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O atacante Romarinho teve uma boa passagem pelo Floresta na Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro. Além de manter o clube cearense no torneio, o jogador também marcou cinco gols em 18 partidas.

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Romarinho vibrou com os gols, as boas atuações e a garantia de mais um ano do Floresta disputar um torneio nacional.

– Fico feliz em ter ajudado o clube com gols e as boas atuações. O Floresta é um clube importante não só no Ceará, mas no Nordeste e que merece sempre alçar voos maiores – afirmou Romarinho.

Com passagens por Taubaté e Atibaia, o atacante de 27 anos vislumbra o mercado da Série B, que ainda pode contratar jogadores da terceira divisão do Brasil.

– Estou ansioso pelas propostas, pois quero continuar jogando no ano e até ajudar a conquistar mais algum objetivo. Sei que tomarei a melhor decisão – finalizou o jogador.

Donald Trump, president of the United States of America, once hinted at which Premier League he supports in a chat with Arsenal fan Piers Morgan.

Donald Trump is a sport fanatic with love for golf, UFC, football and baseball

The 79-year-old, who is currently into his second term as president, has never hid his love for sport and recently made the trip to New York to watch The Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

Trump regularly plays golf and through his holding company, the Trump Organization, even owns 17 different courses around the world.

Trump also enjoys watching UFC and his relationship with UFC president Dana White has been well-documented.

When it comes to American Football, Trump’s team is thought to be the New England Patriots due to friendships with CEO Robert Kraft and legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

Also a fan of Major League Baseball, Trump’s team appears to be the New York Yankees, although he does have appreciation for the New York Mets as well.

Over in England, Trump even appears to have a favoured football team in the Premier League, and it isn’t Chelsea despite being involved in the Blues’ Club World Cup celebrations.

Donald Trump hints at which Premier League team he supports

Talking to journalist and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan back in 2018, Trump was presented with a Gunners shirt with his name on the back. Trump’s son, Barron, is a fan of Arsenal, with Morgan looking to make the President a supporter of the north London side.

However, Trump admitted that his allegiance lies with another Premier League giant, Manchester United.

That “friend” in question appears to be Edward Glazer, co-owner of the Red Devils. In fact, it is claimed that Glazer donated £45,000 during Trump’s first ever US presidential campaign.

The American president isn’t the only famous Man Utd supporter from across the pond, with singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake also a huge Old Trafford fan.

Tottenham Hotspur are finding their feet in the Premier League this season and there is a swell of internal belief surrounding one of their most promising stars.

Tottenham's resilience leaves Frank delighted

Over the years, external narratives involving Spurs have questioned their mentality to grind out results when the pressure is on, but Thomas Frank appears to be in a position to reverse that trend.

Speaking after Tottenham’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leeds United last weekend, the Danish boss made it clear that his side have the dig needed to secure momentous victories even in testing circumstances.

He stated: “I think if you want to build any successful team you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness. No matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win, and I think we are building that more and more in the team.”

Of course, stiffer tests are to come and Frank’s men will need to show they have the mettle to claim a regular stream of points. Regardless, one loss in seven Premier League fixtures is a marked improvement on last term.

Ambition inside the building will lead that charge, and Spurs’ reported move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a sign that they aren’t willing to settle for just being part of the chasing pack.

Agbonlahor says Frank should be worried about Tottenham star who gives "zero"

The pundit claims he can’t be relied upon.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 4, 2025

Putting that aside, Frank will need to focus on the talent he has at his disposal for now, even if the January window offers an opportunity to add new faces to his collective.

Listening to that advice, the Spurs manager now believes he has a player that can rival some of the world’s best in his position over the coming years.

Frank makes exciting Archie Gray prediction

Profiling his role, Frank believes Archie Gray could one day be as good as Declan Rice or Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, and has urged the former Leeds United man to take his game to the next level under his stewardship.

He stated: “I see him as a midfielder who can play six or eight. That is his position and these days midfielders need to be more complete.

Five similar players to Archie Gray (FBRef)

Marin Pongracic

Fiorentina

Clinton Mata

Lyon

Christian Mawissa

Monaco

Jean-Clair Todibo

West Ham United

Ismael Doukoure

Strasbourg

“You need to be a little bit of a six, a little bit of eight and 10 and two of the best in the world right now are probably Rodri and Declan Rice. They can do a little bit of everything. I see Archie, and they are big names to compare him to, but I see he has got the same potential.”

Making 51 appearances for a club of Tottenham’s standing at 19 years of age is a commendable achievement, though it remains to be seen if the England Under-21 international can one day rival two of the Premier League’s most established midfielders.

From Malmo’s tough streets to San Siro's grand stage, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never backed down from a challenge or from hate. In an interview, the Swedish legend reflected on racism, fatherhood and the mindset that turned insults into fuel. The Swedish striker revealed how “gypsy” slurs from opposition fans only pushed him to perform harder and how he paved the way for Sweden’s new generation.

Zlatan opens up about family, legacy and Milan

Ibrahimovic appeared on , speaking candidly about life after football. Now a senior advisor at RedBird, he reflected on raising his sons, Maximilian and Vincent, both part of Milan’s youth setup. “They think they’re already stronger than me,” Zlatan joked. “It helps them, but for my ego, it’s impossible. What matters is that they’re well.”

He also paid tribute to Milan, the club he calls his “home.” “Milan gave me happiness the first time and love the second time,” said the two-time Scudetto winner. “When I returned, I played with teammates 20 years younger. My farewell was emotional, I didn’t want to plan it because I wanted my emotions to be real,” Ibrahimovic said.

AdvertisementAFP'Hate came my way, I did even more' – Ibra

In a 2021 Serie A match against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, Ibrahimovic was subjected to racist chants by some Roma fans. Despite the abuse, the ex-Milan forward used the incident as motivation rather than letting it affect him negatively. As the verbal jibes rained down on him, Ibrahimovic silenced the crowd by firing Milan into the lead after 25 minutes and was subsequently booked for gesturing at the crowd in his celebration. It was his 150th Serie A goal and 400th across all domestic leagues.

Opening up about what happened during the match, Ibra said: "I remember that day, 50,000 people were shouting 'You're a gypsy' after the goal. I pretended not to hear because I wanted even more, because that way they would motivate me. When I was on the pitch and the hate came my way, I did even more , because I needed motivation. Then when the crowd started doing it, I thought 'louder, louder, louder.' Then the referee booked me, which I don't understand."

The incident led to sanctions for Roma, including a suspended stadium ban for their Curva Sud section, where the racist abuse originated. Roma publicly stated their zero tolerance for racism and commitment to fighting discrimination.

Zlatan shares his humble beginnings and hardships he faced

Ibrahimovic’s story began far from the glamour of San Siro. Born in Malmo’s tough Rosengard district, he grew up amid poverty and struggle, experiences that hardened him early. “I worked, I made sacrifices, I went against everyone. I had to be stronger than the others to make myself known,” he recalled. Football became his escape, his motivation, and his rebellion. His difficult childhood was marked by hunger, broken homes, and street fights but this is what eventually forged his resilience. “Either I’d do this for real or waste my time,” he once said of his early Malmo days.

"I worked, I made sacrifices, I went against everyone. I had to be stronger than the others to make myself known and have the opportunity to make it. Today I can say I've opened the doors to second generations in Sweden," he said.

Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo in 1999 before moving to Ajax in 2001, where he won two Eredivisie titles. He then played for Juventus and Inter, winning three Serie A titles, and then moved to Barcelona in 2009, securing La Liga and several international trophies but clashing with manager Pep Guardiola. Returning to Italy with Milan in 2010, he clinched another Serie A title. At Paris Saint-Germain, the Swede dominated Ligue 1 with four consecutive titles and became the club's all-time top scorer, though he was then overtaken by Edinson Cavani and then Kylian Mbappe. Brief spells at Manchester United in 2016, winning the Europa League, and LA Galaxy in 2018 followed, before Zlatan returned to Milan in 2020, helping them win Serie A in 2022 despite an ACL injury.

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Getty Images SportPlanet Zlatan

Ibrahimovic has always seen himself as operating on a different level – “Planet Zlatan,” he called it in a previous interview. Growing up in Malmo’s tough neighbourhoods, he felt like an outsider, underestimated and unwelcome. Yet he transformed that difference into a unique identity and unmatched confidence. “I came from my own planet, with something that no one has seen,” he told in 2018.

Across his two spells at Milan, Ibra made around 163 appearances, scoring 93 goals overall, including 76 goals in 125 Serie A matches. His journey from adversity to global football icon has left a lasting legacy, inspiring a new generation of players to follow in his footsteps.

كشف وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، موقف إمام عاشور لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، في ظل معاناته من فيروس A.

وعانى عاشور من الإصابة بفيروس A خلال الفترة الماضية، ما أبعده عن المشاركة مع الأهلي في المباريات الأخيرة.

وكان الأهلي قد تعادل بهدف لكل فريق مع نظيره بتروجيت، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ12 من الدوري الممتاز.

طالع | وليد صلاح الدين: توروب لم يطلب رحيل لاعب الأهلي.. وواجهنا سوء توفيق “رهيب”

وقال وليد صلاح الدين في تصريحات لقناة “الأهلي”: “إمام عاشور سيعود بشكل تدريجي بسيط جدًا في الأحمال، بينما محمد شريف يواصل العلاج ونفس الأمر حسين الشحات وأشرف داري”.

وتابع: “الفريق سيستعيد خدمات مروان عطية وأحمد نبيل كوكا في مباراة المصري، وسنرى مع طبيب الفريق موقف باقي المصابين”.

وعن موقف أحمد سيد زيزو من مباراة المصري، أكد: “زيزو يعاني من إجهاد طبيعي وسيكون جاهزًا للمباراة المقبلة أمام المصري”.

وبسؤاله هل هناك إمكانية لسفر إمام عاشور لـ الإمارات لخوض السوبر المصري، اختتم: “هذا قرار مشترك بيني وبين المدير الفني، وسنأخذ الفريق بالكامل من ضمنهم إمام عاشور”.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي أمام المصري، على أرضية استاد برج العرب، يوم الأحد 2 نوفمبر المقبل، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر (بعد تطبيق التوقيت الشتوي)، الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية.

MI will go through if they win, but victory for DC will extend the playoffs race further

S Sudarshanan20-May-20252:58

Bumrah, the gold standard for T20 bowling

The big picture: MI qualify if they winMumbai Indians (MI) find themselves in an unusual situation. They will be in action on the fifth day after IPL 2025 resumed. That is more than two weeks after their previous match – against Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 6. And as soon as they hit the field, they face almost a must-win situation.If MI beat Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday, they will enter the playoffs. If they lose, a lot will hinge on a couple of games: DC’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) first and then MI’s own match against PBKS. MI would not want to tempt fate further by leaving it too late, even though their net run-rate of 1.156 is easily the best of all the teams.Related

Race to playoffs: MI vs DC for final spot

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Tactics board: Suryakumar-Tilak vs DC's spinners, a potential promotion for Stubbs?

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Remaining IPL 2025 league games to have extra 120 minutes

The first jailbreak for MI came against the same opponent earlier this season. They had lost four of their first five matches before landing in Delhi. Three run-outs in the last over didn’t just help MI beat DC but also start a run of six successive wins. One that kept their hopes alive.They again face DC at a crucial time in the season. And they are coming off a close defeat.For DC to qualify, they ideally need two wins out of two. A loss on Wednesday will knock them out. And winning on Wednesday but losing their last game will leave them hoping MI also lose their last match. It’s a tough ask for DC considering they have lost four of their last five completed matches and are now without Mitchell Starc.Form guideMumbai Indians LWWWW
Delhi Capitals LLLWLIn the spotlight: Jasprit Bumrah and KL RahulMI’s bowling attack has looked quite different after the return of Jasprit Bumrah from injury. He has bowled across each phase – 11 overs each in the powerplay and the death and ten in the middle. In the first four games without Bumrah, MI’s death-overs economy rate was 11.18, which has improved to 9.07 in the games since. While DC took him apart in the first fixture, it was just his second game upon return. They will now counter him at a venue where he averages 12.88 this season.In the words of bowling coach Munaf Patel, KL Rahul “asked for” the opening spot in DC’s last game and responded with an unbeaten century. He now comes to the Wankhede where he averages 63.40 in the IPL. And he will face MI against whom he averages 74.23 and strikes at 135.15 with six fifties and three hundreds. He also has a favourable match-up against Bumrah (average 73, strike rate 123.72, two dismissals), Deepak Chahar (strike rate 159.59 for no dismissals in 99 balls) and Trent Boult (average 49, strike rate 148.48 for two dismissals).2:22

Chopra expects MI to pick Bosch ahead of Santner

Team news and possible XIIsMI are unlikely to tinker with their line-up. The only toss-up could be between Corbin Bosch and Mitchell Santner depending on conditions.Mumbai Indians (probable XII): 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Corbin Bosch/Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Karn Sharma/Ashwani Kumar, 11 Trent Boult, 12 Jasprit BumrahSediqullah Atal, Harry Brook’s replacement at DC, batted a fair while at match-eve training. He could be in contention to replace Faf du Plessis, who has been short of runs.Delhi Capitals (probable XII): 1 KL Rahul, 2 Faf du Plessis/Sediqullah Atal, 3 Abishek Porel (wk), 4 Axar Patel (capt), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Sameer Rizvi, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 T Natarajan, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mustafizur Rahman, 12 Dushmantha ChameeraThe big questionPitch and conditionsOf the six games at the Wankhede this season, four have been won by teams chasing. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had to score a big total of 221 in order to successfully defend it. With chances of rain in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, teams will be inclined to chase once again.Stats and trivia Suryakumar Yadav has 25-plus scores in each of his last 12 innings, the longest streak in the IPL. Temba Bavuma holds the record for the longest such streak in men’s T20 cricket – 13 innings. Axar Patel has opened the bowling in three of the last four games he has bowled in. There is a case for him to do so against MI on Wednesday – with his positive match-up against Rohit Sharma: 69 balls, 63 runs, three dismissals. Rohit needs to hit three sixes to become the first Indian to 300 sixes in the IPL. Only Chris Gayle (397) has more in the IPL. DC average 19.83 for the opening wicket in IPL 2025, the lowest among all teams.Quotes”It will matter because he is our main fast bowler who bowls at 145kph, swings the ball and that too at the Wankhede wicket where both swing and bounce is available. It matters 100%, but when there is no option, you have to think of other alternatives, you cannot get stuck thinking ‘oh he is not there now, what will happen?'”
“It’s still a game of cricket, whether it’s a World Cup final, whether it’s an IPL final. I can’t control the dynamics. I can’t control the fans or how media is reacting to the whole thing. What I can control is to make sure the guys are focused to play a game of cricket. It’ll be for them a normal game of cricket as long as I can get them to think like that.”

Liverpool have made it a flawless start to the Premier League season. Five wins from five. Five points clear. Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp header against Atletico Madrid also secured three points to kick off the Reds’ Champions League campaign.

Now, Liverpool turn their attention to the Carabao Cup, with Arne Slot perhaps carrying a chip on his shoulder after being defeated in last year’s final by Newcastle United.

On Tuesday evening, Anfield welcomes Southampton for a third-round meeting. Saints were relegated from the Premier League last year and sit 19th in the Championship after six matches.

Changes are to be expected, but some might be sad to see Ryan Gravenberch pulled from the limelight given his current form.

Why Slot is dropping Ryan Gravenberch

After Liverpool beat Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday, TNT Sports’ Peter Crouch remarked that Gravenberch “has been Liverpool’s best player this season”. The Dutchman scored and assisted for the Reds in the 2-0 win.

He’s in fine fettle, all right, and performing exceptionally in a robust midfield berth, so stylish and secure as he resists the press, recycles the ball and advances it both coolly and intelligently.

In fact, Gravenberch is indispensable, but the 23-year-old played an overload of football last year, and Slot will hope to manage his minutes over the year. With a trip to Crystal Palace forthcoming in the Premier League, it’s right that he should be dropped against Southampton.

“I can tell you now, you won’t be seeing them on Tuesday.” This was what Slot said when asked about a string of first-teamers who have played three lots of 90 minutes over the past week: Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Gravenberch.

While these are all important players, Slot will have a plan, all right, and with Gravenberch set to be sidelined, it might be time for Stefan Bajcetic to return to the field in a Liverpool shirt.

Stand up, Stefan Bajcetic

Bajcetic, 20, hasn’t played for Liverpool for a while, and a multi-loan 2024/25 campaign providing differing levels of success for the centre-midfielder, with a six-month stint at Las Palmas in La Liga reviving his qualities somewhat, starting 12 matches and winning 5.1 duels per game, as per Sofascore.

His ball control and crisp passing proved invaluable for a rudderless Liverpool side who lacked an authoritative presence at the tiller. The experienced members of the engine room had malfunctioned. Change was needed.

Change was what Liverpool got, and though Bajcetic couldn’t quite help his team toward a Champions League-qualifying finish, his skills lifted the outfit back into some semblance of fluency.

Liverpool reporter Leanne Prescott was among those to have been dazzled by the teenage talent’s emergence in Liverpool’s senior set-up, saying, “Staggering that Liverpool look most in control this season when 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic is playing.”

How things have changed.

Bajcetic featured 11 times in the Premier League across the 2022/23 campaign, indeed proving a shining light throughout a dark spell in Klopp’s tenure.

Injuries limited him the year after, and he featured only once in the top flight in 2023/24, thus drifting into a sort of nothingness unfit for one with such a “special” skillset, as has been said by writer Zubin Daver.

He scored against Aston Villa to announce himself, becoming one of Liverpool’s youngest goalscorers in Premier League history, but his season was cruelly cut short by a shoulder injury, and he has not reappeared since.

Rio Ngumoha

Newcastle

16yrs 361d

Michael Owen

Wimbledon

17yrs 143d

Raheem Sterling

Reading

17yrs 317d

Stefan Bajcetic

Aston Villa

18yrs 65d

Robbie Fowler

Oldham Athletic

18yrs 190d

That said, Bajcetic did impress across the latter half of the 2022/23 term in his homeland, and having returned to Merseyside after a growth spurt and with discernible muscular gains, he might have what it takes to serve as Gravenberch’s understudy across the coming year, with a technical ability that better aligns with Slot’s vision than that of Wataru Endo, industrious as the Japanese may be.

Ahead of the Merseyside derby, Slot had nothing to declare on the injury front. This is a glowing endorsement of Liverpool’s careful coaching.

It is the right call for Gravenberch to sit this one out. The club’s strength in depth suggests a player such as Bajcetic could come into the fray and make his mark.

The Spaniard’s done it before – could this finally be the breakout year that was envisaged for him when under Klopp’s wing?

Slot is brewing the new Gerrard & Torres in £130m-rated Liverpool duo

Arne Slot has unearthed two new potential heroes in this Liverpool duo.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 21, 2025

Northamptonshire 140 for 1 (Vasconcelos 87*) trail Kent 566 for 8 dec (Bell-Drummond 158, Finch 118, Guthrie 3-92) by 426 runsDaniel Bell-Drummond and Harry Finch both made centuries for Kent on day two of their Rothesay County Championship match with Northamptonshire at Canterbury, but with the track resembling a bowlers’ graveyard the match looks destined to end in a draw.The visitors had reached 140 for 1 at stumps, a deficit of 426, with Ricardo Vasconcelos unbeaten on 87 and Calvin Harrison 41 not out. Matt Quinn took the only wicket, getting Luke Procter for 8.Earlier Kent declared on 556 for 8, Bell-Drummond hitting 158 in a stand of 208 with Finch, who made 118. Liam Guthrie took 3 for 29, but Northants’ bowlers laboured throughout with the Kookaburra ball and Kent’s didn’t fare much better.The visitors actually stared the day with an early wicket when Joey Evison, who was 29 not out overnight, became the first victim, going for 37 in the fourth over: after driving Guthrie for a textbook four through mid-off, he was caught behind off the next delivery.That, however, was the highpoint for the visitors, whose chief tormentor was all too familiar.Bell-Drummond hit an unbeaten triple-century at Northampton in 2023 and he reached three figures by scrambling for a single off Harrison. Finch brought up his half-century in the next over when he went down the wicket to Yuzvendra Chahal and hit him for four over long-on.It was 446 for 5 at lunch at which point there was a mini-rumpus on the outfield, where Northants officials were reportedly remonstrating with the match referee, allegedly because of their frustrations at having to use a Kookaburra ball on a lifeless surface.Few others in a crowd of 2263 were complaining. Finch reached his sixth first-class hundred when he pulled Saif Zaib to the backward square leg boundary for four and a single from Harrison took Bell-Drummond to 150, before he finally went caught behind trying to sweep Zaib.Finch went in the next over, trying to reverse-sweep Harrison and falling to a sharp one-handed grab by Justin Broad at first slip, but Kent batted on until Matt Parkinson was lbw for 4 trying to sweep the same bowler.Kent declared, tea was taken and Quinn, having missed all of last season and broken down nine balls into pre-season, marked his return to the first team by getting Procter caught behind in the seventh over: if anyone was due some luck it was Quinn and replays suggested there was daylight between bat and ball.It was an isolated success. Vasconcelos raced to 50 from 51 balls and although Kent followed Northamptonshire’s lead yesterday in at least managing to slow the scoring rate slightly, it felt like the only way a batter would get out was by chucking their wicket away – neither did.

The prevailing narrative around Arsenal this season is that it is now or never for them to win the Premier League title, but is that necessarily the case?

Well, it is true that Mikel Arteta’s team have finished runners-up in each of the last three seasons.

Never before has a side in top-flight English football history come second in four successive seasons, with Arsenal themselves (99-01), Leeds (70-72), Manchester United (47-49) and Preston North End (1891-93) the only teams to manage three in a row beforehand.

To break the sequence, the Gunners won the double in 2002, but Leeds finished third and Manchester United came fourth, while Preston ended up in the relegation zone, albeit that was 132 years ago; different times.

So, while pressure is building on Arteta to deliver success, his players clearly believe glory is going to come sooner rather than later, as one after another, they continue to pen their futures at the Emirates Stadium. Safe to say, Andrea Berta is doing a rather good job in that regard.

Andrea Berta's contract masterstrokes

The reason Gooners everywhere should continue to believe in Arteta is because the players they all adore certainly still do.

Last month, William Saliba signed a new five-year contract at the club, following widespread whispers in the Spanish press that Real Madrid were in his ear.

To date, the 24-year-old has made 142 appearances for the club since his spectacular debut at Selhurst Park in August 2022, with Arteta noting that the Frenchman “has grown so much” since then, rightly adding that he “is loved by all the players” and supporters.

Meantime, Berta praised his “composure, intelligence and physical presence’, noting that he is “one of the best in the world” in his position.

Berta, who arrived in March, has been widely praised for the work he has done, not only bringing in new players but tying down existing stars, with Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, among others, having signed new long-term contracts in recent months.

Another player currently in the final two years of his contract is Bukayo Saka, signing a four-year deal in 2023.

When asked about the possibility of Saka committing to an extension ahead of the recent victory at Newcastle, Arteta exclaimed, “I would love that”, adding, “from everything that I know, he… is extremely happy and proud to be here… everyone knows how important Bukayo is for us so hopefully we can do it”.

So, as was the case with Saliba, while there will rightly be plenty of pomp and ceremony if and when Saka does sign a new contract, one under-the-radar player, who might just be as important as this pair, deserves an equal amount of recognition.

Arsenal star is now one of the best in the world

According to recent reports, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is deservedly set to be rewarded with a new contract.

The Spanish goalkeeper, who reportedly currently earns £100,000-per-week, will be handed a pay increase but not an increased length of contract, essentially a bonus, similar to what the club handed Leandro Trossard during the summer.

When Raya arrived from Brentford, initially on loan but with an obligation to buy for £27m, this move was met with plenty of scepticism, given how popular Aaron Ramsdale had become.

Nevertheless, Arteta has proved to be fully vindicated in his decision, with Raya keeping 45 clean sheets in just 105 appearances for the club, winning back-to-back Premier League Golden Gloves.

Only Pepe Reina, Joe Hart and Ederson have collected the award in three consecutive seasons, with Raya very much on course to equal that streak, enjoying four clean sheets from seven matches so far. Safe to say he’s now one of the best goalkeepers in the league.

When asked about Raya last month, Arteta labelled the goalkeeper’s performances “unbelievable”, cheekily noting that “I was hammered when I brought him”, highlighting that his clean sheet statistics are “the best in the history of the football club”.

So, let’s assess how Raya’s statistics rank among Premier League goalkeepers last season.

Minutes

3,420

1st

Goals against

34

1st*

Goals against per 90

0.89

1st

Save %

74.2%

3rd

Clean sheets

13

1st

Clean sheet %

34.2%

2nd

Crosses stopped

53

2nd

% of crosses stopped

13.2%

2nd

High claims

51

2nd

Passes

1,232

5th

Runs out

33

3rd

*minimum 33 appearances.

As the numbers outline, Raya ranked among the top-flight’s best goalkeepers last season, finishing first when it came to clean sheets and goals against per 90, while also ranking in the top two for his save percentage as well as high claims.

Thus, speaking during CBS’ Champions League coverage last month, Jamie Carragher asserted that Raya is “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” alongside Alisson, which is high praise from the former Liverpool defender.

The importance of having a top-class goalkeeper cannot be overstated, as Alisson himself proved, taking Liverpool to new heights after replacing Loris Karius.

So, while Saka and Saliba may be heralded as Arsenal’s most important figures, spearheading the Gunners’ title push, Raya cannot be overlooked and is fully deserving of the improved contract that is seemingly heading his way.

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While it hasn’t been the perfect start to the season for Arsenal, it’s been a pretty good one.

Mikel Arteta’s side have had to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle United in the Premier League, and have come out with seven points out of a possible 12 from those specific games.

Add to that thumping wins over Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, and a good 2-0 win away to Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, and it’s hard not to be optimistic about the campaign ahead.

However, there have still been a few problems here and there, whether it be mounting injuries or a perceived lack of threat, especially when it comes to the club’s new talisman, Viktor Gyokeres.

It’s been a mixed start to life in England for the Swede, which isn’t helped by a former Arsenal striker outperforming him on the continent.

Gyokeres' start to the season with Arsenal

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it’s worth stating that, despite what some would have you believe online, Gyokeres has not had a terrible start to his Arsenal career, far from it.

However, it’s equally true that, so far anyway, the former Sporting CP star has not been the monstrous goal machine some had thought or hoped he’d be. After all, this is a player who found the net on over 50 occasions last term in Portugal.

He is officially the best striker in the world, so the Ballon d’Or awards would have you believe, anyway, so this certainly wasn’t a poor use of funds over the summer.

However, while he scored a wonderful goal and a penalty against Leeds, and then got himself another against Forest, it would be fair to say that the 27-year-old has struggled somewhat in the big games.

Granted, a significant reason he hasn’t been able to find the back of the net in the big games is the lack of service he’s received from his teammates, but even then, the very best strikers in world football can create their own chances.

His performance against Newcastle was a bit of a mixed bag as well.

While he held up the ball well at times, made some good runs and even won a penalty, which was then overturned, he still failed to do the most crucial thing: score.

Moreover, there were more than a few moments in which he got his feet stuck under himself, or took a touch too many and lost the ball in an advantageous position.

Yet, with all that said, it’s still early in the season, and as his teammates get more and more comfortable with his style of play, there is every chance he becomes that goal machine so many thought he’d be.

However, as things stand, he is currently being outperformed by a former Arsenal star whom Arteta let leave for free.

The former Arsenal star outperforming Gyokeres

While there are probably a few Arsenal players who could fit this label at the moment, the star in question is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabonese striker joined the Gunners back in the 2018 winter window, and to say he justified his £56m price tag would be a massive understatement.

The former Borussia Dortmund star would go on to become the fastest player in the club’s history to score 50 goals; he’d play a crucial role in their 2020 FA Cup triumph and even wear the captain’s armband at points.

However, after the goals began to dry up, and he fell out with Arteta over discipline and his off-the-pitch behaviour, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement in January 2022, which allowed him to join Barcelona for free in the same month.

He’d only stay in Spain for half a season before spending a dreadful year back in London with Chelsea, after which he made his way to Marseille, and once again regained his out-of-this-world ability.

In a single campaign in the South of France, the former Arsenal star scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 51 appearances, but instead of staying on, he made a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.

Unsurprisingly, the “world-class” striker, as dubbed by Behdad Eghbali, also performed brilliantly in the Middle Eastern state, racking up an impressive tally of 24 goal involvements in 36 games for Al-Qadsiah.

Fortunately, the Laval-born monster felt the urge to return to European football this season and rejoined Marseille in the summer.

Since his return to the French giants, the 36-year-old has once again shown his quality, scoring three goals and providing one assist in just six appearances, totalling 337 minutes.

In other words, he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 84.25 minutes, which, unfortunately for Arteta and Co, means he’s currently outperforming Gyokeres, and by some margin.

For comparison’s sake, the Swede’s three goal involvements in eight appearances, totalling 572 minutes, come out to an average of one every 2.66 games, or every 190.66 minutes.

Ultimately, it would probably be untrue to claim that Aubameyang is currently a better striker than Gyokeres, but Arsenal fans will be hoping the former Sporting star can start putting the ball in the back of the net more regularly as the season goes on.

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