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The tall fast bowler picked up 9 for 112 to spearhead Zimbabwe to a rare Test match victory

Mohammad Isam23-Apr-2025Blessing Muzarabani was always going to hit the pitch hard. He has the height advantage, and he had already used it well to take six wickets in the match. Could he do the same on the fourth day of a Test match in Bangladesh?He wasn’t supposed to get a lot of purchase out of his method. The straw-coloured surface should have become benign by then. That is how pitches in Sylhet have behaved in the last few years, particularly if you consider how the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Test match played out last year. The ball on this fourth day was also 57 overs old. The bowler in question had to be a little tired, this being his fifth or sixth spell in the match.Second ball, Muzarabani bumped one into Najmul Hossain Shanto. The left-hander, on 60 off 104, rolled his wrists over the ball to try and keep the pull down, but it didn’t work. The bounce coupled with the angle of the ball going across him was too much. Muzarabani’s eyes lit up when the ball took the top edge, and his celebration knew no bounds when Victor Nyauchi took a tumbling catch diving forward at fine leg.Related

'It was my fault ' – Shanto takes blame for Sylhet defeat

Zimbabwe seal Sylhet thriller to complete first away Test win since 2021

Zimbabwe had got rid of Bangladesh’s batting lynchpin at an ideal time. They had done a similar thing in the first innings when they got Shanto just as Bangladesh were turning a corner. This time, Zimbabwe struck before Bangladesh could even sit down properly in the dressing room.”Getting Shanto out as early as that in the first over was great for us,” the captain Craig Ervine said. “We wanted to get early wickets. I thought the way Blessing started was outstanding. He gave us the opportunity to put the squeeze on [even though] Jaker Ali played a really good role at the bottom end.”Blessing was our strike bowler in this Test match. I was giving him short bursts. I thought Richie [Ngarava] and Vicky [Nyauchi] had important roles holding the attack. Welly [Masakadza] and [Wessly Madhevere] bowled well too. In between those spells, it was important not to leak too many runs. When Blessing came back and bowled in the majority of his spells, he caused a lot of problems.”Muzarabani’s five-wicket haul came soon afterwards, when he had Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught at gully. Mehidy was always batting half expecting a bouncer, and half hoping for a full ball. He was caught between the two, and the bat came down late. Brian Bennett took the catch.

“The change room is going to be nervous. We are not familiar being in these sorts of positions, chasing in the fourth innings. It was more nerves of wanting to get over the line, wanting the win more than anything else”Craig Ervine on the tense finale

Bangladesh lost three wickets in the first 5.3 overs of the day. Jaker struck the ball around for a while, but he was simply delaying the inevitable, batting with the Bangladesh tail. When he was starting to look a bit too comfortable, Ervine brought back Muzarabani for one last burst.Again, the tall fast bowler took just two balls to do his job. Jaker couldn’t quite hit him over midwicket, with Nick Welch settling under a catch at the boundary. Muzarabani’s prophecy of trying to keep Bangladesh below a 200-run lead came true, thanks to him.Ervine said he rated Muzarabani highly, as he has now impressed with both the red and the white ball. He is slowly making an impact in some of the T20 leagues too, having played in the ILT20, the CPL, the PSL and the T20 Blast.”I think he [Muzarabani] would be up there,” Ervine said. “He has the experience through red ball and playing various leagues. He has the mindset. He has shown his ability. I am really excited to see where he goes in his career in all formats.”Blessing Muzarabani picked up 9 for 112 in the Sylhet Test•AFP/Getty ImagesMuzarabani took 7 for 58 against Ireland in Zimbabwe’s previous Test in February this year. He also took 6 for 95 in the match before that, against Afghanistan. Both were in defeats but this time, his combined tally of 9 for 112 got the team over the line.There was chatter during Zimbabwe’s stumble in their chase of 174 whether Muzarabani may have to come out to hit the winning runs. Luckily for them, Ngarava and Madhevere completed the three-wicket win.”The change room is going to be nervous. We are not familiar being in these sorts of positions, chasing in the fourth innings,” Ervine said. “It was more nerves of wanting to get over the line, wanting the win more than anything else.”Whether or not Zimbabwe get a pitch that responds to fast bowling in Chattogram next week, they have shown enough pluck here in Sylhet. They got in trouble a few times, but fought hard to get back into the game. Muzarabani epitomised this mindset. He bowled superb up front, and had plenty left in the tank for those crucial second and third spells. That’s where Bangladesh lost the Test.

Afghanistan have won 20 out of 43 ODIs and 29 out of 61 T20Is during his tenure as coach

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2025

Jonathan Trott will end his tenure as Afghanistan’s head coach at the conclusion of the 2026 T20 World Cup in March, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced.”ACB recognises that coaching transitions are a natural part of the global cricketing ecosystem. Just as teams evolve, so do their leadership and strategic needs,” the board said in a statement. “No international side remains under a single coach forever, and this change marks a new chapter for Afghanistan as the board continues building toward long-term excellence. This decision comes as part of ACB’s long term strategic planning for the next phase of the national team’s growth.”Afghanistan have also decided to part ways with batting coach Andrew Puttick after his contract ends on December 31. He took up the role in January this year, having earlier worked as Pakistan’s batting coach.Trott, who first took charge as head coach in July 2022, has overseen Afghanistan’s rise as a formidable white-ball team. His initial tenure was for 18 months, but he was given a 12-month extension in 2024 and then again through 2025.The 2026 T20 World Cup, which is likely to be held between February 7 and March 8 in India and Sri Lanka will be Trott’s last assignment with Afghanistan.Related

Gulf Giants appoint Trott as head coach, Bond as bowling coach

Trott to continue as Afghanistan men's head coach through 2025

“It has been a privilege to work with the Afghanistan National Team and to witness their passion, resilience, and hunger to achieve greatness,” Trott said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I will always remain a supporter of Afghan cricket. I wish the team and the Afghan people continued success in the years ahead.”Afghanistan were semi-finalists for the first time in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean, following wins over New Zealand and Australia in the group and Super Eight stages. At the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan had beaten England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and came close to toppling eventual champions Australia.Afghanistan also scored ODI series wins against South Africa and Bangladesh in Sharjah during Trott’s tenure. Earlier this year, they made a maiden appearance at the 2025 Champions Trophy after finishing among the top eight teams on the 2023 ODI World Cup points table.More recently, Afghanistan clean-swept Bangladesh 3-0 in an ODI series and registered a 3-0 T20I series win in Zimbabwe as well. Under Trott, Afghanistan have won 20 out of 43 ODIs and 29 out of 61 T20Is.Trott already has his next assignment lined up, as head coach of ILT20 franchise Gulf Giants for the upcoming season. The tournament is scheduled to begin on December 2. He was the head coach of Pretoria Capitals for the 2024-25 SA20 but was replaced by Sourav Ganguly after one season.ACB announced that the process for appointing a new head coach will begin after the T20 World Cup. In Trott’s absence earlier this year during Afghanistan’s multi-format tour of Zimbabwe, former fast bowler Hamid Hassan had filled in as head coach while former captain Nawroz Mangal was the assistant coach.

Chameera held his nerve at the death to deny Salman the ability to hit the winning runs

Danyal RasoolUpdated on 27-Nov-2025Dushmantha Chameera held his nerve in a clutch final over to ensure Sri Lanka did not throw away a win they had spent the rest of the evening working for. He conceded three runs in the final over, building on a magnificent opening spell to deny Pakistan victory by six runs in a 184-run chase.The stakes were higher for Sri Lanka than they were for Pakistan, with a victory required for a place in the final, or it would be Zimbabwe playing that game on Saturday. And Sri Lanka played with a hunger they have rediscovered since they finally won a game on Pakistan soil on Tuesday. Kusal Mendis and Kamil Mishara’s 36-ball 66-run stand got them off to a flier, with Mishara ending up with 76 off 48 balls, and cameos lower down the order got them to 184.Right from the outset, Chameera hampered Pakistan with three top-order wickets in his first two overs. The chase looked as good as dead after the loss of the first four, with 43 runs on the board, but captain Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten half-century kept Pakistan fighting on until the bitter end.A 56-run stand between Salman and Usman Khan brought Pakistan back into contention, and Mohammad Nawaz brought Pakistan right to the brink. The hosts were favourites when a six over cover reduced the equation to 10 in the final over, but Chameera got a wicket, nailed his Yorkers and squeezed Pakistan out.Mendis, Mishara nail the early oversEarlier in the evening, Pakistan strangled Sri Lanka in the first three overs. It started with a beautiful delivery Salman Mirza kissing Pathum Nissanka’s off bail. But when Faheem Ashraf was thrown the ball for the fourth over, Kusal Mendis picked his moment. Three boundaries saw helped him plunder 16, and Mohammad Wasim disappeared for 15 more when he replaced Ashraf for the powerplay’s final over.Even the spreading of the field struggled to contain Mendis and Mishara. When Nawaz came to bowl in the eighth over, Mendis cut him for four before Kamil Mishara slapped him for six. A late flurry put Sri Lanka on course to a match-defending total.Salman stakes a T20I caseSalman has played every single Pakistan game this year, but has never convinced as a T20 batter. Today, finding himself in the sort of situation where what was required of him closely matched his best attributes, the Pakistan captain got stuck in. He began sedately, as he tends to do, but then worked himself into touch and took the game deep. Through the middle overs, his ability to play spin was on full display as the boundaries came regularly enough and the runs kept ticking over.When Sri Lanka turned to pace, Salman kept the pressure up, picking up 10 off Dasun Shanaka, smashing Eshan Malinga for six to keep Pakistan on track. Increasingly, by the end, Sri Lanka’s ability to starve Salman of the strike would prove crucial to holding Pakistan at bay; the final three overs, Salman was at the non-striker’s end for all but five balls, with his unbeaten heroics going in vain.Chameera guts PakistanPakistan felt they had built up a steady opening stand with Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan setting up a platform in the powerplay in the first three overs. It was from that point onwards that Sri Lanka had cut loose in their innings, and the home openers were positioning themselves to do the same.But then, along came fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera. His extra pace beat Farhan for timing and forced him into dinking one straight to cover. The big wicket came two balls later, when a touch of inconsistent bounce had the ball strike Babar Azam below the knee roll, sending him back for a second duck in four innings. Another two balls later, a length delivery grew big on Fakhar Zaman, who skied it straight to midwicket. Pakistan had suddenly lost four wickets in ten balls, and following the end of the over, Chameera’s figures read 2-0-3-3.After conceding 14 in his third over when Pakistan were on the charge, Sri Lanka’s hopes of victory were slipping away. Pakistan needed ten to win with Agha still set. Chameera rolled his fingers over two length balls to start off and allowed just three in the first three balls, but it was the killer yorkers that followed which sealed the deal. Three deliveries that landed on the batters’ toes got rid of Ashraf, and did not leak a single run to spark celebrations in the Sri Lankan camp.

Some at Old Trafford are now reportedly pushing Manchester United to sign a young midfield star who’s been likened to Tijjani Reijnders.

Paul Scholes urges Mainoo to leave Man Utd

The biggest headlines surrounding Man United this week have been stolen by Ruben Amorim’s decision to overlook Kobbie Mainoo once against West Ham United.

The Red Devils dropped points yet again in a game that they should be winning with their European ambitions in mind and Mainoo was forced to watch on from the bench.

What is certainly not a good sign for the young midfielder is that Amorim simply laughed off suggestions that he could turn to Mainoo following a frustrating result against West Ham. And that reaction sparked another from club legend Paul Scholes, who urged the academy graduate to leave on social media.

He took to Instagram to say: “Bulls**t. The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it’s probably best for him now. Enough is enough.”

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Historically speaking, Man United have always been able to turn towards an academy graduate even in their most difficult moments. Amorim, however, is at risk of bringing such an impressive record to an end unless he hands Mainoo some much-needed opportunities.

The manager stood in the way of his exit in the summer, telling him to fight for his place, but Mainoo hasn’t received the chance to do exactly that ever since.

Now, Old Trafford chiefs are reportedly pushing Man United to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi which could all but spell the end for Mainoo’s time at his boyhood club.

Old Trafford chiefs push Man Utd to sign Bouaddi

According to Foot Mercato, as relayed by Caught Offside, Man Utd’s recruitment chiefs are now pushing them to sign Bouaddi in 2026, making their interest in the Frenchman concrete.

The LOSC Lille star is one of the best young midfielders around and could offer Amorim the quality that he is yet to personally see from Mainoo.

The Red Devils aren’t alone in the race to sign the 18-year-old, however, with Premier League rivals Arsenal among the other clubs chasing his signature ahead of next year.

According to Como scout Ben Mattinson, Bouaddi is “like Reijnders” and has the press resistance of an “elite” player despite still being just 18 years old. If Man United are looking for a permanent midfield solution, then the French teenager may well be their answer.

Better signing than Anderson: INEOS make £65m star Man Utd's top target

Manchester United will pay tribute to late Stone Roses star Mani ahead of Monday's Premier League clash with Everton at Old Trafford, after the huge Red Devils fan passed away on Thursday aged 63. The Stone Roses bassist, real name Gary Mounfield, will receive an emotional tribute at the stadium with which he once said he hopes his iconic band will be "associated".

• Man United to pay tribute to Mani after passing aged 63

  A Mancunian by birth and life-long United fan, Mani will be honoured by a few words and music prior to Monday’s top-flight clash, a club source has said as per reports by The Sun.

  The Stone Roses’ famous track This Is The One continues to be played at Old Trafford each matchday prior to kick-off, reflecting the band’s importance to the club and local Manchester culture, and the song's place within the stadium will now hold particular poignancy after the passing of one of the band’s much-loved members. He was also previously a member of fellow rock band Primal Scream.

  Mani’s passing comes almost exactly two years on from the passing of his late wife Imelda from bowel cancer. He had lived in Heaton Moor, Stockport since 1991 and has received many touching tributes from friends, family and fans alike.

  Mani and the Roses’ close ties with United will remain, beginning with a touching tribute on Monday, where the club will pay their respects to one of their own.

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  'Part of his DNA' – United to honour Mani on Monday

  A Manchester United club source stated: “There will be some words and music as a tribute during the build-up to kick-off including the usual playing of This is the One — but on this occasion with added poignancy.”

  United said in a statement after his passing: “The club was part of his DNA and he was proud to be Red.”

  Mani’s brother Greg posted on Facebook: “On behalf of myself and my family I would like to say a massive thanks for all the messages and tributes to RKid. RIP Gaz.”

• Mani was a huge Manchester United fan

  A true Red Devils fan, Mani once expressed his love for the club and how United was in his blood. He added that he hoped the Stone Roses would be associated with United, Old Trafford and the club as a whole, which has undoubtedly become a reality and will remain this way following the untimely news of his passing.

  “I’m a Manc and support United,” Mani said. “It was pre-ordained because all my family are Reds, my dad is a nuts fan.

  “I always wanted the Roses to be associated with United and the terraces.”

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  Tributes to continue after Mani's untimely passing

  Tributes have poured in from close friends such as Liam Gallagher of Oasis, who was informed of Mani’s death ahead of it becoming public earlier this week.

  A source close to the family said: “Mani’s death has rocked everyone.

  “Noel and Liam Gallagher were phoned before the news of his passing was made public.

  “They’re on tour in South America and were informed by telephone. Likewise with the Stone Roses and Primal Scream. It’s an incredibly sad time and everyone is shocked.”

  Liam shared his tribute to Mani on X: “In total shock and absolutely devastated on hearing the news about Mani. My hero. RIP.”

  The Stone Roses said on their official X account: “RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for.”

  While Primal Scream bassist Simone Butler wrote on Instagram: “Truly in shock at this. An incredible loss to everyone who knew and loved him. The moment you met Mani you loved him. The most brilliant and wickedly sharp sense of humour and the biggest heart and generosity. The smile in that first pic was so absolutely him. He called me his Scorpio bass sister. My heart is breaking for his boys, family and loved ones. Was meant to see him tomorrow in Manchester.

  “A terrible and sad loss. An amazing person, so so loved by everyone all over the world X just heart-breaking.”

The San Diego Padres are in a unique situation as they head towards the 2025 MLB trade deadline. The Friars are holding on to the final wild-card spot in the National League and are certainly in need of upgrades. But they also have players other teams covet, so general manager A.J. Preller could opt to buy and sell, walking a fine line towards competitiveness.

Preller is never scared of making a big deal or taking a huge swing, and this could be the year he truly shines by treading two paths. San Diego has one of MLB's deepest bullpens, a thin starting rotation, and two holes in its lineup, and more on the bench.

What follows is a look at three moves the Padres can make before the trade deadline that would fit what they need to do perfectly.

Trade for Ramon Laureano

A lot has been written about the Padres' need for a left fielder—I know because I've written some of it. While Gavin Sheets has filled in admirably out there, he should be locked in at designated hitter. Big names like Luis Robert Jr. and Jarren Duran have been connected to San Diego, but this might be the right move. Ramon Laureno had his breakout season in 2019, but now, as a 31-year-old, he's breaking out again.

Through the first 78 games of the season, the Baltimore Orioles outfielder is slashing .279/.341/.526 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs. That .866 OPS is his highest since 2019, and his wRC+ (136) is a career-high. Meanwhile, his underlying metrics look outstanding as he's notching near career-bests across the board. As a team, the Padres rank 24th in OPS against righties (.698) and 28th in home runs (63). Laureano's OPS against righties is .918, with a .301 batting average and 10 home runs. He fills a need and is an excellent fit.

While there are sexier options out there, Laureano's contract also has a $6.5 million club option for 2026. He shouldn't cost the prospect capital of the bigger-name outfielders, which will allow the Padres to keep high-end prospects like Leo De Vries, Ethan Salas, and a number of their young pitchers, and he can return cheaply next season. Those things should be enough to entice Preller.

Trade for Charlie Morton

There are a number of pitchers out there the Padres could take a shot at, but it's another member of the Orioles they should target. There are two reasons for this: the cost and the ability to make this deal a package, thereby reducing the return. So far this season, the San Diego has made do with a starting rotation thrown together with duct tape and tissue paper. Joe Musgrove is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery, while Yu Darvish and Michael King have both missed huge chunks of the season. That has left a rotation led by Nick Pivetta, backed up by Randy Vasquez, Stephen Kolek, and a cast of fill-ins.

Morton is a 41-year-old rental with a 5.48 ERA, which makes him sound like a punishment, not an upgrade. But the Padres need someone to eat innings, and the veteran righty has two World Series rings and a 3.60 career postseason ERA. Despite his high season ERA, from May 10 through July 10, he was 5-0 with a 2.61 ERA, 2.80 FIP, and a 1.18 WHIP over his previous 51 2/3 innings. Again, he could be a relatively cheap boost to an already good rotation.

Trade Robert Suarez

One thing the Padres have in abundance is high-end relief arms. The Padres have four of MLB's best relievers in All-Stars Robert Suarez, Adrian Morejon, and Jason Adam, plus the hard-throwing Jeremiah Estrada. There is more depth in the minor leagues, which would give them the ability to trade from a strength to get a haul of young players. The top of San Diego's minor league system lacks bats, which has reared its ugly head this season and contributed to the team's awful bench production.

With Emmanuel Clase sidelined due to a gambling investigation, Suarez would almost certainly be the top reliever available. The two-time All-Star closer is 2-4 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and boasts an MLB-best 30 saves in 33 chances. His 2.27 FIP shows he's been a bit unlucky this season as well. He has an $8 million player option for 2026 he is expected to decline, so he'd be a pure rental, but the Padres have the relievers to replace him as closer. They should take advantage of the market and get as much as they can before he walks.

Newcastle United have Bayer Leverkusen to overcome this week in the Champions League, but there’s a far more tantalising fixture sticking out across the busy December period.

The Premier League’s first Tyne-Wear showdown since 2016 arrives on the calendar next weekend, with Sunderland’s electric start out of the blocks in the top-flight this season no doubt ramping up the nerves on the end of the Magpies.

Eddie Howe will also be fearful of a loss when you consider Newcastle have lost their last four meetings in this tense rivalry, with Leverkusen in midweek the perfect opportunity to collect a confidence-boosting victory, before facing off against Regis Le Bris’ tricky Black Cats.

In particular, Howe will hope he sees a lot more from the likes of Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga at the BayArena, with both high-profile summer recruits failing to settle so far on Tyneside.

The numbers behind Wissa & Elanga at Newcastle

£250m in total was forked out on summer signings at St James’ Park, with £110m of that excessive spending landing both Wissa and Elanga.

There was a method behind Newcastle’s madness here, with the former Brentford man and the Swedish winger amassing a stunning 41 goal contributions between them last season in the Premier League.

Unfortunately for the £55m striker, though, he has only lined up for a paltry 16 minutes in Toon black and white so far, with his first appearance for the club coming last time out against Burnley, 96 days on from him signing on the dotted line.

He is far from a lost cause, however, with a hope he can add to his 45 Premier League goals shortly with sustained time in the first team, as he potentially prepares to start versus Leverkusen. If he doesn’t get up and running soon, with his hefty £140k-per-week salary also added to the equation, he will definitely be dismissed as a rash waste of money.

Elanga doesn’t have a troubling injury record to fall back on when it comes to his critics, with just two assists and no goals next to his name from 22 appearances on Tyneside, making his £55m price tag already feel extremely extortionate.

Still, there will also be a hope in the air that the £100k-per-week forward is simply a work in progress, having previously shone with Nottingham Forest, away from negative labels coming his way that he is a “massive overpay” in the words of Raj Chohan.

Staggeringly, despite £110m being dropped on the underwhelming duo in question, they’re not deemed as big a waste of money as this other high earner, who Howe must now swiftly axe ahead of key games to come in December.

Howe must now drop £120k-per-week Newcastle man

At least with Wissa and Elanga, Howe and Co would have known they were paying a premium price for talents who were consistent top performers in the Premier League.

In the case of Jacob Ramsey, though, £43m was forked out on a star who had a rollercoaster stay at Aston Villa, having only collected a mediocre eight goal contributions across his final two top-flight seasons in the West Midlands, leading to him falling out of Unai Emery’s first team plans.

Ramsey’s flashes of brilliance at his hometown club did see journalist Charles Watts once herald him as a “special” talent for the future, but eyebrows would have been rightly raised when the £43m move was finalised, with his £120k-per-week wage also making him an immediate higher earner than St James Park stalwarts such as Dan Burn, who pockets £70k-per-week, on the contrary.

In the here and now, too, it feels like an awfully long time ago since the 24-year-old was generating lots of hype at Villa Park, with a rare first-team start against Burnley last time out seeing Ramsey look rather timid.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

73

Shots

1

Accurate passes

56/60 (93%)

Accurate crosses

0/1

Key passes

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Penalties given away

1

Indeed, it doesn’t make for pretty reading on Ramsey’s end, with the 24-year-old’s general game going down as largely uneventful, until he gave away an unnecessary penalty via a handball, with only one shot, one key pass, and one accurate dribble registered.

With no goals or assists next to his name from 11 clashes, it isn’t the wildest shout to suggest he’s a bigger waste of money than both Wissa and Elanga, with Wissa needing more time to acclimatise, while Elanga at least has two assists to cling onto and showed what a dangerous talent he can be last season..

Moreover, with both Joe Willock and Lewis Miley also at Howe’s disposal in midfield in the reserve ranks, there doesn’t seem to be a long-standing space for the ex-Villa man in his starting XI, as the forgettable number 41 likely just turns into an expensive background figure that can’t be redeemed.

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Arsenal made it six wins from six in the Champions League on Monday night as Mikel Arteta’s men secured a 3-0 win over Club Brugge.

The Gunners tasted defeat against Aston Villa only a few days ago, but a much-changed team responded in emphatic fashion, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli both on the scoresheet.

Madueke scored a fierce opening goal, running through the heart of the Brugge team before unleashing a devastating effort from outside of the box that crashed in off the bar.

His second, a header from close range, was a lot simpler but there was nothing simple about Martinelli’s strike.

The Brazilian cut inside from the left and bent the ball into the far corner to cap off a phenomenal 3-0 win on the road in Europe.

Understandably, Arteta was delighted with what he saw from his players.

Arteta raves over Arsenal's attacking performance

Martinelli and Madueke have both struggled with injury this term but certainly made their chance count in Belgium on Wednesday night.

Speaking to the press after the game, Areta waxed lyrical over the two wingers, saying: “Madueke and Martinelli were outstanding today, the level of threat and two finishes spectacular. Jesus back after 11 months, to see him perform in the manner he did was really positive.”

Perhaps the biggest positive for the Gunners was Gabriel Jesus’ return to the side. The Brazilian hasn’t been seen in the first team since suffering a horrific ACL injury against Manchester United back in January.

While the striker didn’t score, he managed more touches than the man he replaced, Viktor Gyokeres, despite playing just half an hour.

Arteta was ecstatic to see the forward back in action, saying: “For 11 months, he’s been fighting against another very difficult injury and to see him back with that smile, with that energy and with that quality in his first performance back with us is really impressive and we’re all delighted for him.

“You can see how much we love him! If he continues to perform in that manner, he will bring something else to the team and I am really happy to see that.”

Arteta praises underrated Arsenal star

While the forward line grabbed the headlines in Brugge this week, praise must be handed to the lesser-spotted Christian Norgaard.

The Danish midfielder has barely kicked a ball since signing from Brentford in the summer but more than took his chance on Wednesday, albeit in an unfamiliar role.

Due to injuries to Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera, Norgaard played at centre-back and looked very solid, helping his team keep a clean sheet.

The manager was delighted with his performance, stating: “Christian Norgaard is someone who probably prepares the best out of all of them. He is somebody who makes us better every day. Any position, any condition, his attitude is always immaculate.”

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3 ByJack Salveson Holmes 2 days ago

Well, that was about as perfect a game as Chelsea are going to have this season.

Following their win over Burnley at the weekend, Enzo Maresca’s side were given the daunting task of hosting Barcelona in the Champions League.

However, instead of wilting under the pressure, the Blues stepped up and completely blew the Spanish giants aside.

From the first minute to the last, Chelsea were exceptional, and there were more than a few standout performers, including Estevao and someone who made light work of what should’ve been a challenging task.

Estevao's magical night vs Barcelona

When Chelsea secured the services of Estevao last summer, there was a lot made of the youngster.

In fact, just a few months before that, respected analyst Ben Mattinson had labelled him a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

Now, while there is still some way to go for that prediction to be proven true, the youngster certainly helped make it look like a good one on Tuesday night.

From practically the first minute until he came off in the 83rd, the 18-year-old was a massive threat, both in terms of his own goalscoring ability and creativity.

He was the scorer of the Blues’ all-important second goal on the night, beating two defenders with some quick feet and firing the ball into the roof of the net.

It means he is now the second-youngest player to score in his first three starts in the competition, after only Kylian Mbappé.

Unsurprisingly, the teenager left quite the impression on the watching press as well, with the Express’ Charlie Griggs awarding him a 9/10 match rating and writing that he ‘led the attacking charge at times.’

Perhaps the best thing that can be said about Estevao’s performance against Barcelona is that he totally outshone the other wonderkid in Lamine Yamal.

Although the Brazilian wasn’t the only Chelsea player to get the better of the young Spaniard.

Chelsea's other standout star vs Barcelona

The brilliant thing for Maresca and Chelsea fans is that you could realistically make the case for any number of their players being the best on the pitch on Tuesday night.

Chalkboard

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

However, when it comes to the starter who really shone, potentially even more so than Estevao, it’s hard to look past Marc Cucurella.

The Spanish full-back was utterly superb against Barcelona, and even though he had the challenging task of trying to stop their free-flowing attack, he didn’t once look flustered.

Moreover, he came out comfortably on top in his duel with Yamal.

In fact, he was so dominant and so on top of the young wonderkid that he was practically anonymous throughout the match, so much so that the Stamford Bridge faithful were safe to openly mock him.

Now, it’s not the first time the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has locked down a superstar attacker, but given the competition, it’s undoubtedly one of the more high-profile examples.

Understandably then, he also left quite the impression on Griggs, who awarded him a 9/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘locked down the left flank with ease and posed a danger up front.’

That might sound like hyperbole, but the 27-year-old’s statistics prove otherwise.

Minutes

93′

Expected Assists

0.59

Tackles (Won)

5 (4)

Interceptions

1

Clearances

2

Blocked Shots

1

Recoveries

4

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (1)

Key Passes

1

Passes

55/63

Touches

97

In his 93 minutes of action, he produced an expected assists figure of 0.59, won four of five tackles, made one interception, played one key pass, recovered the ball four times, took 97 touches, made two clearances and blocked one shot.

Ultimately, it was yet another performance that proved Cucurella is one of the best left-backs in the world, and as one content creator said, if he keeps it up, he’s well on his way to becoming “a Chelsea legend.”

Shades of Drogba: Chelsea make contact to sign £26m Liam Delap upgrade

Chelsea could already be about to sign a replacement for Liam Delap.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 25, 2025

Opener’s century came alongside a fine all-round performance from Luc Benkenstein

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Aug-2025Essex 321 for 8 (Critchley 103, Benkenstein 75, Westley 53, Holland 3-34) beat Leicestershire 261 (Masood 103, Benkenstein 3-53) by 60 runsAfter losing their opening three Metro Bank One-Day Cup matches, Essex backed up Friday’s emphatic victory over Surrey by defeating Leicestershire Foxes by 60 runs, dealing a blow to the latter’s chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages of a competition they won two years ago.A maiden List A century from opener Matt Critchley, supported by a 52-ball 75 by Luc Benkenstein, skipper Tom Westley’s 53 from 58 and Simon Harmer’s vigorous unbeaten 41 off 24 enabled Essex to rack up 321 for 8.Ian Holland (3 for 34) was excellent with the ball for the Foxes but Critchley’s solid 103 from 116 balls empowered Benkenstein and Harmer in particular to cut loose, the two hitting four sixes apiece. With no spinner in their side, the home attack lacked variety but did not help themselves by bowling 12 wides.Shan Masood (103 from 127) made the first century of his spell with Leicestershire but, with Roman Walker’s List A career-best 44 the next best against an Essex attack that had four spinners, the home side were bowled out for 261. Benkenstein took 3 for 53 with his leg breaks.After opting to bowl first on a green-tinged pitch, Leicestershire were rewarded in the fifth over when Robin Das nibbled at an outswinger by Holland and was caught behind.Ben Mike troubled Tom Westley early on but with Rishi Patel left out due to poor form with the bat and with no other spin option available after Liam Trevaskis pulled out through injury, the Foxes struggled to make inroads as Westley and Critchley added 99 in just under 19 overs. Westley survived a difficult chance to cover on 42 but hit seven boundaries in reaching 52 from 56 balls.He soon departed, superbly caught on the square leg boundary by Tom Scriven. Sol Budinger’s direct hit ran out Charlie Allison, but Critchley found another assertive partner in 20-year-old Benkenstein, who hauled Chris Wright and Wood over the rope at deep midwicket before ramping Roman Walker for another six in a 37-ball half-century, having escaped a chance to backward point on 39.The fourth-wicket pair added 127, Critchley overtaking his previous best of 64 not out as he collected nine fours in his hundred. Benkenstein hammered Mike down the ground for his fourth six but reached for a wide ball and was caught at short third.Ireland international Curtis Campher, after his debut unbeaten 123 against Surrey, was yorked first ball, after which Holland dismissed Critchley and Simon Fernandes. Scriven bowled Jamal Richards but Harmer cleared the rope four times in the last three overs.A testing target quickly became tougher as Jamie Porter removed both the Foxes’ openers in his first three overs without conceding a run, clipping Budinger’s off stump and striking Holland’s back pad in front. Lewis Hill edged Charlie Bennett to slip, leaving Leicestershire 16 for 3 in the sixth.Masood and skipper Peter Handscomb brought a wealth of experience but they needed not only to bat deep but score briskly with the required rate creeping up. They added 73 in 15 but then Handscomb found Allison on the legside boundary. New man Ben Cox was soon leg before to Westley’s off spin, leaving the home side 92 for 5.Masood completed a fifty from 70 balls but Harmer bowled Scriven for 15, after which Mike was out to Benkenstein’s leg spin without scoring.Walker batted nicely as he and Masood added 98 for the eighth wicket, Masood numbering 11 fours before he was lbw to Critchley’s leg spin, but the Foxes by then were well beaten, Benkenstein adding two more wickets as Walker and Wright found men on the boundary.