أجرى بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي مؤتمراً صحفياً للحديث عن آخر استعدادات فريقه لمواجهة ليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرتها “سيتي إكسترا” عن وصوله لألف مباراة في مسيرته التدريبية: “ألف مؤتمر صحفي، ياله من شرف، كانت تلك اللحظة الأفضل بجانب المقابلات السريعة”.

وأضاف إذا كان يتذكر مباراته الأولى في التدريب: “أجل، أشعر بقلق أقل الآن، لكن في الوقت نفسه، بصراحة لا أتذكر، لقد مر وقت طويل”.

وواصل :”اسمعوا، لو خيرت بين منافس واحد لمشاركة هذا الإنجاز بخوض 1000 مباراة، أرغب في مشاركة ذلك مع الكثيرين لكن ليفربول سيكون الأفضل، خاصة مع كلوب، الذي كان أكبر منافس لي هنا، لا يمكن أن يكون هناك أفضل من ذلك، لقد قرر الكون ذلك، لطالما شعرت بمدى احترامنا لبعضنا البعض، يورجن منحني الكثير وأفتقده بشدة، قلت يا آلهي تغلبت على هذا الرجل، كم علي التفكير والعمل والتحسين وهذا يعود إلى ليفربول ولأنفسنا”.

وسئل جوارديولا إذا كان يعرف عدد انتصاراته في 999 مباراة تدريبية: “بالتأكيد أعرف الكثير، الأرقام جنونية، يؤسفني إخبارك بذلك، أنا مغرور ومتغطرس، لكنها جنونية، إذا قلت إنني لا أعيش وأفكر في عدد الانتصارات فعندما تصل لهذا الإنجاز وتقرأ ما أنجزته، تجد أننا حققنا إنجازات مذهلة، من الصعب الوصول لذلك ولو بدأت من جديد، لما وصلت لذلك، إنها مباريات كثيرة وهزائم قليلة مقارنة بألف مباراة ونأمل المواصلة الأحد”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. كومباني يكشف عن مرشحه المفضل للفوز بالدوري الانجليزي هذا الموسم

وتحدث جوارديولا عن مواجهة ليفربول :”لقد دفعنا ليفربول ليكون أفضل وليفربول دفعنا لنكون أفضل، هذا أمر مؤكد”.

وأكد بيب: “الأساسيات هي ما كنت أؤمن بها في اعماق قلبي، لم أخنها ولو مرة واحدة في مسيرتي، اتخاذ قرار خاطئ أو اللعب بشكل سئ أو أن الخصم أفضل، لا يعني أنني أشعر أنني فعلت شيئاً لم أؤمن به، أبداً أبداً، دائماً ما أحاول إنهاء المباراة بقول أنه أعجبني أداء الفريق”.

وذكر بيب: “لا تسألونني إن كنت سأدير 1000 مباراة أخرى، لا، لا، لا، إنه كثير جداً، بفضل برشلونة ولاعبيهم، وبايرن وسيتي، لاعبين كنت معهم ومازالت، هناك الكثير من العمل والشغف والحب وفي ذلك لا أحد يتفوق علي،أحب اللعبة والتدقيق في أسرار الخصوم وكيف يلعب دورتموند وبورنموث وكيف تدير الأمور وتقنع اللاعبين وكيف تشركهم ودائماً ما يتابعني اللاعبين، لا يتابعونني فقط عندما لا يلعبون، أما البقية أقول لهم اذهبوا إلى هناك فإنهم يتابعونني دائماً”.

وتحدث بيب عن سباق اللقب هذا الموسم: “كل ما يمكن فعله الفوز بمبارياتنا والاقتراب من المنافسة، يجب على آرسنال الحضور إلى هنا، في آخر عامين أو ثلاثة وخلال عملية إعادة بناء النادي والفريق ودخول سوق الانتقالات لسنوات عديدة، ما يفعلونه استثنائي، وفعلوا بالفعل لموسمين أو ثلاثة لكننا في أوائل نوفمبر وفي أوائل نوفمبر لا يفوز أحد باللقب”.

وتحدث بيب عن إصابة رودري: “سنرى غداً لكن في الوقت الحالي لا أعتقد أننا سنخاطر، بعد ذلك تأتي فترة التوقف الدولي، مازالنا في نوفمبر والجزء الأكبر من الموسم لم يأتي بعد ونحن بحاجة لرودري، ونتشوق بشدة لعودته لكننا نعلم أن نيكو لاعب مهم وجيد للغاية”.

وذكر بيب عن كونه أعظم مدرب على الإطلاق، بطريقة ساخرة: “إنهم على حق تماماً، أمي وأبي منحاني القدرة التنافسية، ولكن ليس هذا، آه أريد أن أموت، أريد أن أقتل لأكون الأفضل”.

PUMA have unveiled a special edition 'Black Panther' Portugal kit celebrating the legendary Eusebio ahead of their latest set of World Cup qualifiers. Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates will don the black and gold shirt for their upcoming clash with Armenia later this month on a date that will mark the 60th anniversary of Eusebio's 1965 Ballon d'Or triumph.

Eusebio honoured by PUMA and Portugal

Before Ronaldo came along, Eusebio was arguably Portugal's greatest ever player. Six decades on from his Ballon d'Or success, PUMA have tried to honour his legacy with two words defenders feared most: Pantera Negra (Black Panther). Limited to 1965 pieces, the shirt comes pre-embellished with #13 on both the front and back – honouring Eusebio’s iconic number. The kit features the PUMA Cat logo and FPF crest in gold material, a flat knit collar and cuffs, and the ‘Pantera Negra’ back-neck sign off. The new collection also features a custom anthem jacket.

AdvertisementPUMAEusebio's widow touched by gesture

Eusebio married Flora Burheim in 1965, and together they had two daughters, Carla and Sandra. She survives him following his death in 2014, and 11 years on from his passing, his widow has admitted that this PUMA shirt project "fills her with pride".

"When PUMA reached out to us and shared what they had in mind, I felt deeply moved and honored. Eusébio had a very close relationship with the brand and a sincere friendship with its founder, Mr. Rudolf Dassler. Seeing his memory now honored in such a beautiful and meaningful project fills me with pride. I’m sure Eusébio would be very happy with this tribute," she said.

Joao Cardoso, the chief marketing and commercial officer at the Portugal FA, added: "Eusébio represents passion, talent, and pride for Portugal. Sixty years after his Ballon d’Or win, his legacy remains alive, inspiring not only those who knew his greatness but also future generations of Portuguese players. The Portuguese Football Federation, in partnership with PUMA, celebrates this legend with a unique kit that blends tradition and innovation, honoring the past and shaping the future of Portuguese football."

'Celebrating a football legend'

Marco Mueller, PUMA’s senior director of product line management performance apparel, said that this tribute shirt is an excellent way to honour a Portuguese great in Eusebio.

"Eusébio’s legacy transcends generations, and this tribute kit reflects his enduring influence on Portuguese football and global sport," stated Mueller. "By merging heritage-inspired design with modern innovation, we’re celebrating not only a football legend but also the culture and passion that make the game timeless."

Although this shirt will be debuted for one game only by Ronaldo and Co when Portugal host Armenia in World Cup qualifying on November 16, the kit is on sale as of today. 

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AFPEusebio forever in Portugal's hearts

When Eusebio died, Portugal was in mourning for one of their legends. Shortly after his death, Ronaldo was asked about the great man, and he replied with a glowing tribute. 

"The feeling is one of sadness. Eusebio was a very important person for Portugal, a real national icon, and he has passed away. Of course, that's extremely sad for all Portuguese people and the whole world, but that's part of life, too," he said. "We'll all be gone one day, and that's why we need to focus on the positive things that happened, and the same goes for his life. He was a very important player, he did a lot of positive things and won many trophies with the national team and for his clubs, especially for Benfica. He will remain in our hearts forever."

Fast forward to the present, and the Al-Nassr star is targeting a remarkable 1,000 goals in his career. At present, the 40-year-old has a whopping 952 goals to his name, along with 259 assists. And according to Ace Odds, the former Real Madrid star is likely to hit that milestone. Based on his minutes-per-goal ratio throughout his career of 111.2, he has been predicted to hit the 1,000 mark in April 2027, when he is 42. Whether he is still playing then remains to be seen, but Ronaldo is expected to line up for Portugal against Armenia, and potentially against Ireland three days earlier as Roberto Martinez's side aim to book their place at the 2026 World Cup.

A “perfect choice” to be the next Rangers manager is now one of the contenders to take charge at Ibrox alongside the heavily linked Sean Dyche, Danny Rohl and Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard, Rohl and Dyche linked with Ibrox hotseat

Russell Martin was sacked by the Gers on Sunday evening, with the 1-1 draw away to Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership proving to be one underwhelming result too many for the board, leaving them languishing in eighth place in the table.

It was a decision that has been coming for months, with Martin making a poor start to life at Ibrox and never recovering, and it’s now time for the 49ers to nail their successor to the Englishman, with several names already being mentioned.

Former Everton and Burnley boss Sean Dyche is an early contender to come in at Ibrox, as he looks for a fresh challenge after departing the Blues last year, possessing a huge amount of experience.

Meanwhile, a Steven Gerrard reunion also feels possible, having guided them to league title glory in 2020/21, and young German Danny Rohl is appreciated within Ibrox, as he looks for a new club after Sheffield Wednesday.

Matches

17

Wins

5

Draws

6

Defeats

6

Goals scored

21

Goals conceded

24

Points per game

1.24

Rangers eyeing 52 y/o manager who's the "perfect choice"

According to a new claim from Give Me Sport, Kevin Muscat is very much on Rangers’ radar to be their next manager, being seen as a fourth option alongside Dyche, Gerrard and Rohl.

The 52-year-old is currently in charge of Shanghai Port FC, but the Gers may be hoping to lure him back to Ibrox, having played there during his playing career. The obstacle faced by the 49ers is Muscat’s contract in China is believed to be extremely lucrative and tax free, meaning he will have to be seriously tempted by the project on offer at Ibrox to make a move.

Muscat has constantly been named as a potential Rangers manager in recent years, so often being linked with the job when it has become available. In fact, The Rangers Journal believe he has always been the “perfect choice” for the Gers, with the club deciding to hire the likes of Philippe Clement and Martin instead.

Admittedly, Muscat has no European experience in management, which does work against him in terms of knowing the British game well, but if the fans see him as a popular choice, that goes a long way for starters.

He's like Mourinho: 54-year-old manager wants to replace Martin at Rangers

Russell Martin’s job as Rangers manager is no more, so who could be his replacement?

ByMatt Dawson Oct 6, 2025

Rangers’ board have to be so careful in their decision-making, not wanting to make a third incorrect appointment in a row, but Muscat stands out as a front-runner, and the fact that he knows the club well from his playing days can only be a good thing.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco venceu o Fortaleza, em São Januário, por 1 a 0, e dorme fora da zona de rebaixamento. O gol foi marcado por Payet, o primeiro do francês com a camisa vascaína, aos 13 minutos do segundo tempo. Agora o Cruz-Maltino precisa secar o Santos, que enfrenta o Red Bull Bragantino, quinta-feira (19), na Vila Belmiro.

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Com o resultado, o Vasco chegou aos 30 pontos e é o 16º colocado, na frente de Santos e Goiás nos critérios de desempate. O Fortaleza caiu para a 7ª posição, com 42.

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+ Confira a classificação do Brasileirão

CINCO LANCES QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA
> !Homenagem! Antes da bola rolar, um bandeirão em alusão ao Dia das Crianças foi estendido na arquibancada. O pequeno Gui foi homenageado.
> Ator ou jogador? Nos primeiros minutos de jogo, Gabriel Pec invadiu a área e se jogou, mas o árbitro não caiu na dele e ainda aplicou o cartão amarelo.
> !DESENCANTOU! Payet abriu o placar ao arriscar de fora da área, de canhota, marcando o primeiro gol dele pelo Vasco.
> Encurralado. Depois de sofrer o gol, o Leão do Pici mostrou as garras. Pressão total em cima do Vasco.
> Quase, Pirata! No minuto final, Vegetti pegou o rebote de João Ricardo, mas chutou para fora.

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO?

O Vasco criou as principais chances, obrigando João Ricardo a trabalhar bastante. O o goleiro do Fortaleza realizou pelo menos três boas defesas, duas delas em chutes de Praxedes dentro da área. O Leão do Pici assustou nos contra-ataques, mas não chegou a finalizar com perigo contra o gol de Léo Jardim.

E A ETAPA FINAL?

Rossi voltou no intervalo no lugar de Marlon Gomes e o Vasco melhorou e logo aos 13 minutos abriu o placar. Payet recebeu na entrada da área, cortou para a esquerdo e chutou forte de canhota para marcar o seu primeiro gol pelo Cruz-Maltino. A partir do gol, o Fortaleza partiu para cima do Vasco, encurralando os donos da casa no campo de defesa. Apesar da pressão, o Leão do Pici não criou claras chances de empatar. Nas que teve, faltou pontaria ou parou em Léo Jardim.

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NÚMEROS DA PARTIDA

O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

No domingo (22), às 16h, o Vasco tem o clássico com o Flamengo, no Maracanã. O Fortaleza joga no sábado (21), às 18h30, contra o Bahia, na Arena Fonte Nova.

FICHA TÉCNICA
Campeonato Brasileiro 2023 – 27ª rodada
Vasco 1 x 0 Fortaleza

Local:São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Data e horário:Quarta-feira (18/10), às 21h30 (Brasília)
Árbitro:Leandro Pedro Vuaden (RS)
Assistentes:Bruno Boschilia (Fifa-PR) e Maira Mastella Moreira (RS)
Árbitro de Vídeo (VAR):Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (Fifa-SP)

Público e renda: 19.830 (pagantes); 20.255 (presentes); R$ 985.816,00

Cartões amarelos:Gabriel Pec, Marlon Gomes, Matheus Carvalho (Vasco); Escobar (Fortaleza)
Cartão vermelho:-

GOL: Payet (13′ do 2ºT)

VASCO (Técnico: Ramon Díaz)
Léo Jardim; Paulo Henrique (Puma Rodríguez/40′ do 2ºT), Maicon (Miranda/35′ do 2ºT), Léo e Lucas Piton; Zé Gabriel, Marlon Gomes (Rossi/intervalo) e Praxedes (Jair/18′ do 2ºT); Gabriel Pec, Payet (Matheus Carvalho/30′ do 2ºT) e Vegetti.

FORTALEZA (Técnico: Juan Pablo Vojvoda)
João Ricardo; Tinga, Marcelo Benevenuto, Titi e Escobar; Zé Welison (Thiago Galhardo/22′ do 2ºT), Caio Alexandre (Pedro Augusto/33′ do 2ºT) e Pochettino (Marinho/33′ do 2ºT); Yago Pikachu (Calebe/22′ do 2ºT), Machuca e Lucero.

Back-to-back victories before the international break should have meant Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United were in a confident mood travelling to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

However, come full-time on the South Coast, the visiting Magpies fell victim to a third Premier League defeat of the campaign already, as a Danny Welbeck double handed the hosts a slender 2-1 victory.

Sitting in a below-par 12th position after eight games could spur Howe into taking decisive action to push his team up the standings, with regular first-teamer Joelinton perhaps at risk of dropping out of his manager’s starting XI, after another out-of-sorts performance was served up by the Brazilian.

Why Joelinton needs to be replaced

With 239 Newcastle games under his belt, it is clear that Joelinton is a firm fan favourite at St James’ Park when he’s firing on all cylinders.

Indeed, the energetic South American has even been hailed as a “machine” in the past by teammate Kieran Trippier when he’s run himself into the ground for the cause, with his tally of 31 goals and 21 assists over that same stretch of games making him an even more useful asset to have around, away from just his hard-working nature.

Yet, he hasn’t been without his critics this season, with his 45-minute stint against the Seagulls last time out declared by Newcastle-based blog Mouth of the Tyne as being “not good enough” amid his overall drop-off being “really noticeable.”

When looking deeper into his numbers, it’s clear to see why many haven’t minced their words, with the number seven only managing to register 21 accurate passes as a passenger, while also failing to hit a single effort at the Brighton goal.

Unfortunately, it does appear as if Joelinton is now declining after hitting his Tyneside peak, with a period out of Howe’s first team maybe doing the eight-time Brazil international some good in the long run, as he attempts to get back to his best.

It could also open up opportunities for those on the periphery to take over from Joelinton, with one youthful bright spark now ready to be unleashed as a long-term replacement for the 29-year-old.

Newcastle's ideal Joelinton replacement

Of course, Joelinton isn’t in isolation as an underperformer that will be worrying Howe, with Anthony Elanga also hooked at the half-time break against Brighton after an equally unmemorable shift against Fabian Hurzeler’s hosts.

Jacob Murphy could well step up and replace Elanga in the near future as an experienced, steady presence in his manager’s camp. Whereas, when searching for a replacement for Joelinton, Howe might be tempted to give 19-year-old hotshot Lewis Miley the platform to express himself more regularly, after the teenager assisted Nick Woltemade’s clever finish against Brighton.

Credit also has to go to the number 67, who quickly found Woltemade in space to convert with a back-heel, after only being on the pitch for 31 minutes to pick up his first goal contribution of the season.

This already gives him the upper hand over Joelinton, with Miley hopeful he can live up to all the early hype that surrounded his fledgling Magpies career once upon a time to maintain a first-team spot.

Premier League games

38

Age of PL debut

17 years, 27 days

PL goals

2

PL assists

4

Champions League games

4

Age of CL debut

17 years, 6 months + 7 days

CL goals

0

CL assists

1

Amazingly, Miley is already up to 54 senior appearances for his boyhood side, with Premier League and Champions League debuts handed to the 6-foot-2 ace at just 17 years of age, not fazing him one bit, with an assist also next to his name in Europe’s elite competition.

It has led to a lot of praise coming his way, with NBC Sport’s Robbie Earle once referring to Miley as a “little diamond” for his “classy” displays, while pundit Pat Nevin has also exclaimed that the 19-year-old is “the next young English superstar.”

Still, despite all these glowing words, Miley only has one top-flight start next to his name this season.

Expect that to soon change, however, if Howe decides that enough is enough for Joelinton being a concrete member of his first team.

Newcastle man who was "tough to watch" is now on borrowed time under Howe

Newcastle United’s defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion has highlighted some issues for Eddie Howe.

1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 19, 2025

After Ange Postecoglou’s dismal season in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, changes simply had to be made if Tottenham Hotspur were to progress in the right direction.

His Europa League triumph certainly papered over the cracks, but former chairman Daniel Levy saw the bigger picture and decided a switch in manager was needed.

Such responsibility fell into the hands of Thomas Frank, with the former Brentford boss tasked with the responsibility of transforming the Lilywhites’ fortunes in England’s top-flight.

The backline was a real issue for the club last time around, but the 51-year-old has already made an immediate impact – as seen by their tally of six clean sheets across all competitions.

However, the upcoming January transfer window is rapidly approaching, which could see added quality being injected into the opposite end of the pitch.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have once again been linked with a deal to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after previously wanting him during the summer.

The Ghanaian international has enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2025/26, scoring on six occasions and registering three assists within his first eight outings.

However, he’s not the only Premier League forward currently on their radar, with Sporting Director Fabio Paratici targeting a move for Everton star Iliman Ndiaye.

The latest report from TEAMtalk states that the Lilywhites see the 25-year-old as a top target for the winter window, but face competition from a fellow top-flight rival.

Newcastle United are also in the race to land the versatile forward in the coming months, which has seen a £60m price tag mooted to prise him away from the Toffees.

Why Spurs’ latest target is even better than Kudus

Landing an attacker from another Premier League side certainly isn’t alien to Spurs, as seen by their deal to land winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £55m for the 25-year-old’s signature, with the Ghanaian seen as the player to take the frontline to the next level.

It’s safe to say he’s already had an immediate impact at the Lilywhites, scoring once and notching four assists within his first eight Premier League appearances.

Kudus has certainly nailed down the role on the right-hand side of the frontline, but he could be joined by another phenomenal talent in the form of Ndiaye.

The Toffees forward has rapidly progressed under David Moyes over the last couple of months, with the Senegalese international now one of the most potent attackers in the division.

When comparing his stats to those of the new Lilywhites addition, Ndiaye has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the early stages of 2025/26.

The Toffees star has achieved a better shot on target rate and a higher goal per shot on target average – which showcases the added goalscoring threat he possesses.

Games played

8

8

Goals & assists

4

5

Shot on target accuracy

83%

38%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Pass accuracy

77%

73%

Key passes

1.8

1.7

Take-on success

47%

46%

Carries into final third

2.1

1.6

Fouls won

1.5

0.8

He’s also completed more passes and registered a higher tally of key passes per 90 – leading to one analyst labelling him as “one of the best” talents in the Premier League.

Ndiaye’s dominance over Kudus is further reflected in his higher take-on success and better tally of carries into the final third per 90 – highlighting his ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas whenever possible.

£60m would be another huge statement from the hierarchy, but it’s a deal that could add further quality into Frank’s frontline in his quest for success in North London.

The prospect of Ndiaye thriving with Kudus at the Lilywhites is truly one to behold, which could see the club be the home to two of the division’s best attacking talents.

However, the board will have to act quickly in January to complete a deal for his signature, especially given the interest from rivals Newcastle United.

Forget Spence: Frank can bin Porro by unleashing "future £100m" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur already have another phenomenal talent within their ranks in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 24, 2025

Game 2 of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians was scoreless until Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter walked up to the plate in the ninth inning.

The Guardians put in star closer Emmanuel Clase, who makes it difficult to get a good hit off of his pitches—he's only had 10 runs counted on him this season. Carpenter found a way, though, as he crushed a 423-foot, three-run home run. This put the Tigers up 3–0 in the ninth in a game they really needed to win. Detroit then held on in the bottom of the ninth to even the ALDS at 1–1.

This was the first three-run home run ever hit against Clase in his MLB career. It's his fifth season in the bigs.

After Carpenter clobbered the ball, he swiftly flipped his bat onto the ground and excitedly began his trot around the bases. It's safe to say he was proud of this home run. He was understandably hyped up when he reached home plate, having had effectively won the game for the Tigers.

Talk about a clutch MLB postseason moment.

The Tigers will head home to host the Guardians in Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

England international and Aston Villa star Tyrone Mings suffered an injury against Liverpool that will keep him out of action until 2026. The news comes as a huge blow for the centre-back ahead of the World Cup next summer, as his chances of returning to the England squad have been further diminished. Mings last played for the Three Lions in 2023.

• Mings injures hamstring in Liverpool defeat

  Mings had only just returned from an ankle injury, which he suffered during Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League in September. The injury kept him out of action for the club's matches in October but he returned off the bench against Liverpool last weekend. He was introduced in the match in the 74th minute in place of Pau Torres but pulled up in stoppage time as he sprinted back to defend against Mohamed Salah. Mings clutched the back of his right leg due to a hamstring problem and left Anfield in discomfort.

  After the game, Emery confirmed Mings' injury setback and predicted that the defender could be out for four weeks. The Spanish coach said: "It’s his hamstring. Yes, normally some weeks he will be out with an injury like that. But tomorrow we will test him and know exactly how much he will stay out of the team."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Mings out until 2026

  According to , Mings underwent scans on Monday and the reports have now shown that it is indeed a hamstring injury and quite a serious one, which keeps him sidelined for up to seven weeks. This means that the defender will no longer be available for selection for the rest of the 2025 calendar year. 

  The England international has been plagued with several injuries since the start of the 2023-24 campaign, appearing in only 31 matches across competitions in this timeframe. In August 2023, Mings was sidelined after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. In the current campaign, the central defender has started in six out of the eight Premier League matches he has played.

• Major setback ahead of World Cup

  Mings last played for England in 2023 against Malta in a European Championship qualifying game. Since then, his continuous injuries have kept him out of the Three Lions squad. Mings, who has never played under England boss Thomas Tuchel, was hoping to impress the German coach this season to get a chance in England's World Cup squad, however, this latest injury comes as a major blow. With the defender out till 2026, it is unlikely that he will get enough time to attain full match fitness and play regularly in the second half of the season in a bid to catch Tuchel's eye. 

  The 32-year-old is also a leader on the pitch and has played an influential role in the Villa dressing room. His absence from the team will surely impact their performance. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Who will replace Mings at Aston Villa?

  Emery has fielded the centre-back pairing of Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres quite often this season and the duo will likely continue to feature in the starting lineup in the absence of Mings. Villa also have ex-Manchester United star Victor Lindelof and Lamare Bogarde in their ranks, both of whom could fill in when either of Konsa or Torres are suspended or injured.

  The Villans next face Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa League fixture on November 5, before taking on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.

What defines a legend? A modern-great? In Arsenal terms, it’s Thierry Henry, the club’s record goalscorer.

It’s also Dennis Bergkamp. It’s Tony Adams. All three icons are cast in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium.

It’s also Arsene Wenger. While his stint in north London ended without many trophies, he is the most successful Gunners manager in the modern era. He was the one who drove the move from Highbury to the Emirates. He was the one who achieved a double, the one who reached a Champions League final.

He is also the only manager to have a golden Premier League trophy. No club in history since the old English First Division was rebranded have achieved an unbeaten season. Few have brought as much to the game as Mr Wenger.

Current boss Mikel Arteta has a great deal to achieve before he can be recognised in the same light but a major trophy come the end of 2025/26 would undoubtedly help.

It’s safe to say Bukayo Saka is certainly also heading down the legendary route.

Where Bukayo Saka ranks among Arsenal players in the Emirates era

The date was 29th November 2018. The setting: a freezing cold stadium in Ukraine. The opposition were Vorskla Poltava. What was the significance? Well, Saka made his first-team debut for the Gunners.

Brought into the fray by Unai Emery, he appeared from the bench in a 3-0 win aged 17 years, two months and 24 hours.

Since then, it’s safe to say the winger hasn’t looked back. Initially making his first forays at senior level as a left-back, even appearing there during Arteta’s first match in charge, he is now one of the best wingers in the world.

Only a few weeks ago, he cemented himself as one of the finest players of the Emirates era by registering his 100th goal involvement in his 200th Premier League clash, finding the net from the penalty spot against West Ham last time out.

The poster boy for this Arsenal team and indeed the Arteta project, journalist Charles Watts claimed he was “the best right winger in the world” back in 2023 and while Mo Salah may have overtaken him in that regard, certainly in the Premier League, he’s still right up there.

As far as Emirates Stadium icons go, he sits very close to the top of the tree. Other candidates include current teammates William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. Declan Rice is up there too.

Yet, does he come close to eclipsing the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie? Considering the way in which the pair left, you’d have to say yes at this current moment in time.

Does he eclipse Mesut Ozil? The German is one of the finest playmakers we’ve ever seen over the last two decades but even his time in the English capital ended in tears.

Alexis Sanchez left in strange circumstances as well but Saka still has some way to go before he eclipses the Chilean’s numbers. He found the net on 80 occasions in 166 matches, most notably scoring 30 times in the 2016/17 campaign. Saka’s best season in front of goal stands at 18 so there is room for improvement there.

The club’s number 7 is no doubt already a club icon but who’s next on the conveyor belt of talent?

Arsenal star could become an all-timer like Saka

Saka is Hale End. He has served as the inspiration for a whole number of footballers trying to make the jump from academy to first-team life.

His influence has already proven to be a beacon for the likes of Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Lewis-Skelly earned his England debut last term and Dowman is currently the talk of the town having become the second-youngest player in Premier League history when he made his top-flight debut at the age of 15 a couple of months ago.

Dowman is the shiny new toy and so it’s easy to forget about fellow Hale Ender Ethan Nwaneri.

Now 18, Nwaneri is the only player to make his Premier League bow at a younger age than Dowman and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.

While he is yet to find the net in 2025/26, largely now playing as an attacking midfielder, he showcased that he was a true game-changer in 2024/25.

Last campaign, the teenager predominantly played on the right flank when Saka was out injured and he made a remarkable impact. In total, the youngster bagged nine goals in 37 matches and created two assists. One of those included a stunner in the rout over Manchester City.

He earned rave reviews in the process. After starring in the Champions League, TNT Sport pundit Joe Cole stated that Nwaneri was “the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe.” Fine praise indeed.

Cole is certainly a huge fan of the teenager, remarking at another point in the season that he was like the great Lionel Messi.

“These touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi,” the former Chelsea star said. “I don’t want to put any more pressure on the kid’s shoulders, I’m sure he’ll deal with it. He plays with such confidence and he’s a beautiful player.”

After such an impressive season, it’s easy to forget just how young this kid is. Dowman is getting all of the hype now but let’s shine a light on Nwaneri again.

He may have only played 145 minutes in the Premier League this term but he is already streets ahead of his peers in the same age group. Some might argue he’s also ahead of Saka at the same age.

During the England international’s first full campaign a senior player he only beat the goalkeeper on four occasions. Nwaneri had five more.

So, there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about the teenager, particularly as in the words of Arsenal content creator Leo Da Silva, he has the potential to be “an all-time like Saka.”

Forget Lewis-Skelly: Edu sold an Arsenal talent who's "England's future LB"

Arsenal may come to regret letting this Hale End star slip through their fingers.

4

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 11, 2025

Smith and Carse came together after India picked up 3 for 11 in the first half hour and helped England past 350

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2025

Jasprit Bumrah ended Joe Root’s stay•PA Photos/Getty Images

Lunch Jasprit Bumrah was saved, or saved himself, for Lord’s. The temptation of the most famous honour’s board in the world might have had something to do with it and he very nearly wrote himself on it as India started the second day in full flow. India took three wickets in the first five overs – all three the work of their talismanic fast bowler – but a familiar face stalled their progress. Jamie Smith went past 400 runs in the series and walked off at the lunch break with England no longer feeling that queasiness in the stomach that comes with giving up a strong position. They went from 260 for 4 to 271 for 7 but will sit down and dig into the ground’s celebrated catering at 353 for 7.Lord’s stood up as one to salute Joe Root when he got the chance the vent the nerves of spending the night on 99, the first ball offering him width that he took on happily. An outside edge squirted away to the deep third boundary to signal the Englishman’s 37th Test century – which puts him in the top five in all of Test cricket. He went past Rahul Dravid and Steven Smith.Bumrah decided he wasn’t willing to share the stage anymore. So he sent back both the England captain Ben Stokes and their century maker as well, Root falling to the Indian fast bowler for the 11th time. There was another small victory for the visitors in this period of play when Shubman Gill secured his first successful review on tour to get rid of Chris Woakes.India continued to challenge the umpires, their irritation sparked by a decision to change the second new ball – a mere 10.3 overs into its use – which was working quite well for them. Gill spent the entire morning drinks break with umpires Paul Reiffel and Sharfuddoula seemingly dissatisfied with the replacement ball. They didn’t have to deal with it for long though. Eight overs in, the replacement ball was being replaced.Away in the background, Smith, who was dropped by KL Rahul on 5, just kept his head down and did his thing. Once more, he led an England lower-order recovery mission, his skillset perfectly suited to the task. A 52-ball half-century was the result of a man concentrating on the job at hand while the opposition was too busy fretting about what could have been. India tried to forget about Smith and blow away the other end, but that didn’t work either. Brydon Carse was batting well enough to hit Akash Deep on the up through the covers and getting down on bent knee to slash Bumrah past point.England’s eighth wicket pair had come together in the middle of a crisis. With all the focus on Bumrah and India and the quality of the Dukes balls, they’ve quietly shifted the balance of the Test match.