MLS announced that Los Angeles Football Club forward Son Heung-min has won the 2025 Goal of the Year for his free kick against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Aug. 23. The award, decided by fan voting on MLSsoccer.com, capped a season full of spectacular strikes, with Son’s sixth-minute finish standing out for its precision and technique.
Tahlia McGrath will captain Australia in Alyssa Healy’s absence, while Georgia Voll is expected to open alongside Phoebe Litchfield
S Sudarshanan21-Oct-2025Australia captain Alyssa Healy will miss the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup match against England after suffering a “minor calf strain” during a training session on Saturday.Vice captain Tahlia McGrath will lead the side in her absence, while Beth Mooney will keep wicket. Healy will be monitored ahead of the final league game against South Africa on Saturday, Cricket Australia said in a statement on Tuesday.”Really unfortunate there for Midge [Healy] but we know we have got some options,” Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke said in Indore on Tuesday. “It’s twofold. Obviously, it’s a big loss for us. She’s our captain, she’s made back-to-back hundreds, she’s certainly in some form with the bat. We talk about our depth a bit and that’s going to be tested. It’s going to provide some opportunities for others to step up into some role, which we’ve got the ability to cover. Whilst it’s not ideal, that’s why you bring 15 players to be able to absorb when things like this arise.”Related
Healy and Australia ride the upswing after shoddy fielding show
Healy: 'It hasn't been my day of late, but it was my day today'
Scenarios – Four teams fight for one spot
Nitschke said Georgia Voll was the “obvious choice” to replace Healy, but added that Australia were yet to take a final decision. On Monday, Voll had a long batting session at the Holkar Stadium and faced both pace and spin. Nitschke also gave her left-arm throwdowns from a low trajectory to emulate England’s left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, and Voll was seen training for the scoop against that kind of delivery.”Georgia Voll is here and has filled that role before,” Nitschke said. “We’ll sit down today and probably just make sure we’re getting our matchups right and come to a final decision, but she’s the obvious choice.”Voll made her ODI debut against India last year and scored a century in just her second game. She played the WPL for UP Warriorz as a replacement player and even scored an unbeaten 99 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Voll bagged a duck in her first international match on Indian soil – against India last month in New Chandigarh – but followed it up with a half-century.”Volly’s a pretty casual customer,” Nitschke said. “She seems to be able to take everything in her stride, and if we do go that way and select her, I’m sure that she’s going to be ready and up for the challenge. She has shown that she has certainly got what it takes to perform at this level, and doesn’t seem to get too overawed by an occasion. So if that’s the way we go, I’ve got full confidence that she’s going to be ready to step in.”Nitschke also threw her weight behind McGrath, who has had scores of 26, 5 and 12 in the World Cup so far. McGrath has led Australia only four times in ODIs before, and Wednesday’s game against Ashes rivals England will be her first at the ODI World Cup.”It works in her favour, she is a pretty cool customer, TMac,” Nitschke said. “She probably hasn’t had the [desired] output, but she had a really important partnership for us in the New Zealand game with Ash Gardner. She’s someone that certainly steps up when she’s leading the team. So, I’m looking forward to seeing her out there captaining us, and I know she’d do a fantastic job.”Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield put on an unbroken 202-run stand against Bangladesh•ICC/Getty Images
Healy came into the World Cup low on runs – she scored 27, 9 and 30 in the ODI series against India – and started the competition with 19 and 20 against New Zealand and Pakistan respectively. But she then hit 142 in 107 balls in a record run-chase against India and 113 not out in 77 balls in a ten-wicket win against Bangladesh.Australia, having won four out of their five matches so far, were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals and currently sit at the top of the points table. England and South Africa have also secured their spots, with one more berth still up for grabs.This latest injury is a setback for Healy, whose 2024 T20 World Cup campaign was also marred by injury. During that tournament, she was sidelined for Australia’s final group match against India and their semi-final loss to South Africa after injuring her plantar fascia. The injury also had a knock-on effect through the remainder of her 2024-25 season. Knee and foot issues kept her out of much of the WBBL, an ODI series against India, the T20I leg of the Ashes, and a T20I tour of New Zealand.After months of rehabilitation, Healy made her long-awaited return in August, playing six white-ball matches for Australia A against India A in Queensland before being named in the World Cup squad.
The closing days of the transfer window have rarely been straightforward on Tyneside. Newcastle United’s summer has already been defined by turbulence, with Alexander Isak refusing to reintegrate with the squad.
Eddie Howe’s side, who finished fifth last season and are preparing for a Champions League campaign, are under pressure to refine their squad while managing the fallout of internal distractions.
So far, the Magpies have done solid business.
The arrivals of Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga have freshened up the squad with youth and Premier League experience.
Most recently, a £69m deal was struck with Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade, the towering German forward who had been courted by Bayern Munich before Newcastle convinced him to make the switch.
Despite the new additions, the midfield remains an area of particular concern.
Joelinton, one of Howe’s most important lieutenants, limped off in the defeat against Liverpool, raising doubts about their fitness in the weeks to come.
In this context, Newcastle’s recruitment team has set its sights astonishingly high, making enquiries about one of Europe’s most coveted defensive midfielders – a player widely regarded as one of the finest in his position.
According to reports from Spain, Newcastle recently lodged a bid with Real Madrid for France international Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The 25-year-old has long been considered a cornerstone of the Spanish giants’ midfield, and sources suggest Los Blancos wasted no time in rejecting the approach.
Madrid are understood to have already rebuffed a €100m (£90m) bid, setting a firm valuation of over €200m (£185m) to ward off interest.
Club officials, and new manager Xabi Alonso, view Tchouaméni as untouchable.
Having been heavily criticised last season, the Frenchman displayed resilience and tactical maturity, winning back the trust of both teammates and supporters.
He has since emerged as a key figure in Real’s long-term project, combining physicality with intelligence and composure under pressure.
Writer Raj Chohan, speaking on the player’s profile, described him as “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet.”
For Newcastle, the enquiry was little more than exploratory.
The PIF-backed ownership has demonstrated its willingness to pursue ambitious targets, but the reality is that Real Madrid are unwilling to negotiate at this stage of the window.
Still, the move itself reflects Newcastle’s intent to match their lofty ambitions with equally elite personnel, even if such pursuits appear beyond reach in the short term.
The comparison with Bruno Guimarães is inevitable.
The Newcastle captain has been central to the Magpies’ transformation since his arrival, but many observers might suggest that Tchouaméni represents an even higher ceiling in the defensive midfield role.
Both are internationals – Bruno with 35 caps for Brazil and Tchouaméni with 41 appearances for France, including a starring role at the 2022 World Cup – yet their profiles and statistical outputs highlight differing strengths.
In possession, Bruno offers greater attacking thrust.
|
Bruno Guimarães – 2024/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Matches Played |
38 |
|
Goals |
5 |
|
Assists |
6 |
|
Progressive Carries |
74 |
|
Progressive Passes |
271 |
|
Source: FBref |
|
According to FBref, last season he averaged 1.24 shots per 90, with 0.36 on target, and produced 3.66 shot-creating actions per 90.
His progressive passing numbers were also outstanding, with 7.47 progressive passes per 90 and 216.5 progressive passing distance.
These metrics reveal a player comfortable dictating tempo while also pushing Newcastle forward in transition.
Tchouaméni, by contrast, leans more toward control and precision.
According to FBref, he attempted and completed far more passes overall, averaging 62.5 completed passes per 90 at a staggering 92.3% success rate, compared to Bruno’s 40.8 at 82.3%.
His ability to recycle possession without error is invaluable in a side like Madrid, where maintaining rhythm is paramount.
The Frenchman also excels at advancing the ball over distance, with 357.7 progressive passing distance per 90, underscoring his ability to bypass opposition lines.
Defensively, both players bring tenacity, but in distinct ways.
Bruno averaged 2.29 tackles per 90, highlighting his willingness to press and break up play higher up the pitch.
Tchouaméni, however, demonstrated more balance, contributing 1.57 tackles per 90 alongside 1.14 blocks, while also being one of the top midfielders in Europe for aerial duels.
At 1.88m, his physical presence makes him an imposing shield in front of the back line – a trait Newcastle arguably lack when Bruno is deployed as the deepest midfielder.
The statistics paint a clear picture: Bruno is more adventurous, combining flair and playmaking with defensive graft, while Tchouaméni epitomises composure, efficiency, and tactical balance.
Both are invaluable, but in different contexts. For Real Madrid, the Frenchman’s precision and resilience make him untouchable.
For Newcastle, Bruno remains indispensable as captain, though the speculation reflects a desire to add depth and variation at the base of midfield.
Ultimately, Newcastle’s enquiry may have been quickly dismissed, but it speaks volumes about the club’s ambition.
With a Champions League campaign looming and pressure mounting domestically, the Magpies are aiming for world-class reinforcements to complement their growing project.
While a move for Tchouaméni is off the table for now, the intent shown is unlikely to go unnoticed – both in Europe’s elite boardrooms and among supporters eager to see Newcastle compete at the highest level.
Upgrade on Joelinton: Newcastle in talks over signing “one of the best CMs”
Newcastle are looking to make another addition to their midfield ranks…
By
Will Miller
Aug 30, 2025
Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia has apologised to fans for his side's "humiliating" 7-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and admitted he was "really angry" about his ill-timed shirt swap with the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele. The midfielder scored both of Leverkusen's goals in the rout, which coach Kasper Hjulmand called "painful".
Chelsea attempted to sign AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan earlier in the window as they tried to upgrade on Robert Sanchez, with a report sharing the Blues’ fresh stance over signing a new shot-stopper.
Enzo Maresca started with Sanchez during Chelsea’s eventual 5-1 hammering of West Ham at the London Stadium on Friday, and it wasn’t exactly a perfect game for the Spaniard, who conceded an early goal to Lucas Paqueta before the Blues floodgates opened.
Maresca’s side eventually ran riot in east London, putting an abject Hammers team to the sword, with Joao Pedro, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah all getting on the scoresheet in a routine win.
Chelsea’s imperious attacking play and overall dominance perhaps spared Sanchez’s blushes, who perhaps could’ve been better positioned to claw away Paqueta’s superb long-range strike inside 10 minutes.
In June, Maignan was seen as their desired alternative to Sanchez, and the France number one was pushing to make the move to Stamford Bridge at one point.
However, both Milan and Chelsea couldn’t agree on his final asking price, which was rumoured to be around £25 million. BlueCo saw that figure as a bit steep considering Maignan has just one year left on his deal (Sky Sports), with £10m seen to be a more realistic valuation from their perspective.
Given the 29-year-old’s pedigree as one of world football’s most elite keepers, there is a case to be made that £25m for a player of his calibre/experience is 100 per cent worth the punt – regardless of his contractual situation.
According to journalist Simon Phillips, though, the odds of going back in for Maignan at this stage are unlikely – as Chelsea are currently adopting a ‘sell-to-buy’ policy due to their complex settlement with UEFA.
Any deal for a new goalkeeper or centre-back would require an outgoing, and one from one of their Conference League-winning squad last season.
It appears as if Sanchez will continue to be the go-to, and perhaps there is time for the keeper, who’s still very young for players in that position, to mature and come good on a consistent enough basis.
Unbeaten 70 from Australian opener proves decisive as Welsh Fire fall short of famous comeback
ECB Media09-Aug-2025David Warner made his first half-century in the Hundred to see London Spirit take the spoils against Welsh Fire in Cardiff, despite a thrilling, unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow in response.Like a boxer on the ropes, Bairstow sat back and absorbed the blows as his Fire team fell to 55 for 6 at the halfway point of their reply, before launching a high-octane counterattack that took them close to a famous victory.Bairstow’s 50-ball innings contained six sixes, and saw 74 runs plundered from balls 66 to 95, leaving 17 required off the last five of the innings. As the Sophia Gardens crowd belted out “Wales, Wales, Wales!” it appeared that Bairstow – ably supported by Chris Green – would pull off the comeback but Luke Wood got Spirit over the line.Warner’s innings was a different affair, but was equally effective in driving the visitors – the Australian legend using his experience and nous to work out a defendable total on a track that had something for the bowlers.David Warner made his first fifty of the Hundred•Getty Images
With the ball, before the Bairstow show, Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson were both parsimonious and though they may briefly have feared that their hard work would be undone it was runs on the board that emerged victorious in the end, Kane Williamson and Justin Langer getting off and running and consigning Fire to a second defeat in two.Warner, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “That got very close at the end, and credit to the way Jonny and Greeny batted. They were absolutely superb. The partnership they built was fantastic, and what it did do was what we’re trying to do here – entertain the crowd and hopefully everyone was excited by that game.”I think what the guys were saying there was that across the last 25-30 balls it wasn’t that stoppy. It skidded, but it was still slow in the wicket. We tried to execute as well as we could but Jonny was on fire there, he was hitting the ball cleanly and obviously we got over the line but it was a good effort by them.”When you’re out there batting, the five balls and then 10 balls from one end – you think you have to change ends as a batter. I’m getting used to it, but what I am loving is the crowds. It’s fantastic. It’s all about the kids, and us trying to put entertainment on the TV – credit to everyone who came out today, thank you.”This is a really important win for us. We lost our first game at home but we’ve got an away game in Manchester coming up, and hopefully we can tick that off.”
Manchester United entered the summer transfer window at a crossroads, the latest crossroad in a long, winding line of critical junctures over the past interminable period of too many wrong turns.
But is there hope for the Red Devils? While there have been false dawns across this last decade of misery, INEOS and Ruben Amorim are working in concert to turn things around, and the market business across the past several months bespeaks not only the club’s ambitions but the club’s newfound maturity too.
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both cost a pretty penny, but the wide forwards have plenty of Premier League experience between them and have each come off the back of first-class campaigns.
|
Premier League 24/25 – Cunha & Mbeumo |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per game) |
Cunha |
Mbeumo |
|
Matches (starts) |
33 (29) |
38 (38) |
|
Goals |
15 |
20 |
|
Assists |
1.8 |
7 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
3.3 (1.3) |
2.2 (1.1) |
|
Big chances missed |
2 |
9 |
|
Pass completion |
79% |
74% |
|
Big chances created |
13 |
17 |
|
Key passes* |
1.8 |
1.8 |
|
Dribbles* |
1.8 |
1.4 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
1.7 |
1.7 |
|
Duels won* |
5.5 |
4.7 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
More importantly, though, neither has yet proven themselves at one of Europe’s elite outfits. Now’s their chance.
After finishing 15th in the Premier League last season and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, turning this ship around was always going to be a big ask, but at this particular crossroads, perhaps the right turn has been taken.
A central striker was also needed, and herein lies the more worrying addition of Benjamin Sesko. However, there’s no denying the 22-year-old is one of the most promising young goal scorers of his generation.
Two years ago, Man United paid £72m to Atalanta in exchange for up-and-coming centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish footballer has since fallen by the wayside and is actively being pushed toward an exit before the transfer deadline.
Sesko has arrived as Hojlund’s replacement, and hopefully an upgrade. He leaves RB Leipzig to join the squad at the Theatre of Dreams, signing for a similarly expensive £74m fee.
While the Slovenian only scored 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga matches last term, his power and pace and potential all suggest that United might have hit the jackpot, with talent scout Jacek Kulig even declaring that United have signed themselves “the new Haaland” for Sesko’s fearsome physicality and playing style.
And with such confident Premier League-proven partners in Cunha and Mbeumo flanking him, Sesko might just be the jackpot signing that has been needed for so long.
However, the Devils aren’t done yet. Indeed, Amorim is hoping to sign one or two more players before the end of the transfer window, and is targeting a Premier League star who has been singled out as the finest player within Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad.
According to Football Transfers, Manchester United have made an official approach to Crystal Palace for their captain Marc Guehi, who has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Liverpool are the clear frontrunners in the race, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur keen too, but United’s exploratory offer, looking to gauge the minutiae of a potential package, suggests there is encouragement that INEOS could pull off something special.
However, the Anfield side are wary about meeting the Eagles’ valuation of at least £40m, and with Steve Parish eager to cash in rather than lose the centre-back for free, the chance is there for United to swoop in and seal a statement signing.
Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea for £18m in 2021, and he has since made 132 appearances in the Premier League. Should he be set to leave his current club, he would do so having led them to their first two top titles: the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
He’s the real deal, and, aged 25 and with a wealth of experience in England, would continue that trend of Man United signing from divisional rivals, signing players hungry to work their way to the very top of the game.
Given Guehi’s standing within the English game and the core components deep within his skill set, tailored toward the top end of the defensive ladder, Man United would surely strike gold by sealing this signature, marking an even better signing than Sesko.
Though landing a Hojlund upgrade has been regarded as important for United this summer, so too has addressing the leaky defence, which shipped the ninth-highest number of xG (expected goals) in the league last season (55.1), via FotMob.
That’s not good enough for a team of Man United’s stature, although perhaps to be expected given that they finished 15th.
But Guehi is a “monster in defence”, as said by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, who won 63% of his ground duels in the Premier League last year, via Sofascore.
Moreover, the defender ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for through balls per 90, as per FBref, so he has the ball-playing expertise to advance Amorim’s transitional system, picking out promising players, in space, well ahead of him, such is the manager’s expectation of maintaining a high line.
Having established himself as a mainstay for the England international team over the past year, prominent for Gareth Southgate’s last hurrah at EURO 2024, it’s surely a bid worth making. Well, United’s newfound market shrewdness has been ratified, for they have indeed made their first approach.
Analyst Ben Mattinson actually described Guehi as being “England’s best player” following the international campaign.
Ultimately, Man United needed a new striker, and they’ve signed one. But they also need reshaping across the park, and Guehi would provide an instantaneous and dramatic lift to a backline that flattered to deceive last season, whereas the jury is very much out for Sesko, yet to pass his first tests in English football.
Man Utd's new Carrick: INEOS set to make bid for £100m + star this week
Manchester United look ready to splash the cash on a player who possesses shades of Michael Carrick’s assured game.
1
By
Kelan Sarson
Aug 11, 2025
Four key Man Utd stars sat out training just days ahead of the crunch derby clash with Liverpool as boss Ruben Amorim continues the struggle to turn his side’s season around. Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Casemiro were all absent following their involvement in international fixtures in the past fortnight.
Captain needed treatment on the field after apparently experiencing discomfort to his groin
Valkerie Baynes10-Jul-2025
Ben Stokes receives treatment from the physio•Getty Images
England face an anxious wait on the fitness of their captain, Ben Stokes, after he pulled up sore while batting on the first day of the third Test against India at Lord’s.Stokes was unbeaten on 39 at the close, having faced 102 balls on a slow day in which the hosts ended on 251 for 4 with Joe Root on 99 overnight.On 32, Stokes took a step forward before leaving a Nitish Kumar Reddy delivery outside off and immediately winced in pain, clutching at his right groin.Related
For Crawley and Pope, the struggle gets real
Bumrah and Root show their class on bizarre Bazwalling day
Root holds the fort with 99* as India put brakes on Bazball
He called for the physio and after some on-field treatment returned to his crease. But he was still in visible discomfort, hobbling as he set off for a single and sitting on his haunches trying to loosen up between deliveries. Stokes was stretching again as the second new ball was brought out and Root eyed a century.Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah got the ball swinging again immediately – as it had at the start of the day, making the going tough.Root thought he could reach his milestone with a glance behind point on 98 but he only managed a single as Ravindra Jadeja swooped, then beckoned for Root to come back for a second as he held onto the ball, grinning. But there was no way he was risking it, especially with Stokes’ running a concern.Ollie Pope – who faced 104 balls for his 44 before falling to Jadeja on the first ball after tea – was hoping the as-yet-undiagnosed problem would improve overnight.”Fingers crossed he can do something magic and come back strong,” Pope said. “I’ve not seen him since, so fingers crossed there’s nothing too serious. But clearly we’ve got a big Test over the next four days and we’ve got a big two [at Old Trafford and The Oval] coming up as well, so it is important to try and manage him.”As vice-captain, Pope acknowledged he had a part to play in ensuring that Stokes didn’t push himself too hard in spite of the problem.”We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow, but for me, that is partially one of my roles, to make sure that he doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place with whatever he’s dealing with at the moment,” Pope said. “I’m sure the physios, the medics will work with him to lay out a plan and then I’ll help push him in the right direction.”2:23
Pope: We’re constantly trying to get batting balance right
Stokes was England’s most effective bowler when they won the opening Test at Headingley, having finally been able to increase his bowling workload after two bouts of surgery to repair tears in his right hamstring in the space of six months.He bowled 19 overs in India’s first innings at Edgbaston and seven at an economy rate of 3.71 in their second before the tourists won by a massive 336 runs, levelling the five-match series 1-1.Stokes’ resurgence as a bowler follows painstaking work after he underwent knee surgery in late 2023. That threw a spotlight on his penchant for exerting himself through any discomfort for the good of the team.With plenty more runs needed before any thoughts turn to his bowling in this match, England will be carefully weighing up what is good for both heading into the second day.
While finally getting over the hill and winning the Premier League is going to require a Herculean effort from the team, it would be fair to say spirits are high around Arsenal at the moment.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat AC Milan in Singapore and then got one over Newcastle United in Hong Kong, and now have a North London derby to look forward to tomorrow.
Unsurprisingly, one of the stars of pre-season so far has been Bukayo Saka, who scored the only goal in the first game and was more than lively in the second.
So, fans should be thrilled about reports linking them with another international superstar who could be Arteta’s new Saka.
While the football in pre-season has been great, it’s been an even better summer for Arsenal off the pitch.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
After years of fans crying out for one, the club have finally signed a new top-quality number nine in Viktor Gyokeres, and that’s not all, as Martin Zubimendi looks like he could be even more consequential at the base of midfield.
Moreover, Arteta won’t have to worry about squad depth quite as much anymore, with Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Cristhian Mosquera all coming in to bolster the squad.
Yet, even with six new faces through the door, the North Londoners want to do more business, business which could see them land their new Saka.
At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which has claimed Arsenal have a ‘clear name’ in mind when it comes to further improving the squad this summer: Rodrygo.
While the report reveals that the Gunners will likely have to sell a player or two before signing the Brazilian, it does not mention how much he might eventually cost them.
However, multiple stories from earlier this summer indicate that a fee of around £86m could be enough to seal the deal, and while that’s a lot of money, it would be worth it for a player of Rodrygo’s quality, especially as he could be the club’s new Saka.
So, before the pitchforks and torches come out, we aren’t necessarily saying Rodrygo will come in and be just as good as Saka right away, as the Englishman has practically made this team his own over the last few years and is unquestionably now world-class.
However, we are saying that there is every chance the Real Madrid star could come in and end up having a similar impact on the left-hand side, albeit without the homegrown academy product side of things.
Why do we think this? Well, for starters, despite playing out of position for much of the last two seasons, the Brazilian has remained a seriously dangerous attacker.
For example, the “incredible” talent, as dubbed by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.
That translates to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes across the last two years, which is a level of output the Gunners’ left side could do with.
|
Rodrygo’s recent record |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
23/24 |
24/25 |
|
Appearances |
51 |
54 |
|
Minutes |
3707′ |
3452′ |
|
Goals |
17 |
14 |
|
Assists |
9 |
11 |
|
Goal Involvements per Match |
0.50 |
0.46 |
|
Minutes per Goal Involvement |
142.57′ |
138.08′ |
|
All Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
Second, much in the same way the Hale End icon has taken the club on his back in the past, the former Santos gem has often been the difference maker in big European games for his side.
In 64 Champions League games, the 24-year-old has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists, but crucially, eight of his goals have come in the knockout rounds and eight have been game-winning.
Finally, despite neither one of them being particularly tall, they’ve proven themselves to be tough to dispossess in recent seasons, be that through sheer strength or an underappreciated ability with the ball at their feet.
Moreover, when given space, both wingers can be quite explosive and an absolute nightmare for backtracking defenders, with FBref placing the Brazilian in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for carries into the penalty area and the Englishman in the top 11%.
Ultimately, while Saka will likely always be the most popular player at Arsenal thanks to his deep ties with the fans and club, Rodrygo could be almost as effective as him off the left, and therefore, Arteta and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.
Arsenal eye "fascinating" Eze alternative with £22.5m release clause
The Gunners are after another number 10.
1
By
Emilio Galantini
Jul 30, 2025