He and Ian Holland take three wickets each as Northamptonshire are skittled for 189

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay25-Sep-2025

Leicestershire 429 (Eskinazi 155) and 86 for 2 (Budinger 50, Keogh 2-20) lead Northamptonshire 189 (Zaib 62, Wright 3-19, Holland 3-28) by 326 runsChris Wright celebrated his 600th first-class wicket, crowning the final game of a 21-year professional career as his 3 for 19 helped put Leicestershire in the ascendency on day two of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Wright, who was greeted by a guard of honour when he batted in the morning session, also collected his 800th wicket in all formats, and with Ian Holland taking 3 for 28, a hapless Northamptonshire were skittled for 189 inside 58 overs, 240 behind.Only the prolific Saif Zaib looked totally assured for Northamptonshire, scoring 62, his sixth half-century of the season to go with six centuries. Named the Supporters’ Club Player of the Year during lunch, his innings moved him into sixth place on the list of Northamptonshire batters with the most runs in a season this century.With Leicestershire deciding not to enforce the follow-on, Sol Budinger picked up where he left off in the first innings, smashing 50 off 44 balls. Rob Keogh took two wickets in two balls in the day’s closing overs to offer Northamptonshire a glimmer of hope, but the visitors closed strongly on 86 for 2, 326 ahead.Earlier Northamptonshire wrapped up the Leicestershire innings within 40 minutes, Logan van Beek (35) edging behind off Justin Broad (3 for 38). Centurion Stephen Eskinazi added just five to his overnight 150 before Broad found some late movement to take the edge. Finally, Josh Hull was caught down the leg side to give George Scrimshaw his third wicket and Lewis McManus his fifth catch of the innings and 51st dismissal of the Championship season. The Northamptonshire keeper, who has played every competitive game this summer has 75 dismissals in all formats.McManus (25) displayed some crisp strokeplay, unfurling sweet drives through the covers, but he also edged several balls which fell just short or ran wide of the slip cordon. He fell playing a rash pull to Hull’s first ball with two men back for the shot, van Beek taking an excellent catch as he back peddled at fine leg.Debutant Arush Buchake survived probing early spells from Leicestershire’s seamers and showed good timing as he drove through the covers. But after punching Holland behind square for his sixth boundary, he edged to second slip for a well-made 35, as Northamptonshire lost three wickets for 12 runs in seven overs.James Sales fell cheaply to Wright when he cut too close to his body and chopped on to his stumps. Then Keogh (28), who had got off the mark with two consecutive legside boundaries off Hull, was possibly unlucky to be adjudged lbw as he came down the track to Wright, 10 short of 10,000 career runs in all formats.Zaib attacked the spin of Liam Trevaskis, smashing six down the ground before collecting another maximum as he swept over deep midwicket.At the other end, Broad dropped anchor, but after half an hour van Beek got one to lift sharply and draw the edge of his bat through to keeper Ben Cox.Zaib took on van Beek, pulling and hooking, while using his feet to drive Trevaskis down the ground, but Northamptonshire lost a sixth wicket when debutant Stuart van der Merwe fell cheaply, sweeping Trevaskis round the corner into the hands of van Beek.Zaib drove Hull through the covers to reach fifty off 58 balls, while George Bartlett (11) flat batted a full toss from part-time spinner Rishi Patel over long off for six. But on the brink of tea, Bartlett was trapped lbw as he played down the wrong line to a straight one from Trevaskis.After tea Zaib had a rush of blood smashing Holland straight to mid-off before Wright celebrated his milestone wicket when he snared Ben Whitehouse lbw. Scrimshaw was the last to go, offering a return catch to Holland.Batting again, Leicestershire made their intentions clear as Budinger went on the offensive, blazing six fours and a six before he was bowled by Keogh with one that spun away. Next ball Keogh removed Holland via a brilliant one-handed grab by Broad at first slip.

Carlo Ancelotti has issued a final warning to Neymar when it comes to 2026 World Cup selection, with the Italian tactician eager to ensure that he does not make any “mistakes” when naming his final squad. Ancelotti has yet to call upon Neymar since becoming Selecao boss, but insists that the door remains open to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar.

• When did Neymar make his last appearance for Brazil?

  Neymar is his country’s all-time leading scorer, with 79 goals being recorded across 128 appearances. He has not, however, pulled on a famous yellow jersey since October 2023 – when suffering knee ligament damage during a World Cup qualifying clash with Uruguay.

  A long road to recovery was taken in on the back of that fitness blow, with his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal eventually being terminated. That decision freed Neymar to head home and rejoin boyhood club Santos.

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  Is Neymar in Brazil's World Cup plans? Ancelotti explains

  More fitness issues have been endured there, preventing the 33-year-old playmaker from convincing Ancelotti of his worth and earning an international recall. Neymar was overlooked again when Brazil named their squad for a friendly date with Tunisia that will take place in Lille, France.

  Unsurprisingly, Ancelotti continues to be quizzed on whether an iconic No.10 forms part of his plans. He told reporters when discovering that the subject had followed him from South America to Europe: “I thought Neymar was just a topic in Brazil, but I see it's a global issue. Fortunately, he recovered from his injury. Now he has six months to play. The Brazilian Championship stops on December 7, then he can take a vacation, but then he'll have the Brazilian Championship again to show his quality and, obviously, his physical condition.”

  Ancelotti went on to reveal that Neymar is in his thoughts when it comes to World Cup call-ups, but has pointed out that he will not be taking any risks when it comes to piecing together a squad to compete for global glory in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

  He added: “Neymar is on the list of players who could be at the World Cup. Now he has six months to make the final list. We just have to observe him and other players so as not to make mistakes in the final list.”

• Best position? Ancelotti wants to see Neymar as a No.10

  Ancelotti recently said of wanting to see more of Neymar at Santos in his favoured central playmaking berth: “I know everyone wants Neymar to get back to his best physical condition. And also the CBF, the coach, the technical staff of the national team hope that Neymar can return to his best level. The truth is that today's football demands many things. Not only talent, but also physical condition, intensity… hopefully Neymar will be at his best level.

  “I think he needs to play more centrally, not as a winger, because wingers in today's football are players you need to help defensively as well. When you play a little more centrally, the defensive work is much less than when you play as a winger. And I also think that a very talented player, closer to the goal, has more opportunities to score goals. [False 9] could be his ideal position.”

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  Move in 2026? Messi reunion mooted for Neymar in MLS

  Neymar has taken in three appearances since returning from his latest injury – with his last seeing a shock victory picked up against Palmeiras that has helped to lift Santos out of the relegation zone.

  Thigh problems have been an unfortunate theme over recent months, but Neymar does have six goals and three assists to his name through 24 appearances this season. More will be required in order to earn favour with Ancelotti, with there every chance that he will be plying his trade somewhere else when 2026 is welcomed in. That is because his contract continues to run down towards free agency, with a potential reunion with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at MLS side Inter Miami that would see Barcelona’s fabled ‘MSN’ strike force reformed continuing to be speculated on.

They made 263 with Rossouw and Nawaz scoring centuries in the same innings, which was a first for the league

Sampath Bandarupalli07-May-2025263 for 3 Quetta Gladiators’ total against Islamabad United is the highest by any team in the PSL. Gladiators were on the receiving end of the previous highest total – 262 for 3 by Multan Sultans in 2023, also in Rawalpindi. This is also the highest total by any team in men’s T20s in Pakistan.1 Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz are the first pair to score hundreds in the same innings in the PSL. They are only the tenth pair in men’s T20s to score centuries in the same innings.Two players scored hundreds in a PSL match twice before: Babar Azam for Peshawar Zalmi and Jason Roy for Gladiators in 2023, and Mohammad Rizwan for Sultans and James Vince for Karachi Kings earlier this year.ESPNcricinfo Ltd160 Runs scored by Gladiators in their last ten overs on Wednesday, the joint-most by any team between 11th and 20th overs in a PSL innings. Lahore Qalandars also scored 160 against Zalmi in 2023.88.46 Percentage of runs that Rossouw scored through boundaries, the highest for a centurion in the PSL. The previous highest was 85% by Usman Khan, who scored 120 with 102 runs in boundaries, against Gladiators in 2023.9 Number of sixes hit by Nawaz during his unbeaten 100, the most by any batter for Gladiators in a PSL innings.3 Centuries for Rossouw in the PSL, the joint-most by any batter, alongside Kamran Akmal and Usman Khan. All three hundreds by Rossouw have come in 44 or fewer deliveries.ESPNcricinfo Ltd9 Hundreds for Rossouw in T20 cricket. Only two men have scored more – Chris Gayle (22) and Babar (11), while Virat Kohli also has nine.56 Imad Wasim’s score while batting at No. 9 for United on Wednesday. It is the highest individual score batting at No. 8 or lower in the PSL.3 Number of 250-plus totals in the PSL, all of which have come at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Rawalpindi is one of seven venues to have hosted three 250-plus totals in men’s T20s.4 Consecutive defeats for United, including their record defeat on Wednesday. This is the first instance of them losing four on the trot in the PSL. United started PSL 2025 with five consecutive wins, extending their winning streak to ten matches as they won their last five in 2024. It is the longest winning streak for any team in the league’s history.

They registered their second straight win to seal their place in Qualifier 1, against St Lucia Kings

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2025

Shimron Hetmyer hit 68 off 39 balls•CPL T20 via Getty Images

Guyana Amazon Warriors 189 for 6 (Hetmyer 68, Sampson 50, Rutherford 2-35) beat Barbados Royals 125 (Rutherford 27, Motie 5-21, Joseph 2-18) by 64 runsGuyana Amazon Warriors shot up to second place to end the league stage of CPL 2025 with their second win on the bounce, this one by brushing aside bottom-placed Barbados Royals. Shimron Hetmyer turned his form around with 68 off 39 balls, Quentin Sampson continued his fine form with 50 from 36 deliveries, and Gudakesh Motie bagged his maiden five-for in T20s to script Amazon Warriors’ commanding 64-run win.By finishing second, Amazon Warriors will now face table-toppers St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 on September 18, a day after the Eliminator between Antigua and Barbados Falcons and Trinbago Knight Riders.Against Royals, Amazon Warriors started steadily after being put in to bat, moving to 41 for 1 in the powerplay. It was then that Sampson started hitting sixes regularly even as Amazon Warriors lost Ben McDermott and Shai Hope. Hetmyer, coming into this match after two consecutive ducks, also took the aerial route, not demotivated by Sampson’s dismissal for 50.Hetmyer also benefitted from a life, dropped by Kadeem Alleyne on 47 before reaching his fifty off 32 balls. Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius fell in consecutive overs but Hetmyer helped Mazon Warriors collect 30 runs off the last two overs to power them to 189.Royals’ chase never got going as their top four batters failed to score more than 15 each. Pretorius removed the openers, and Shamar Joseph uprooted Rassie van der Dussen’s leg stump with his first ball fired in at 143.3kph. That left them 28 for 3, and they were going at under run a ball.Shaqkere Parris and Sherfane Rutherford staged a comeback with a partnership of 55 off 46 balls, but Joseph struck again when he trapped Rutherford lbw. Once Imran Tahir had Rovman Powell caught for 1, it was all about Motie. He struck twice in the 15th over and twice in the 19th, when the wickets of Kofi James and Zishan Motara finished the game.

After finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, it was vital that Tottenham Hotspur bounced back and rose up the table in the ongoing campaign.

Thomas Frank was handed the responsibility of leading the charge, after Ange Postecoglou was handed his marching orders despite winning the Europa League.

The Dane was appointed on a three-year deal in North London, but it was crucial that the supporters gave him time to make the changes he desired to the first-team squad.

He’s now 11 games into the 2025/26 campaign, with the Lilywhites currently occupying fifth place going into the third international break of the current season.

However, there are still improvements to be made across the squad, that’s despite Frank massively changing the fortunes of the squad in one area during his opening months at the helm.

Spurs’ biggest improvement since the 2024/25 campaign

During the 2024/25 Premier League campaign under Postecoglou, Spurs certainly had a year to forget, as they finished just one place above the relegation zone.

The Lilywhites conceded a staggering 65 goals in their 38 league outings, an average of 1.7 per 90, subsequently resulting in a total of 22 league defeats.

Such a tally was the highest of any side who have survived in England’s top-flight, with the club lucky not to have dropped into the Championship under Postecoglou.

However, Frank’s arrival has stemmed the flow of goals at the back, with his men only conceding 10 goals in the first 11 outings – the fourth best record of any side in the division.

They have also kept a total of four clean sheets in the process, with the likes of Micky van de Ven certainly deserving credit for his part in the defensive solidity.

The Dutch international has started every league game to date, registering a total of 1.2 tackles won per 90, along with 1.1 interceptions per 90 – with the latter ranking him in the top 20% of all players in the league.

He’s also thrived in playing out from the back, as seen by his tally of 92% passes completed, arguably being one of the best centre-backs in the division at present.

Van de Ven has been joined at the heart of the backline by Cristian Romero, with the Argentine international striking up an excellent partnership with the Dutchman.

The pair have operated together in eight of the 11 outings – but have only suffered defeat once in that time, with the loss coming against Bournemouth back in August.

The 27-year-old has ranked in the top 4% of all players in England’s top-flight for tackles won, whilst also placing in the top 15% for duels won per 90.

Given their partnership together, they are undoubtedly one of the best duos in Europe’s top-five leagues, with the defensive improvement under Frank certainly down to their performances.

The Spurs player who’s now becoming one of the best in the world

Alongside Van de Ven and Romero, Spurs have had numerous players who have managed to catch the eye and contribute to their impressive start to 2025/26.

Central midfielder Lucas Bergvall has shown qualities way beyond his tender teenage years, even cementing his place at the heart of Frank’s side in recent months.

The Swedish international has featured in nine league outings this season, even registering his first Premier League goal in the 3-0 victory over West Ham United.

He’s ranked in the 97th percentile for successful dribbles to date, whilst also winning 2.8 tackles per 90 – showcasing his ability to operate in a box-to-box role in North London.

However, he’s not the only player to have cemented his place within the starting eleven, with full-back Djed Spence resurrecting his career with the Lilywhites.

He joined the club in a £20m deal from Middlesbrough back in the summer of 2022, but had to massively bide his time in making an impact in the first team.

The 25-year-old endured three unsuccessful loan spells at Leeds United, Rennes and Genoa, with many supporters undoubtedly expecting a cut-price transfer away from North London last summer.

However, the injury crisis within the squad last campaign handed the Englishman a rare opportunity to stake his claim for a regular spot in the first-team ranks.

He racked up a total of 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, even scoring his first Premier League goal against Ipswich Town – ending the year on a total of five goal contributions.

A little over a year on, it’s evident that Spence has taken full advantage of the chance pushed in his direction, with the full-back now one of Frank’s most important players.

He’s featured in all but one league outing in 2025/26, with his underlying stats highlighting how pivotal he’s been to the Lilywhites’ impressive defensive numbers.

Games played

10

Minutes played

761

Pass accuracy

82%

Tackles made

1.5

Duels won

3.8

Aerials won

47%

Recoveries made

3.4

Dribbles completed

1.8

Spence has made an average of 1.5 tackles per 90 this season, whilst also coming out on top of 3.8 duels per 90 – often posing as a real solid defensive full-back.

The 25-year-old has also come out on top in 47% of the aerial battles he’s entered, whilst also making 3.4 recoveries per 90 – with his pace allowing him to get back and prevent the opposition from creating clear-cut opportunities.

In possession, the defender has been just as impressive, subsequently ranking in the top 20% of all defenders for dribbles completed – with one analyst labelling him as one of the “best in the world”.

As a result, he’s now a full England international, with Thomas Tuchel trusting him to be a key member of the squad ahead of the World Cup in the USA next summer.

His rise in North London over the last 12 months has been nothing short of remarkable, with the player deserving huge credit for his ability to get himself off the canvas.

Alongside Van de Ven and Romero, he certainly is part of one of the division’s best back fours, with the fans needing to enjoy every moment the trio spend together in North London.

Forget Simons: Spurs have an academy sensation who could be Dele 2.0

Tottenham Hotspur already have a sensation who could replace Xavi Simons in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 13, 2025

It hasn’t quite been a case of having too much of a good thing, but a key plank of Australia’s build towards their ODI World Cup title defence in India and Sri Lanka has been instilling the belief to make the most of their enviable depth.No team has gone back-to-back in the women’s ODI World Cup since Australia’s hat-trick of titles between 1978 and 1988, but few would be surprised if this side achieved the feat. They have lost just three matches in the format since defeating England in Christchurch in the 2022 World Cup final to complete their redemption arc from the semi-final exit of 2017.But two of those losses came in the 2023 Ashes when Australia were exposed across both white-ball formats. While not as seismic as what happened in the 2017 semi-final against India, coupled with their semi-final exit at last year’s T20 World Cup it was a moment when the team challenged itself to remain ahead of the pack.Related

• Australia ready to embrace 'little bit of unknowns' at ODI World Cup

• Sri Lanka select Prabodhani, Dulani for Women's World Cup

• Molineux to make return from injury in ODI World Cup

• Gardner picks up cues and tips on oppositions in Hundred

• Gardner: India a 'huge threat' in World Cup

“We’re really conscious of the fact that we’re incredibly fortunate to have some huge depth in our side, both batting and bowling,” Ellyse Perry, who will be playing her fifth ODI World Cup, said at a sponsorship announcement for Chemist Warehouse ahead of the team’s departure to India.”So, from that aspect, I think we’ve made a really conscious shift towards wanting to take the game on from the very start and probably keep our foot down for as long as we can. Obviously, you’ve got to adapt to conditions and certain circumstances, but it just feels like there’s a real ethos within the group to make sure that we can utilise everyone’s talent on the day.”It’s going to be one person’s day most of the time, not everyone’s, but if we can kind of really be consistent with that, we’ve got a good chance of being successful more often than not. I think that’s been a big shift for us.”Staying ahead of the chasing pack is not just focused on batting and bowling, either. “The development of the women’s game has been really incredible in the last couple of years,” Perry said. “From an athletic point of view, we’re very conscious of making sure that we’re dominant in that space. We want to run hard between the wickets, be really good in the field, and I think looking at some of our bowling options, [we have] some of the quicker bowlers in the world as well. Hopefully we’re a dynamic side and hopefully that’s successful for us.”Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield have emerged as fulcrums in the batting order•Sportsfile/Getty Images

Three major names from the side that emerged from the heartache of 2017 into one of the most dominant sporting teams in history – with a record winning run of 26 ODIs – won’t be in India: Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes have retired, while Jess Jonassen has not been able to regain the spot she lost nearly two years ago, an example of the riches available to Australia.”[There’s been] some fairly big changes to our group over the last four years,” Perry said. “But in the last particularly 12 months, we’ve had a fairly stable group and some really amazing young talent emerge as mainstays as well, contributing consistently in every match. From that perspective, [it’s] definitely a slightly different-looking team, but I think still a really stable and established team.”The likes of Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland have emerged as fulcrums in the batting order, while Georgia Voll had a breakout first year in international cricket. Voll may struggle to start the World Cup but will keep the incumbents on their toes. Perhaps the slight unknown, and potentially a factor at last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, is the pressure of knockout cricket.Speaking last week when the squad was named, captain Alyssa Healy said, “I had to watch something on the 2022 World Cup and just how much our team support staff and our squad has changed in that period of time, I think no one’s probably noticed that as much simply because of the way that players have had opportunity over the last couple of years.”1:24

Gardner on using the Hundred to gauge the opposition

Last season, there was a subtle shift in the batting order with Sutherland promoted to No. 5 and Tahlia McGrath moved to a finishing role at No. 7. Sutherland’s development into a world-class allrounder had almost demanded the move but it felt a significant nod to the next generation; she responded with back-to-back centuries against India and New Zealand. Nothing in elite sport is certain, but she’s the type of player who could shine at this World Cup.”Annabel’s been absolutely superb for the last 12 months, probably before that,” Perry said. “And to think that she’s only still so young is quite incredible. Obviously, she won the Belinda Clark Medal last year, and she’s been such a big contributor to our team in the last little bit.”I think her coupled with Phoebe Litchfield, the way that she’s been playing, Georgia Voll as well, since she’s had an opportunity at an international level… there’s some really, really special young players that we’ve got in the group. I think they balance out the experience that we have as well.”I’m sure Annabel’s going to have a wonderful tournament. She works exceptionally hard at her game. She’s never standing still.”Australia fly out to India on Wednesday ahead of their three-match series with the hosts before the World Cup. “It feels like with the women’s game, every World Cup just gets a little bit bigger, more competitive, and there’s more on the line,” Perry said.

Three-wicket win keeps them in contention at top ahead of clash with champions Surrey

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Sep-2025Nottinghamshire fended off a strong fightback by Worcestershire to complete a three-wicket win which keeps them at the heart of the race for the Rothesay County Championship title.Chasing a target of 136 at Visit Worcestershire New Road, Haseeb Hameed’s side dipped to 83 for 6 before the lower-middle order stood tall to take them to 136 for 7. After Ben Slater held the chase together early on with a resolute 36 off 94 balls, Liam Patterson-White (23) and Lyndon James (17 not out) held their nerve with crucial contributions when it mattered most.Ben Allison took 3 for 50 as the home side gave it everything but the defeat leaves Worcestershire almost certain to finish bottom of Division One. Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire’s win sets up a huge clash with reigning champions and Division One leaders Surrey at The Oval next week.Nottinghamshire resumed on the final morning on 40 for 1 and, to their delight, the rain that has haunted this match was replaced by gorgeous sunshine. Visit Worcestershire New Road looked as magnificent as ever as Slater and Freddie McCann walked to the crease.McCann was soon making the return journey after lifting a pull to deep square leg. When Khurram Shahzad, in a superb spell from the New Road End (8-5-8-1), trapped Joe Clarke lbw, a few Nottinghamshire nerves were jangling at 53 for 3.They were jangling even more after Allison took two wickets in ten balls. Jack Haynes drove to cover and Kyle Verreynne was late on a ball which arrowed in to knock out middle stump.Slater had resisted with skill and patience for 148 minutes but was lured into driving at a wide one from Tom Taylor and nicked it to supply the bowler’s 49th Championship wicket of the season. As runs dried up – three from the last seven overs before lunch – Nottinghamshire dined at 91 for 6.Lunch arrived at a good time for them. It drained the bowlers of momentum and four quickfire fours from Patterson-White straight after the interval put Nottinghamshire back on the front foot. Patterson-White edged Allison to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick with 22 needed from the last three wickets but James, completing his excellent all-round match, and Josh Tongue saw their side to a potentially priceless victory.

Hale End may not quite be La Masia just yet but Arsenal’s academy is only going from strength to strength as far as supplying Mikel Arteta with first-team players is concerned.

While the Arsenal squad may now be packed with big-money stars, it was the academy that arguably kept him in the job.

The early knockings of the Arteta era were not too convincing but he was carried along the way by Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Since then, the Spaniard has regularly called upon an academy graduate. Last season was the year of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly and this year is Max Dowman’s turn.

A generational talent if we ever did see one, the 15-year-old is already impacting Premier League games and became the youngest player in Champions League history when he came off the bench against Slavia Prague last week. He’s a special kid, alright.

However, for every Dowman and Saka, there is a Michael Olise, a Serge Gnabry, a Harry Kane, three players who failed to make the grade at Arsenal, having been in the academy.

It’s usually an attacker who makes the headlines but there’s a Hale End defender now beginning to impress and he’s giving Gabriel Magalhaes a run for his money.

How Gabriel has become Arsenal's most important player

Only three centre-backs have ever won the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award; Paul McGrath, John Terry and Virgil van Dijk.

Yet, if Arsenal lift the title next May, you’d have to say that Gabriel is one of the leading contenders to be named player of the season.

He is a unit, a colossus, a man mountain and in the words of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, currently the “most influential player” in England’s top division.

Why? Well, also described as the “leader” of the defence by Carragher, the centre-back has made a mockery of his £27m price tag.

The 27-year-old endured a rocky first few years at the Emirates but he is now an elite-level player and to some, the best defender on the planet.

That opinion is very much born out of the impact he’s made in the final third. Since joining the Gunners in 2020, no centre-back in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more goals than him (22). He’s added to his collection in 2025/26, netting two goals and supplying three assists in all competitions.

A steely defender, a manager’s dream, a commander in chief and a goalscorer, Gabriel seemingly has it all. Yet, did Arsenal let Hale End’s very own version leave for a pittance?

Hale End's very own Gabriel

While Arsenal’s academy have produced many a great forward player throughout the years, it’s safe to say it’s been a struggle to find an elite defensive talent.

Tony Adams is the most famous example and beyond him, not many players come to light. Adams is perhaps the greatest captain the club has ever had and he is now cast in bronze outside the Emirates.

Since the days of Adams, however, there have been very few central defenders to make the grade at the top level.

That may well be changing, though. Ayden Heaven left Arsenal for Manchester United at the beginning of the year and despite being just 19 years of age, has already appeared at first-team level under Ruben Amorim.

There is also 16-year-old Marli Salmon. Still in the academy, he represented the club during their pre-season schedule and has already been described as the ‘centre-back version of Dowman’. Fine praise indeed.

Salmon still has a number of years before he makes his big breakthrough but someone who is now making an impact is Dan Ballard.

Ballard played 35 official games for the Arsenal U18s and 25 official games for the U21s but he never made a competitive first-team appearance while in Islington.

As such, he needed to leave and it was Sunderland who gave him a home. The centre-back headed to the Stadium of Light in a deal worth just £2m back in June 2022.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

He has caught the eye since moving, particularly in the last year, where he’s beginning to emulate Gabriel.

Like Gabriel, he’s a leader of men and in the words of Sunderland writer Josh Edwards, a “colossus”. He showed as much against his former employers over the weekend where he outshone Arsenal’s number 6.

While much of the pre-game chatter had been about Granit Xhaka, it was another former Arsenal man who made the biggest of impacts.

He beat Declan Rice to the ball inside the Gunners penalty area and then crashed home an almighty effort that ended the visitors’ immense run of over eight games without conceding a goal.

Ballard was also involved in the Black Cats’ late equaliser. Once again the centre-back found himself in the opposition penalty box but this time he was assisting the goal, playing the ball into the path of Brian Brobbey who flicked the ball beyond David Raya. If that wasn’t enough, his remarkable goalline clearance to deny Mikel Merino a last-gasp winner was perhaps even better than his goal.

Minutes played

90

Touches

44

Accurate passes

26/33 (79%)

Clearances

6

Blocked shots

1

Ground duels won

1/2

Aerial duels won

5/11

Shots

1

Goals

1

A true Gabriel-like performance, this was not the first time that the former Hale Ender has popped up with a vital attacking contribution.

It was Ballard’s crashing header that took Regis Le Bris’ men to the Championship play-off final last season, a game in which he also made a jaw-dropping 19 clearances, winning six aerial duels in the process. Gabriel-esque indeed.

Arsenal’s current defensive record means they will have no regrets about letting him leave for such a small fee but it’s nice to see him doing well elsewhere nonetheless.

Arteta will just be cursing his luck that one of the best performances of Ballard’s senior career came against the team that raised him.

Shreyas Iyer told him he would be playing all the Punjab Kings matches this season, and that’s freed him up to bat the way he likes best

Ashish Pant12-Apr-20252:37

Jaffer: Hope to see Arya in India colours soon

Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Priyansh Arya is your quintessential T20 cricketer. Young, uninhibited, fearless, whose instincts tell him to hit every ball out of the ground irrespective of the match situation. It’s pretty straightforward. First ball of the innings or last, if the ball is in his zone, it must be out of the ground. A simple see-ball-hit-ball approach.These instincts told him to whack the first ball he faced from Chennai Super Kings’ [CSK] Khaleel Ahmed for six over deep point. It didn’t matter that he had fallen for a golden duck three days prior to that game or that he had a single-digit score in a match before that. He saw the ball in his zone, he took his chance.But what if he had been caught in the deep? What if his instinct was wrong? Wouldn’t back-to-back golden ducks look bad on his young resume?Related

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“Attacking batsman out [An attacking batsman always looks ugly when he gets out],” Arya says with a smile at a press interaction. “Not just me, look at every attacking batsman. I don’t think about failures, or whether this shot could get me out or not when I am batting. I just watch the ball and look to hit it.”Getting out on a zero is not a big deal, it’s a part of the game. At times, I’ll get out on a zero, but the next day, I will also score a century.”And score a century he did as he sent the CSK fielders on a leather hunt in Mullanpur. He was dropped by Khaleel second ball of the innings, and played a false shot two balls later. Even the most aggressive IPL batters might have taken a step back. Not Arya. He went again the very next ball, carving Khaleel over cover point for six. He trusted his instincts. It got him a 43-ball 102 and a Player-of-the-Match award.It’s helped that Arya has the backing of PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer.

“When I went to the [IPL team] trials and I didn’t get selected, it never affected me much, because I wasn’t consistent. I debuted for the senior team in 2021, and I was out of the team after two matches because I wasn’t performing well. Obviously, anyone would be out of the team with those performances”Priyansh Arya on the lows in his career

“I spoke to Ricky sir [after his first-ball duck] and he told me that if I get the same ball in the next match, I should hit it out of the ground. I was very confident after hearing that,” Arya says. “Shreyas also told me not to worry: ‘you will play all the 14 matches’. That calmed me down a lot. If the captain is backing me so much, I felt very confident after hearing that.”It wasn’t all about swinging away to glory, Arya also showed cricketing smarts against CSK. When R Ashwin, 14 years his senior and one of the modern-day greats, came into the attack inside the powerplay, he looked like knew that the offspinner would try and cramp him for room. On cue, Ashwin fired a length ball on the stumps that Arya duly slog-swept to the square-leg boundary. A few balls later, when Ashwin went marginally short outside off, Arya deposited him over wide long-off.Arya’s strike rate of 210.66 is the third-highest in the tournament at the moment. He has hit 11 sixes, the second-highest for PBKS behind his captain’s 14. But Arya has not always been this free-flowing six basher.Priyansh Arya’s strike rate of 210.66 is the third-highest at the moment in the tournament•Associated Press”I developed it with time. I wasn’t this bold at the start of my career when I was younger,” he says. “With time and maturity, you have to bring those changes within yourself. You can’t keep playing like you used to. The opponents are experienced enough to know your strengths and weaknesses.”Arya is just 24, but his career has already had a fair few ups and downs. He made his senior T20 debut for Delhi in 2021, but was out of the side after only two games and it took him two years to get another game. He was called up for trials by a few IPL teams, but Arya remained unsold in the 2024 player auctions. However, he was pragmatic about his snub.”When I went to the trials and I didn’t get selected, it never affected me much, because I wasn’t consistent, so the non-selection didn’t bother me,” he says. “I debuted for the senior team in 2021, and I was out of the team after two matches because I wasn’t performing well. Obviously, anyone would be out of the team with those performances.”The 2024 Delhi Premier League, however, changed everything. His six sixes in an over thrust him into the limelight and got him a place in the Delhi 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali squad, where he was Delhi’s highest run-scorer. “When DPL started, I wanted to be as consistent as possible,” Arya says. “I made runs in DPL and this time in T20s [Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] as well and I got picked [in the IPL]. So, in my mind, I realised that consistency is key.”2:44

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Coming into the IPL, Arya has not changed his technique much but has worked on the mental side of things. “Everyone has the same level of preparation. But the mindset is very important. Controlling the mind is the most difficult thing. If you keep yourself calm, you can perform better.”He has also worked extensively with his childhood coach Sanjay Bharadwaj, particularly on the cuts and pulls, because “IPL ball . [In the IPL, no one will dish out slot balls]. The bowlers will hit that hard length, which makes the cuts and the pulls important shots to have.”There is no question that Arya’s approach is fraught with risk. He might fail more often than he succeeds. But with a mature head on his shoulders and the backing of his coach and captain, he will hope to leave a mark on IPL 2025. He’s started well. Now for the consistency which has brought him thus far.

Just a few weeks ago, the mood around West Ham United was as dour as it had been in years, and yet now there is a genuine sense of optimism surrounding the club.

This quite dramatic change in sentiment is, of course, down to Nuno Espírito Santo’s side finally putting in performances worthy of the badge, beating Newcastle United and Burnley 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.

On top of the wins, the fans have also seen Freddie Potts given a genuine chance in the first team, and so far, he’s looking every bit the future star so many thought he’d be.

So, supporters should be seriously excited about another player in the academy who could be the next Potts.

Why West Ham fans should be excited about Potts

Now, the headline from the last couple of gameweeks is, and should be, the fact that West Ham have picked up six points from six.

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However, it’s impossible to ignore the side story of Potts finally getting his full first-team debut and then earning a second start in as many games.

The Englishman was utterly impeccable against the Toon. He delivered quintessential all-action central midfield performances and was more than deserving of his Man of the Match award.

He was once again bossing the midfield against the Clarets on Saturday afternoon before going off with what looked like a leg injury, although thankfully it has since been revealed to have only been a dead leg.

Despite being on the pitch for just 62 minutes, the 22-year-old played three key passes, took 56 touches, won 66% of his tackles, made six clearances, won six of nine ground duels and made four recoveries.

It was another showing that demonstrated just why fans are right to be excited about the academy gem.

The Barking-born monster, who, according to one analyst, is blessed with a “supreme confidence and ability to create time and space on the ball”, looks like he could develop into the perfect central midfielder for a Premier League side looking to climb the table.

So it’s good news that the academy may have already produced another prospect who could be Nuno’s next Potts.

West Ham's next Potts

While the first team has been largely disappointing over the last couple of years, the academy has continued to produce exciting prospects for West Ham. One of those talents, and someone who could be the next Potts, is George Earthy.

Now, while the youngster can and has played in several positions across the pitch, he is primarily an attacking midfielder. However, where he plays on the pitch has very little to do with the comparisons to and why he could be another Potts.

Instead, one of the main points of comparison is that, while he hasn’t had many first-team chances, the 21-year-old is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects at the club and has a youth record to prove it.

Earthy’s Junior Record

Team

U18s

U21s

Appearances

60

53

Minutes

4804′

3573 ‘

Goals

25

17

Assists

18

13

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

0.56

Minutes per Goal Involvement

111.72′

119.1′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, in 53 appearances for the u21s, totalling 3573 minutes, he scored 17 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.76 games, or every 119.1 minutes, and was enough for him to be named Young Hammer of the Year at the end of the 2023/24 season.

With it clear that the “priceless” gem, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, was too good for academy football, the club sent him on loan to Bristol City last season, where he once again won another young player of the year award.

Now, in addition to being very highly rated from a young age, something else the Havering-born gem shares with the Hammers’ current man of the moment is a love for the club.

Yes, on top of being one of their own, having graduated from the academy, the 21-year-old is a West Ham supporter and even travelled to Prague to watch the side lift the Conference League as a fan.

Ultimately, while they play different roles, Earthy shares a lot in common with Potts, and his impressive record in the academy and with Bristol should see him earn his first competitive start for West Ham sooner rather than later.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 10, 2025