Shimron Hetmyer the only absentee from recent series wins over Bangladesh and England
ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-2025West Indies have named a largely unchanged squad for their upcoming ODI series in Ireland and England. Shimron Hetmyer, currently in action at the IPL, is absent from the group that beat Bangladesh 3-0 in December, with Jewel Andrew returning to a 15-man touring party.Shai Hope will captain the side, with Brandon King and Evin Lewis likely to form the opening combination ahead of Keacy Carty at first drop. Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde are both fit after withdrawing from the Bangladesh series, while Amir Jangoo will hope to win a run in the side after his 79-ball hundred on debut in St Kitts.West Indies will head into the three-match series against Ireland, starting in Dublin on May 21, sitting ninth in the ICC’s ODI rankings after finishing 2024 with series wins over Bangladesh and England, as they push for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe.Related
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“These matches form a critical component towards the 2027 World Cup and there are signs of the team building consistency following the series sweep against Bangladesh and the win over England late last year,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said. “We expect the conditions to be challenging but we are creating a culture and mindset which emphasise playing the brand of cricket that is taking us closer to some of our overall objectives.”West Indies have also made some changes to their backroom staff, with Ravi Rampaul replacing James Franklin as the team’s bowling coach. Former Ireland allrounder Kevin O’Brien will join the coaching team for the Ireland leg of the tour.After three games at Clontarf Cricket Club, West Indies will move on to England for three more ODIs, starting at Edgbaston on May 29. That series will be followed by three T20Is, for which West Indies have yet to confirm their squad.West Indies ODI squad: Shai Hope (capt), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd
It was by no means a classic but Manchester United will certainly never forget the events of Wednesday night, as the Red Devils beat Valerenga 1-0 to secure their first-ever win in the Women's Champions League proper. While their formal European journey might not have started with the sort of glamour fixture many would associate the competition with, it was one that felt important to emerge from with all three points given some of the challenges ahead and United did exactly that, thanks to a first-half penalty from captain Maya Le Tissier.
There was an air of fortune in how the hosts' goal came about, with Julia Zigiotti Olme's seemingly nothing ball striking the arm of Arna Eiriksdottir in the box to give Le Tissier the chance to break the deadlock just past the half-hour mark. United, though, had been threatening to score – most notably when Melvine Malard failed to square the ball to the unmarked Elisabeth Terland, instead hitting it right at Tove Enblom in the visiting goal.
There were not many chances in the game but it was often those in red coming closest to adding to the scoreline, be it Enblom thwarting Jess Park just after the restart or both Malard and Terland firing just off target as the game wound down. There would be a slight late scare for United, when Elise Thorsnes' effort fizzed just wide of Phallon Tullis-Joyce's far post, but Marc Skinner's side were able to comfortably see the game out in the end, making them the only English team to win in Europe this week following defeat for holders Arsenal and Chelsea's shock draw.
GOAL rates Man Utd's players from Leigh Sports Village…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Phallon Tullis-Joyce (6/10):
Had very little to do but dealt with what was thrown at her.
Jayde Riviere (6/10):
Final ball was a little wayward at times, but she did offer plenty of support in attack.
Maya Le Tissier (7/10):
Was essentially faultless in her defensive work and scored a terrific penalty to give United the win.
Dominique Janssen (6/10):
Great on the ball and formed a key part of a relatively untroubled defence.
Anna Sandberg (7/10):
Showed plenty of endeavour up and down the left, getting through some good work in attack and defence.
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Midfield
Julia Zigiotti Olme (6/10):
Surprisingly poor in possession given how tidy she has looked since joining from Bayern Munich in the summer. Made up for it somewhat with her work off the ball.
Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):
Moved the ball well in deeper positions to ensure United dominated and pushed on to contribute in attack from time to time, too.
Ella Toone (6/10):
When United did have moments in a game featuring few, she was often involved.
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Attack
Jess Park (7/10):
Continued to impress with her fantastic footwork in tight areas and great movement.
Elisabeth Terland (6/10):
Saw little in terms of clear-cut chances but led the line well with her all-round play to cause as many problems as possible.
Melvine Malard (6/10):
Battled well off the ball and had some bright moments, though should've squared to Terland in the first half after winning the ball high.
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Subs & Manager
Fridolina Rolfo (N/A):
Gave Terland a well-earned rest for the final stages.
Lisa Naalsund (N/A):
Ensured the energy levels didn't drop in midfield as United saw the game out.
Simi Awujo (N/A):
Made her injury return and first appearance of the season in the final moments.
Gabby George (N/A):
Another late sub.
Marc Skinner (6/10):
Was limited in what he could do with his XI given the injuries and players still working their way back to full fitness, but the continuity in his team selection helped make for a cohesive and solid performance in which United were rarely troubled.
He is still awaiting scan results after suffering an injury to his side earlier this week
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-20252:51
Pujara: Parag could open the batting for Royals
Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson is a doubtful starter against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Saturday, with the team awaiting scan results on an injury to his side.”Sanju experienced a bit of pain in the abdominal area,” head coach Rahul Dravid said on Friday. “He has done some scans today so we are waiting the results of those scans. And then once we get a bit more clarity around the scans and the severity of [the injury] we’ll take a decision going forward and we’ll see what happens.”Samson retired hurt on 31 off 19 balls with a suspected side issue during their RR’s match, against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday. He seemed in pain after attempting a cut off Vipraj Nigam following which the physio checked on the left side around his rib. Samson faced the next ball but retired hurt after that. RR went on to tie the match and ended up losing the Super Over.Related
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RR sweat on Samson's fitness in a bid to revive their season
“It feels alright,” Samson told the broadcasters after the match when he was asked about the injury. “I was just not ready to come back and bat here. We’ll observe it tomorrow and see how it is.”Samson began IPL 2025 nursing a thumb injury and, for the first three matches, could only function as a batter. In that time, Riyan Parag took charge of RR and is likely to lead them again if needed.Samson, who was used as an Impact Player in RR’s first three games, returned as captain and wicketkeeper after he was cleared by the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He had undergone finger surgery last month. In his absence, Dhruv Jurel kept wicket.Under Parag, RR lost their first two games, against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but bounced back to beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Guwahati. After winning against Punjab Kings (PBKS), RR lost the next three games and are currently eighth on the points table.Sanju Samson left the field after suffering an injury in the sixth over of the chase in his last game•BCCI
Dravid: ‘Sometimes you need to make forced changes”RR have had to get used to a new opening combination and a new spin attack following the mega auction where they lost Jos Buttler, R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. Dravid didn’t think that has affected their performance to a great degree.”See, it’s not like that,” he said. “If you see our opening partnership, they have given us quite good performances. Yashasvi [Jaiswal] and Sanju are playing well. Even in the last game, they gave us an explosive start. Unfortunately, Sanju had an injury, and he had to retire hurt. I won’t say it was the turning point because we had confidence in the other batters. But definitely, they gave a great partnership.”As for the other players [Ashwin and Chahal], it happens in every big auction with every team. You don’t always get the same team, sometimes you need to make changes, sometimes those changes are forced. Auctions have some rules, and you have to follow them. It’s not like a state team, where you just pick the players you want. There are some rules. But we believe that the players we have picked, it’s a good team.”Our Sri Lankan spinners [Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana] are renowned in the world. It’s not like they only play in the subcontinent. They are well established spinners, not some young guys. Sometimes it happens that the team’s display can be a bit up-and-down, but we are putting in the effort and working hard. So we hope that we do well going forward.”Rahul Dravid is aware that death bowling needs work•Rajasthan Royals
Dravid admits death bowling is an issueDravid did agree that RR needed to work on their execution with the ball in the back end of innings. “We suffered a little bit with our death bowling. We conceded 77 in the last five in the last game. The game earlier, we conceded 72,” he said. “I think that is another area for us that we need to get slightly better with, working with slightly more in execution I think our plans have been pretty good. It is just more around the execution of some of those skills.”Even if, say for example, a 57-60 sort of thing is acceptable in the last five overs, it has become almost a norm now. We seem to go for 72-77. It has been those two-three extra boundaries which I think we need to work on and we need to get better at. But it is more an execution issue. I think the quality is there.”The RR head coach also took ownership of the decisions that the team has been taking this year, including the one to use Sandeep Sharma for the Super Over ahead of Jofra Archer.”The decisions are being made by me and with Sanju Samson being an integral part of that and in consultation with our other coaches and our analyst team,” Dravid said. “No one claims that every decision that even experts make works out and is correct. But I respect the fact, and I am very confident of the team that I have around me that is supporting me and Sanju in making these decisions.”With regards to the specific one on Jofra and Sandeep, Sandeep is someone that we trust. He has been bowling some fantastic overs for us. He has bowled all the difficult overs for us in this tournament. And we completely back him and support him and we felt he was the right bowler for us on that wicket in those conditions with the skills that he has.”
It’s been a couple of weeks since the transfer window closed, and it’s hard to remember a better summer for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta got practically everything he could have wanted, from a prolific number nine, to a new highly sought-after six, a backup for Saka and one of the most exciting young defenders in world football.
Moreover, with the signing of Eberechi Eze, he got someone who can replace Gabriel Martinelli out on the left or start as the team’s out-and-out ten.
It’s not even a problem that he’s closer to 30 than some would like, as Arsenal also look to be brewing their own homegrown version of the Englishman, and no, we aren’t talking about Max Dowman.
Why Eze could be a game-changer for Arsenal
Even though Viktor Gyokeres was far more prolific and Martin Zubimendi reportedly caught the attention of Real Madrid, Eze feels like Arsenal’s most important signing this summer.
Even discounting the narrative of his returning home and the story of his choosing the Gunners over Tottenham Hotspur, there are a few reasons why we think his move could be the most consequential.
Firstly, unlike some of the other new faces, the Greenwich-born maestro is already Premier League-proven.
Including the games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest this year, he has made 149 appearances in the competition, during which he has scored 34 goals and provided 24 assists.
Secondly, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, has proven himself capable of taking high-pressure games by the scruff of the neck and dragging his team over the finishing line.
For example, he scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup as Palace won their first significant honour last season.
Finally, as we’ve already mentioned, his versatility means he can play out on the left or in the ten depending on what the team need, or which other players are out of form.
However, Arteta has to be careful not to play him out wide too often, as while the former QPR gem can play there, it’s clearly not his preferred position.
We can see this in his heatmaps from last season, when he clearly moves towards the middle the further up the pitch he gets.
Eze’s positional versatility
Attacking Midfield
144
35
21
Left Winger
53
10
8
Central Midfield
43
9
3
Left Midfield
32
8
5
Right Winger
11
3
1
Right Midfield
4
0
0
Centre-Forward
2
0
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, the vast majority of his goal involvements have come when he is playing in attacking midfield, 56 to be exact.
In all, Eze looks like he’ll be an incredible addition to this Arsenal squad, and in even better news, it looks like the club are already brewing their own version.
Arsenal's homegrown Eze
Now, given the way pre-season went, and the way he’s started the season prorper, some may assume that the player in question is the sensationally talented Max Dowman.
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However, that’s not the case, as while he could well develop into an Eze-esque star for Arsenal, he is still just 15 years old, and we haven’t really seen enough of him to determine something like that.
Instead, when it comes to the Gunners’ homegrown version of the former Palace star, we are talking about none other than Ethan Nwaneri.
There are a few reasons for this, and the first is where he plays.
Like his older teammate, the Hale Ender is someone who can play in a number of roles – with Arteta even claiming he could play up top last season – but he seems to have two he’s most comfortable with, which are right-wing and attacking midfield.
Moreover, while he can play out wide, as he did for much of last year, he spent most of his time in the academy playing as a ten, and he’s even told the press that it’s his preferred role.
The second similarity is that the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock, has already proven himself to be a significant goal threat, as well as someone who can create.
Nwaneri in 24/25
Appearances
37
Minutes
1378′
Goals
9
Assists
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement
125.27′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
For example, in 37 appearances, totalling just 1378 minutes, the Enfield-born dynamo scored nine goals and provided two assists, which comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games, or every 125.27 minutes.
Finally, like the 27-year-old, the Gunners’ next big thing is an entertainer on the pitch.
He’s not afraid to try something audacious with the ball at his feet, and according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, and that dribbling past an opponent is always one way to get the fans on their feet.
Ultimately, Eze could well be the difference for Arsenal this season, but Nwaneri could end up being just as, if not more, important in a few years.
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Players from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland could all contribute to men’s and women’s campaigns
ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2025A Great Britain (GB) team – comprising men’s and women’s players from England, Scotland and potentially Northern Ireland – is one step closer to being ratified by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Scotland, ahead of cricket’s return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.A new entity, GB Cricket, is being formulated for what would be the men’s team’s de facto defence of a title they last won in Paris in 1900, in cricket’s last appearance at the Olympics.The activities of GB Cricket are to be overseen by a board with both executive and non-executive representatives from the ECB and Cricket Scotland. An MOU will also be put in place with Cricket Ireland to give Northern Irish players an opportunity to compete at the Olympics, too.Given that Cricket Ireland is a body that represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic, it is unlikely that its players would seek qualification for GB Cricket.However, Paul Stirling, Ireland’s white-ball captain, is among a core of Northern Ireland-based players, including Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, and the Ireland women’s wicketkeeper Amy Hunter, who could be eligible for the tournament.GB Cricket is expected to be officially constituted in the coming months, and it would then need to be officially recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the British Olympic Association (BOA) before becoming a full member of the National Olympic Committee (NOC). According to an ECB spokesperson, an agreement in principle with the ICC is already in place.The qualification process has yet to be established for what is expected to be a six-team tournament. However, it has already been agreed that England’s men’s and women’s teams would be the qualification vehicle for Team GB, with the Scotland and Northern Ireland players available thereafter.It’s a further consideration for England’s new white-ball captain, Harry Brook, whose reboot of the team’s fortunes is set to begin with the first ODI against West Indies at Edgbaston on Thursday.”That would be pretty cool to be able to play in the Olympics and get an Olympic gold medal,” Brook said. “But it’s so far away, it’s miles away yet. I haven’t even thought about that yet.”
Manchester United face off against their rivals Manchester City this weekend in the Premier League and could now miss the services of three important stars for the clash.
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim clarifies goalkeeper situation
The Manchester Derby rightfully has a spot as one of the most anticipated local rivalries in world football and Ruben Amorim will be looking for a morale-boosting victory at the home of the Citizens to further their cause for Premier League improvement.
Last term, Amad Diallo’s late winner against Pep Guardiola’s men in a 2-1 victory during the early stages of Amorim’s tenure proved to be one of the highlights in a campaign full of lows for Manchester United. Other than that, supporters will be glad to view 2024/25 as a distant memory.
Nevertheless, this season hasn’t started without any hitches either, making Sunday’s clash between two eternal enemies one that could go on to shape the dynamic of their respective endeavours over the next few months.
Looking ahead to the clash, Amorim confirmed that £18.2 million Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens will have to wait for his competitive debut after joining from Royal Antwerp on Deadline Day.
“Yeah (Altay Bayindir will play). It is the same thing I do with different positions, It is a different league, different country, different training, different ball, so they will fight for the position. I believe in Altay, he (Lammens) is ready to play but Altay is going to continue.”
However, there are other concerns Amorim will need to deal with ahead of their upcoming derby clash, including the fact three of his players have been ruled out due to injury.
Man Utd trio set to miss Man City clash
Unfortunately, Manchester United trio Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot look set to miss the clash with Manchester City due to injury, Amorim confirmed in his pre-match press duties.
Man Utd’s injury list – who will miss Manchester Derby?
Lisandro Martinez
Matheus Cunha
Diogo Dalot
Mason Mount
The trio earn £415,000 per week between them at Old Trafford and have featured in all three of Manchester United’s Premier League matches so far, so who could come in to replace them?
Kobbie Mainoo may well be a swap for Mount, while Casemiro may start in a deeper role to allow Bruno Fernandes more creative freedom. Patrick Dorgu may also be included higher up to allow greater tactical flexibility.
Either way, Manchester United are gearing up for their biggest match of the season so far and will need to be at the top of their game to take something come full-time at the Etihad.
Cesc Fabregas showed just how much his side’s stunning win over Juventus meant to him as cameras captured the Como boss delivering a passionate post-match speech to his players on the pitch. The Arsenal and Chelsea icon, who has guided the Serie A underdogs to sixth place, was visibly emotional as he told his players that he is “f*cking proud” of them.
Como pull off major upset against Juventus
Como claimed one of their most memorable victories in decades, defeating Italian heavyweights Juventus 2-0 in front of a jubilant Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia crowd. Marc-Oliver Kempf’s early volley and Nico Paz’s dazzling solo strike secured a result that lifted Fabregas’s side above Juve in the Serie A table. The triumph marked Como’s first league win over the Bianconeri in 73 years, underlining the club’s remarkable resurgence.
After the game, Fabregas huddled together with his players and staff on the field and gave a rousing team talk to reiterate how “proud” he was of his side as they look to challenge for European football in what is only their second season in the top flight.
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Como's meteoric rise and Fabregas' role in it
The result was another milestone in a dream 2025-26 campaign for Como, who continue to defy expectations in their second season back in Serie A. Under Fabregas’s full-time management, the team has developed a reputation for attacking football, dictated by a lot of flair but also stability in the ranks. Central to their success has been 21-year-old Nico Paz, who now has four goals and four assists in seven games -meaning he has contributed to eight of Como’s nine league strikes so far this season.
Speaking about Paz after the win over Juventus, Fabregas told the media: “I thank [Arsene Wenger] because at 16 he believed in me, just as I believe in Nico Paz, who is a champion. I’m very confident about his future because I can recognise when a player has the mindset to become a top player. If he continues like this, he can go wherever he wants.”
Fabregas’s tactical philosophy, honed under Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, has given Como a distinctive identity built on possession play and relentless intensity. His leadership has also proved crucial off the field, attracting promising young players and reenergising a fanbase that has endured decades of hardship. From once languishing in Serie D to defeating one of Italy’s most decorated clubs, Como’s journey has been a testament to ambition and belief.
The club’s transformation is also tied to their ownership by Indonesia’s Djarum Group, which stabilised finances and invested smartly in infrastructure and scouting. Fabregas’s arrival accelerated that vision – his global experience, coaching nous, and charisma uniting the project. The win against Juventus was not just three points; it was a symbolic statement that Como’s rise is no fluke, and that the club now belongs among Italy’s elite.
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Como look to continue on upward trajectory
Como will look to build on their historic victory when they take on Parma at Ennio Tardini Stadium, as Fabregas’s men aim to continue their strong domestic form. The Lariani sit sixth in the Serie A table, level on points with fifth-placed Bologna but ahead of Juventus on goal difference. Fabregas, however, is likely to keep his players grounded, insisting that consistency and humility must remain central to their progress.
With Paz in sublime form and the squad visibly buying into their coach’s philosophy, the club’s top-half aspirations appear increasingly realistic. For Fabregas, each passing week further cements his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers.
The big three of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) came to the party once again, with Nicholas Pooran scoring 45 off 26 balls on the back of half-centuries from openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. On a pitch that became trickier to bat on as the ball became older, however, the rest of the line-up didn’t offer too much: having scored 108 for no loss in the first 10 overs, LSG only managed 97 for 7 in the back half, as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) bowlers pulled them back with their changes of pace.Eshan Malinga was SRH’s most successful bowler with 2 for 28, picking up the wickets of Rishabh Pant, who fell for another low score after promoting himself to No. 3 as he chipped a slower ball back to the diving bowler, and Ayush Badoni.With Malinga, Pat Cummins and Harshal Patel finding plenty of grip with the slower ball, SRH, at one stage, looked set to limit LSG to below 200. But Nitish Kumar Reddy, who bowled for the first time in IPL 2025, conceded 20 runs in an eventful final over that also brought three wickets – including two run-outs – with Pooran hitting his first six off the 25th ball of his innings, and Akash Deep finishing off with a first-ball six off the last ball of the innings.LSG ended up with a total well short of what they may have envisioned when Marsh and Markram were hitting the ball to all parts in an opening stand of 115 in 10.3 overs. Both brought up 28-ball half-centuries, hitting four sixes each in power-packed displays at the top of the order.Marsh’s dismissal in the 11th over – it was debutant left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey’s first wicket in the IPL – began LSG’s slowdown; even Pooran struggled to get to grips with the pace of the pitch initially, scoring just 28 runs off his first 20 balls, before finishing with a flourish.
We are only three games into the season, and there are already so many things to talk about around Arsenal.
One of the more positive developments has been the emergence of Max Dowman, who, after being talked about for almost a year, finally made his Premier League debut against Leeds United in gameweek two.
He looked right at home in senior football, won a penalty and impressed Mikel Arteta enough to earn a substitute appearance away to Liverpool the following week.
It certainly feels like the youngster is destined to reach the top of the game, and it appears that Hale End has another gem on their hands in a 16-year-old who could be the perfect replacement for William Saliba.
William Saliba's Arsenal career
Arsenal signed Saliba from Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2019 – under Unai Emery – but as we all know, he wouldn’t get his chance to play for the club until three years after that.
Instead, the young Frenchman was sent on three season-long loans, to his former club, OGC Nice and then finally Marseille, who even tried to sign him permanently due to his hugely impressive performances.
However, Arteta and Co. very wisely made it clear the Bondy-born monster was not for sale, and as he was named the Man of the Match in just his first game for the Gunners, it was instantly apparent to English fans why he was so highly rated in France.
Since then, the 24-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by content creator Connor Humm, has amassed 137 appearances for the North Londoners, in which he’s scored seven goals and provided two assists.
He has also been named in the PFA Team of the Year for three seasons on the bounce, which just goes to show the level of player Arteta has in his squad.
William Saliba’s Arsenal Career
Appearances
137
Starts
135
Minutes
11968
Goals
7
Assists
2
Points per Game
2.06
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, while a new contract is reportedly in the works, his current deal expires in two years, and Real Madrid have constantly been linked with him over the last couple of transfer windows.
While Arsenal will be hoping Saliba remains at the club for years to come, if that’s not the case, they might already have the perfect replacement brewing in a Hale End talent who could be a bit like Dowman.
Hale End's perfect Saliba replacement
It should go without saying that, at this very moment in time, Arsenal fans shouldn’t expect an academy gem to come in and perfectly replace Saliba.
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Now, that might sound like hyperbole, but we promise you it’s not, as there is an enormous amount of excitement around the youngster from those in the know.
For example, Hale End expert Will Balsam has described him as the academy’s “best defensive prospect in recent memory,” which is almost as bold as respected analyst Ben Mattinson, who’s claimed the 16-year-old is the “best CB Hale End has produced.”
Moreover, he shares plenty of the same characteristics as the French international, with Balsam pointing out his “composure under pressure and ability to read the game”, which pair brilliantly with his “mix of control and aggression.”
It’s not just outsiders who have high hopes for the youngster, either, as the club has already moved him up the U21s and Arteta gave him a run-out against Newcastle United and AC Milan in pre-season.
Finally, on top of everything we’ve already talked about, one of the biggest strengths of the Gunners’ number two is his passing range, and according to Rising Stars XI, the Hale Ender is also more than accomplished at that.
Ultimately, Arsenal should do whatever they can to keep Saliba on the books for as long as possible, but they can rest assured that in Salmon, they’ll have an ideal replacement a few years from now.
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The talented goalscorer could have become something really special at Arsenal.
Tottenham Hotspur has been the home to numerous top-level youth talents over the last couple of years, with attacker Mikey Moore one of the players on their constant conveyor belt.
The 18-year-old has spent the vast majority of his life as a Lilywhite, before making his debut in the first-team last campaign under Ange Postecoglou due to the injury crisis.
Despite his tender age, the youngster racked up a total of 19 senior appearances, ten of which came in the Premier League, with three of his outings coming from a starting role.
Moore even registered his first senior goal for his boyhood club in the Europa League, scoring in the victory over Elfsborg and helping the club end their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware.
However, after Thomas Frank’s appointment during the off-season, he’s been shipped out on loan to Scottish side Rangers in the hope of more consistent game time.
He’s not the only young talent on the books who has caught the eye, with one other youngster set for a huge future in North London during the years ahead.
Luka Vuskovic’s future as a Spurs star
Back in the summer of 2023, Spurs forked out a fee in the region of £12m for the signature of teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split.
However, he’s spent a couple of years out on loan, with his spell on loan at Westerlo catching the eye – but for his attacking quality rather than his talent at the back.
The Croatian scored seven times and registered two assists in his 36 outings, a simply staggering feat for a young defender who is trying to establish himself at the top-level.
Such form led to the sensation being involved in the first-team’s squad pre-season plans, even registering a goal and an assist in the 2-0 victory over League One outfit, Reading.
Many fans were calling for the youngster to be included in the Dane’s Premier League squad for 2025/26, but it wasn’t meant to be, with Vuskovic sent on loan to Bundesliga side Hamburg this summer.
The prospect of top-flight German football to many youngsters may be a daunting one, but the 18-year-old has taken to the task like a duck to water – already netting his first goal despite making just three appearances.
However, his showing against Union Berlin on Sunday was his best to date, winning 18 aerial duels and making 12 clearances – helping his current side keep a needed clean sheet.
There’s no denying that he could be a huge player for Frank in the future, but the new manager already have another hugely promising talent on the books in North London.
The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Vuskovic
As previously seen by the aforementioned talents at Spurs, they do have a plethora of upcoming stars who could potentially catapult them to continued success in the years ahead.
Their recruitment strategy has certainly aided their ability to create a strong youth setup, with many taking the jump and already cementing themselves in Frank’s plans for 2025/26.
Lucas Bergvall may only be 19, but he’s already established himself as a regular starter, featuring in all six of the Lilywhites’ Premier League outings to date – even scoring once against West Ham United.
The Swede could be joined by youngster Luca Williams-Barnett for many years to come, with the 16-year-old already making huge waves across various levels despite his tender age.
The attacking midfielder has been starring way above his age group over the last few seasons, with the youngster featuring in the U18s for the majority of 2024/25.
He ended the year with a staggering 23 goals and nine assists in his 24 outings for the Lilywhites, resulting in a jump up once again – now becoming a key member of the U21 side.
Williams-Barnett has once again exceeded expectations, already notching eight goal contributions in his first six appearances of the new campaign.
The 16-year-old has let his age get in the way, subsequently starring five years above his age group – something which has caught the eye of first-team boss Frank in recent weeks.
He was handed his first senior appearance against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup last week, coming off the bench for three minutes – leading to analyst Ben Mattinson labelling him as a “superstar”.
Most Goals and Assists – Spurs U21s (25/26)
Player
Tally
Luca Williams-Barnett
8
Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny
4
Rio Kyerematen
4
Oliver Irow
3
Yusuf Akhamrich
3
Tynan Thompson
2
Dane Scarlett
1
Dante Cassanova
1
Stats via FotMob
Given his tender age, there’s no denying that the attacker needs more time in the academy system to develop before being able to make the jump into the first-team squad.
However, that’s not taking away from the fact that Williams-Barnett is a player with mammoth potential, with the club desperately needing to manage him in the right way.
In the years ahead, he could have a huge part to play in the Lilywhites’ hunt for success, with the youngster having the chance to create new history for the club alongside centre-back Vuskovic.
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