tierney	Thigh Injury	Unknown

However, in recent weeks, the 29-year-old has been underwhelming, and based on recent reports, he could soon be replaced at the Emirates.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report out of Spain, Arsenal are one of several clubs keen on signing Barcelona star Raphinha.

The report claims that while the Brazilian winger remains ‘one of the most attractive figures for the top European clubs,’ the Gunners are firmly in the race to land his signature.

However, Hansi Flick is reportedly reluctant to lose one of his best players in January or the summer, so should a team wish to sign the former Leeds United ace, the report has revealed they’ll have to make an offer of around €90m to get the ball rolling, which is about £75m.

It would represent a significant investment from Arsenal, but given Raphinha’s immense skill, one well worth making, especially as he’d be the ideal Trossard upgrade.

How Raphinha compares to Trossard

So, if Arsenal were able to get their man, either in January or the summer, it seems like the position he’d get the most game time would be left-wing, as we can’t imagine Arteta starting anyone over Saka on the right, and so far this season, the Brazilian has started more games off the left than anywhere else.

With that said, this would put him in direct competition with Trossard for a starting role, so which one comes out on top in a comparison?

Well, from a pure output perspective, it’s the Porto Alegre-born dynamo, whom former manager Xavi dubbed “one of the best players in the world”, who comes out ahead.

Indeed, in 54 appearances since the start of last season he’s scored 22 goals and provided 23 assists, meaning he’s averaged a goal involvement once every 1.2 games for the Spanish giants.

In contrast, the Gunners’ dynamic winger has scored 19 goals and provided three assists in 61 appearances, equating to a significantly worse average of a goal involvement once every 2.77 games.

Unfortunately for the former Brighton & Hove Albion star, the comparison remains just as one-sided when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Raphinha vs Trossard
Statistics per 90	Raphinha	Trossard
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	1.13	0.43
Actual Non-Penalty G+As	1.08	0.31
Progressive Passes	4.58	4.22
Progressive Carries	3.00	2.50
Shots	3.08	2.17
Shots on Target	1.25	0.62
Passing Accuracy	69.8%	72.7%
Key Passes	3.67	1.56
Passes into the Final Third	3.08	1.56
Passes into the Penalty Area	1.67	1.56
Shot-Creating Actions	5.83	3.10
Goal-Creating Actions	1.08	0.15
Successful Take-Ons	1.42	0.94
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

For example, the former Leeds star comes out way ahead in the majority of relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, goal and shot-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Trossard remains a very talented footballer who could still play an important squad role for Arsenal, he’s clearly second-best to Raphinha.

Therefore, even if it costs them an arm and a leg, the Gunners must sign the Brazilian star as soon as possible.

Arsenal thought they had a new Henry, but he was a "mistake" & left for £0

The expensive attacker was a flop at Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 16, 2024

The decision comes in the wake of Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa announcing their retirements recently

Madushka Balasuriya08-Jan-2022Sri Lanka Cricket has released a set of guidelines for players choosing to retire from international cricket, namely a requirement to provide SLC with three months’ notice of their intention to retire, a six-month waiting period post-retirement in order to obtain an NOC to play in overseas franchise tournaments, and the need to play in at least 80% of domestic matches in a season if they are to be eligible for the Lanka Premier League.The decision comes in the wake of Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa both announcing their retirements in recent days – the former from red-ball cricket and the latter from international cricket entirely.ESPNcricinfo understands that among the reasons behind the updated guidelines are concerns that several players may potentially be considering their international futures, especially in the context of new mandatory fitness requirements and the fact that franchise cricket tends to be more lucrative.There have been rumours circulating of other national players calling time on their international careers, with batter Avishka Fernando even taking to social media to deny unsubstantiated reports doing the rounds.”I have no intentions of retiring from any format of cricket. Please don’t follow or believe this gossip social media pages,” Fernando tweeted.As per the SLC media release, the new mandates are as follows: “1. National players who intend to retire from national cricket should provide three months’ notice to Sri Lanka cricket of their intention to retire.”2. Retired national players who wish to obtain ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs) to play in overseas franchise leagues will only be issued to such players who have completed six months of their effective date of retirement.”3. Retired national players will be considered eligible for local leagues such as the LPL, only if they have played 80% of matches in the domestic cricket competitions conducted in the season prior to the conducting of the league.”Related

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While the first and last points skirt the line in terms of SLC’s range of authority for contracted players – there is already a clause within the present central contracts requiring players provide the board with adequate notice of retirement, while in the past player selection has been scrutinised due to inadequate time spent playing domestic cricket – there is currently no stipulation in player contracts that require retired players to obtain NOCs.SLC CEO Ashley de Silva however told ESPNcricinfo that this has long been accepted protocol between boards, both to ensure the integrity of their leagues. “Most of the member countries don’t encourage players [to play in their franchise league] without an NOC. We don’t accept any player to play in our leagues – especially since it’s been sanctioned by the ICC – without an NOC,” de Silva said. “They need to first get approval from their respective boards. Even if it’s a retired player.”Because a retired play can get involved in [other] tournaments that are not sanctioned by the ICC. In the event that happens, member boards may [at their discretion] not allow those players to take part in their own leagues.”If we find out a player has taken part in an unsanctioned tournament, we will take disciplinary action against them. For example, we won’t let them be involved in the administration at Sri Lanka Cricket. So, before they go, they [the players] should know it’s a tournament sanctioned by the ICC and that’s why they need an NOC from the respective boards.”de Silva added that the new guidelines would be included in the next batch of central contracts due to be announced in February. The old contracts were up at the end of 2021 but were extended by a month till end-January.