Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this afternoon following a two-week break and Philippe Clement will be aiming to secure another three points.

The start to the 2024/25 season hasn’t been great as the Light Blues have won just twice in all competitions, already slipping two points behind Celtic in the title race.

A 2-0 win over St Johnstone last weekend saw the Gers progress to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, but it is clear that performances have to improve going forward.

The clash against Ross County at Hampden Park today is the ideal opportunity for the team to finally deliver a confident display from start to finish.

Clement will be without a few of his first team regulars for the tie against the Staggies, which could see some rotation of his starting XI.

Rangers team news vs Ross County

Clement spoke to the media ahead of the weekend clash, detailing who was out injured for the Light Blues and who could return to the team.

He said: “Leon (Balogun) has returned. Robin (Propper) is a doubt for tomorrow but will be available next week. Oscar Cortes, I expect in training next week. A small muscle issue with Scott Wright has him a doubt.”

Seeing Cortes back in training is a big positive for the manager, as the young talent could make a big difference out wide.

Losing Robin Propper for the tie against County will be a blow for the club, however, as the Dutch defender was settling in rather nicely at the club.

Robin Propper’s statistics so far at Rangers

Since joining from FC Twente a couple of weeks ago, the 30-year-old has already made three appearances for the Light Blues, playing in the Premiership, League Cup and Champions League.

On the early evidence, Propper could be a solid signing by Clement, displaying his abilities in the 2-1 league win over Motherwell a couple of weeks ago.

Indeed, the centre-back took 104 touches while finishing the game with a 91% pass success rate, showing he is always keen on getting on the ball in order to circulate the ball well.

Propper’s strength in one on one battles will also prove to be an excellent trait going forward, as he won 70% of his aerial duels against the Steelmen, along with making two tackles and one interception.

His loss could be felt today, and with Ben Davies seemingly close to a loan move to Birmingham City, Clement isn’t exactly blessed with options to partner John Souttar at the heart of the defence.

Accurate passes per game

57.4

Total duels won per game

5.1

Possession lost per game

11.2

Tackles per game

1.4

Interceptions per game

1

Dribbled past per game

0.7

Thankfully, Leon Balogun is back to full fitness following a brief injury and this could see the Nigerian veteran come straight back into the starting XI against County this afternoon.

Leon Balogun’s Rangers statistics

The defender initially joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2020, arriving as one of Steven Gerrard’s signings ahead of the unbeaten title-winning campaign.

He played his part in the success, making a total of 28 appearances for the club before becoming an integral part of the first team the season after, playing 37 times as the Gers reached the final of the Europa League.

Two seasons, two trophies. Not a bad haul indeed. Yet he was released that summer after the expiration of his contract.

A spell at QPR yielded little success, and he was soon back in Glasgow, joining on a one-year deal last summer, initially thought of as cover for the main defensive options under Michael Beale.

Balogun ended up playing 19 times, including 14 Premiership games as he continued to showcase his abilities.

The 36-year-old kept seven clean sheets in these games, was dribbled past on just 0.3 occasions per game and won 7.3 total duels per game – a success rate of 68% – not bad statistics at all considering how few chances he got in the starting XI.

These performances led to the club giving him a one-year extension to his contract. It was a wise move, especially considering he knows the league inside out and the expectations that come with playing for Rangers.

Clement even hailed Balogun as a “warrior” after he suffered a facial injury during a win over Livingston last term and these fighting qualities will stand the club in good stead.

Clement must unleash Leon Balogun against Ross County

It appears as though he could be playing a more reserved role this season, as Clement seems to favour a partnership of Souttar and Propper.

With the Dutchman out injured for the clash against County, Balogun should be brought straight into the starting XI, especially after a couple of solid cameos during the first two league matches.

The 6 foot 2 titan has averaged only 24 minutes in the matches against Hearts and Motherwell so far this season, yet the 36-year-old has won a staggering 81% of his total duels, lost possession only five times on average per game and committed zero fouls.

His experience will come in handy as County travel down to Glasgow, as a win will set up the Light Blues nicely for the tie against Celtic a week later.

There could well be another centre-back signed before the end of the transfer window, especially considering Davies is close to joining Birmingham, but that shouldn’t mean Balogun’s impact will diminish.

The veteran still has plenty to offer in a supporting role, gaining the trust of the manager and his teammates due to his abilities at the heart of the defence.

Whatever happens, securing three points against the Highland outfit in Glasgow this afternoon is all that matters.

A win would continue the momentum heading into one of the most important Old Firm derbies in recent memory for the Gers.

A win against Celtic could give Clement a boost which may turn Rangers’ fortunes around. Another defeat, however, and they could be waving goodbye to the league title after just a handful of matches.

Clement must bench Danilo and unleash Rangers' £27k-p/w gem

The Light Blues face Ross County this afternoon

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 24, 2024

يستعد فريق بيراميدز لخوض مباراة قوية أمام منافسه حرس الحدود اليوم الأربعاء، بالمباراة التي تجمع بينهما في إطار لقاءات الدوري المصري.

وتقام مباراة بيراميدز أمام منافسه غزل المحلة، على ملعب استاد الدفاع الجوي، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الـ13 من منافسات الدوري المصري.

ويخوض فريق بيراميدز مباراته وهو محتلًا المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 26 نقطة.

بيراميدز خاض 12 مباراة، حقق الفوز في 8 مواجهات وتعادل 3 مرات وتلقى هزيمة وحيدة، كما سجل لاعبوه 21 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 7 أهداف.

طالع | على رأسهم رمضان صبحي.. بيراميدز يعلن أسباب غياب 6 لاعبين عن مباراة حرس الحدود

أما فريق حرس الحدود والباحث عن الفوز السادس له هذا الموسم، فيتواجد في المركز السادس بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 18 نقطة.

وحقق فريق حرس الحدود، 5 انتصارات خلال الموسم الجاري، بينما تعادل في 3 مواجهات وتلقى 4 هزائم، وسجل لاعبوه 12 هدف واستقبلت شباكه 11 أخرين. موعد مباراة بيراميدز وحرس الحدود اليوم في الدوري المصري

وتنطلق المباراة بين بيراميدز وحرس الحدود، اليوم الأربعاء 12 فبراير الجاري، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والثامنة بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة بيراميدز وحرس الحدود اليوم

وتذاع المباراة بين فريقي بيراميدز وحرس الحدود، عبر فضائية أون تايم سبورتس 2. معلق مباراة بيراميدز وحرس الحدود في الدوري المصري

وأسندت شبكة قنوات أون تايم سبورتس مهمة نقل أحداث وفعاليات المباراة للمعلق محمد الشاذلي.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.

Big picture

They call it the seven-year itch, and after so long in the Test-match wilderness, India are ready for a change of scene that they and their opponents, England, hope will be anything but dull or scratchy. So rare are women’s Tests that there is a sense of pressure to provide excitement, not least to a live TV audience, as well as to fans who are just beginning to whet their appetites for witnessing the action in person as pandemic-enforced restrictions slowly ease.But more pressing for two professional sports teams is the will to win. England haven’t done so at home to India in eight completed Test matches while India are playing just their second Test since their last meeting in the format in 2014, having also played and beaten South Africa later the same year. In fact, India are on a three-match winning streak in Tests – if you can call it a streak given that that streak began in 2006 – and victory in Bristol would pull them clear of Australia to a women’s record number of Test victories on the trot.Related

• Emily Arlott stunned into silence by news of England selection

• Nat Sciver: England wary of 'fearless' India as they approach Test learning curve

• 'We may not have much practice, but mentally we're prepared' – Harmanpreet Kaur

• Kate Cross: 'We all get really excited when the whites come out'

Both sides boast Test-match experience, with eight members of India’s squad and 11 of England’s having played the format before. The home contingent’s recall may be better given that it hasn’t quite been two years since their last match, the 2019 Ashes affair at Taunton that became a bit of a talking point for petering out to a rather dull draw.News that this match will be played on a pitch used for the men’s T20 Blast last Friday may boost hopes of a result but it doesn’t exactly buy in to the hype surrounding this match, which has been considerable given that the men’s WTC final between India and New Zealand starts on Friday. At least an otherwise iffy weather forecast is clear for the first day of the Women’s Test, offering them a prime chance to turn heads and perhaps even seduce a wider audience.It also sets the stage for more to come with the Test forming the first part of a multi-format series incuding three ODIs and three T20Is.

In the spotlight

Lauren Winfield-Hillwas identified early on in England’s preparations to open the batting alongside Tammy Beaumont. While experienced in Tests – she has played three, including the last time these two sides met – it will be her first since the 2017 Ashes. It also marks a comeback of sorts to the England set-up after struggles with Crohn’s disease caused her to battle for game time over the past year. But with her illness under better control, she has found form in lead-up matches – practice and domestic – which could make her one to watch.Punam Raut made a breakthrough of sorts during India’s 4-1 ODI series loss to South Africa in March. A match-winning century partnership with Smriti Mandhana followed by two fifties and an unbeaten 104 off 123 balls finally showed she has more than one dimension. While her long-earned reputation as slow accumulator is suited to the Test format, showing an ability to step up the scoring rate when needed suggests an emerging adaptability that could prove useful depending on the match situation.

Team news

England have settled on their XI but captain Heather Knight wouldn’t reveal her side before all the players had been told. Knight has spoken glowingly of fast bowler Emily Arlott since before she earned her maiden England call-up to the squad and has been further impressed during practice by her pace and “handy” form with the bat, suggesting she could be in line for a debut that would mark a stellar rise. Knight could be tempted to roll over some of her offbreaks with two left-handers in India’s line-up and having overcome a recent back problem that forced her to put bowling on the backburner in training for a while. She could call up another offspinner in Mady Viliers but left-armer Sophie Ecclestone seems too good a weapon to leave out.England (possible): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Lauren Winfield-Hill, 3 Heather Knight (capt), 4 Amy Jones, 5 Nat Sciver, 6 Sophia Dunkley, 7 Fran Wilson/Georgia Elwiss, 8 Katherine Brunt, 9 Anya Shrubsole, 10 Sophie Ecclestone, 11 Emily Arlott/Kate CrossIndia are expected to opt for three frontline pacers in Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, and either Arundhati Reddy or Pooja Vastrakar. Their main spin option will come down to a choice between Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht bowling alongside Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur. It’s most likely fans will have to wait at least until the ODIs starting next week to see the exciting 17-year-old batter Shafali Verma in action with India’s top order well-stocked with experienced campaigners.India (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Jemimah Rodrigues/Priya Punia, 3 Punam Raut, 4 Mithali Raj (capt), 5 Harmanpreet Kaur, 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Taniya Bhatia (wk), 8 Jhulan Goswami, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Poonam Yadav/Ekta Bisht, 11 Arundhati Reddy/Pooja Vastrakar

Pitch and conditions

The match will be played on a pitch used for Gloucestershire’s T20 Blast match against Sussex last Friday, which Knight branded “not ideal” and tried in vain to have changed. The weather could well play a big part with warmth and bright sunshine forecast for the opening day, followed by a high chance of rain, particularly on Thursday and Saturday.Mithali Raj and Shikha Pandey seal victory for India in the 2014 Test•Getty Images

Stats and trivia

• England are seeking their first home Test win against India in eight completed matches
• The game will be Heather Knight’s 100th as England captain
• India will be playing their first Test in 2401 days
• If India win, they will break the record for most consecutive wins in women’s Tests pulling clear of Australia, with whom they are currently tied at three apiece.

Quotes

“You obviously want to be entertaining and want to put on a show, and show off the best of your skills and the best of women’s cricket, but our job first and foremost is to try and win and be successful. That’s at the forefront of our mind, and if we can do both at the same time, even better.”
“You ask any modern-day cricketer, they still want to play the longer format because they eventually know that the format tests the skill of a player.”

One of the areas in which Wolverhampton Wanderers have always had a particularly strong squad since they returned to the Premier League in 2018/19 is in midfield.

The Old Gold are currently littered with a few big names in the centre of the park, including Brazilian duo Joao Gomes and Andre, with the latter being a summer signing in 2024.

They have also had the likes of Matheus Nunes and Joao Moutinho play for the club since promotion, with the enterprising Portuguese pair having represented their national team numerous times.

However, perhaps their best midfielder since they returned to the top flight six years ago was another Portugal international, Ruben Neves.

Ruben Neves’ record at Wolves

The 27-year-old enjoyed six seasons at Molineux before making a move in the summer of 2023. He switched the Midlands for the Middle East, joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in a deal worth around £47m.

Whilst the sale was far from Ideal for the Midlands club, they certainly made a healthy profit on the deal. The midfielder joined the club from Portuguese giants FC Porto for what was a then-record fee of £15.8m. Not only did they get years of quality service from the midfielder, but also made a healthy profit.

It was certainly a departure that rocked Molineux, given that Neves captained the Old Gold for a number of seasons. He was a pivotal figure for the club, making 253 appearances both domestically and in the Europa League in 2019/20. The 27-year-old could play everywhere in midfield, from a disciplined sitting number six to an enterprising number 10.

One thing that was synonymous with the former Porto midfielder’s time at the club was his ability to score wonder goals from range. In total, he scored nine goals from outside the box in the Premier League, as per FBref.

Outside the box

9

Inside the 18-yard box

12

Inside the 6-yard box

0

Average distance of PL goals

17.5 yards

He is certainly a hard player to replace, and so far, the Old Gold have not found the person to fill such a big void.

However, there is one player in the academy who could be tasked with stepping into Neves’ boots, and that man is Luke Cundle.

Wolves' next Ruben Neves

22-year-old Cundle is a midfield prospect whom Wolves fans can certainly get excited about. He has made seven appearances for the Old Gold’s first team now and has had three Championship loans two with Swansea City and one at Plymouth Argyle.

Receiving such footballing education in the second tier can be crucial for a player; take Neves as a prime example. Whilst he was highly rated before his move to Molineux, his period in the Championship no doubt helped shape him into the player we see today.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The similarities do not end there, however, with the 22-year-old also being a versatile player. Like the former Wolves skipper, Cundle can operate in a deeper role as a six, an advanced role as an eight or even further forward as a number 10.

He has a good goal involvement record to show for it, too. Across his three loan spells, 77 games in total, the young midfielder has scored ten times and has registered 12 assists, playing in three different roles in the centre of the park. He has also been known to get on the scoresheet for the Wolves academy sides.

The youngster’s future is not necessarily secure, and the Potters launched another attempt to sign him over the 2024 summer window. However, he has impressed Gary O’Neil, and there is every chance he will stay and fight for his place at Molineux.

Cundle was described as a “gifted” player by former Swans boss Russel Martin, who is now managing South Coast outfit Southampton. The 22-year-old could be the dream Neves replacement, and finally fill the boots of a player whose departure left such a void at Molineux.

Wolves must regret selling PL star who's now worth more than Gomes

He’s gone on to tear the Premier League apart in recent times.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 4, 2024

In the last four to five years, Arsenal have been utterly transformed, both on and off the pitch.

The North Londoners have gone from languishing down in eighth and breaking their transfer record on players like Nicolas Pepe to fighting for the title and bringing in stars like Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have been instrumental in this overhaul, and as such, their signings in recent windows haven’t been met with too much scrutiny, but that cannot be said for their business a few years ago.

In fact, back in 2021, one of the club’s newest players was torn into by Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville following his debut, and to say he has since proven them wrong would be an understatement.

Ben White's debut

Yes, the player in question is right-back extraordinaire Ben White.

The 26-year-old played as a centre-back in his first season at Arsenal following his £50m move from Brighton & Hove Albion and made his debut in the club’s opening game of the 21/22 season away at the then newly promoted Brentford.

Unfortunately for the Englishman, he struggled during the match and was one of the more disappointing players in what was an embarrassing 2-0 defeat for the visitors.

Following the game, Sky Sports’ Carragher and Neville then analysed the performance, going particularly hard on the new signing, focusing on his height, lack of experience, and naivety at the back.

Now, while the pair were indeed right to label it as a disappointing debut from the Pool-born ace, the suggestion that he would continue to struggle for the North Londoners has since been proven very wrong.

Moreover, while fans might point to his positional switch as vindication of the criticism, that was mainly down to the arrival of William Saliba, as in March 2022, he played 90 minutes for England as a centre-back, and losing your place in the lineup to the sensational Frenchman is nothing to be ashamed of anyway.

White's Arsenal career since

So, while Sky’s punditry tag team was certainly right to flag some issues with White’s debut back in 2021, it would be fair to say that in the three years since, he has wholly quashed any concerns people might have had about his ability to play for a top team.

In fact, the Gunners’ defensive “warrior”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, hasn’t just become an important player for the club; he’s become practically undroppable.

According to the Standard, his form has forced Jurrien Timber to play more on the left this season, when the initial plan last summer was that he would offer the Englishman more competition on the right.

Appearances

138

Goals

6

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

In all, the fan favourite, who isn’t so well-liked by other fanbases for his on-field antics, has now played 138 games for the North Londoners, starting 39 at centre-back and 94 at right-back, with the other five being substitute appearances.

He has also become more of an attacking threat alongside Bukayo Saka and Odegaard down the right flank and has ten assists and six goals to his name, including the club’s 10000th in all competitions.

Ultimately, while his start to life as an Arsenal player was shakey, White has since more than justified his original price tag and new £150k-per-week deal while establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the country.

Arsenal teen who's "the fastest star at Hale End" could replace Martinelli

The promising 18 y/o has a bright future ahead of him.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 17, 2024

Manchester United have come in for criticism with Sir Jim Ratcliffe accused of "pinching off people" due to his latest cost-cutting measure.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd cut steward bonuses by £150
• Used to receive £100 for every 10 matches
• Steward of the Week cash prize also cancelled

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Since taking operational control with a 25% stake in the club, Ratcliffe has initiated significant reductions in outgoings to channel more funds into improving the playing squad. However, these moves have sparked backlash, particularly after the decision to eliminate bonuses for stewards—some of the club’s lowest-paid employees.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Stewards, who play a crucial role in ensuring matchday safety and fan experience, previously received a £100 attendance bonus for every 10 matches worked. Additionally, a "Steward of the Week" was awarded £50 for exceptional service. According to both bonuses have been discontinued this season, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among staff.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  The changes have prompted many stewards to leave the club. Frank Robinson, a former steward with 24 years of experience at Old Trafford, shared his frustration, describing the move as a step too far.

  “A lot of stewards are leaving since Ratcliffe came in,” he told iNews.

  “Up until last year they used to get an attendance bonus. Every 10 matches we did, we got a £100 bonus. Now they said you’re not having that. So they stopped that completely. For many years you’d have a steward of the week, someone nominated or fans wrote in and said how well this steward had done. You got £50 for that. Now they still have steward of the week, but they have no award. It’s very petty for a football club. You’re pinching off people at the bottom of the ladder.”

  Robinson also highlighted the increasing use of agency staff to replace seasoned stewards, which has further eroded morale.

  “Supervisors and stewards who’ve been at United for years are packing it in,” Robinson said.

  “Some stewards in their 70s, they’re putting them into the top tier of the North Stand because they know they won’t like it and they’ll leave. They can bring more agency staff in. They’re trying to force them out. They are getting rid of stewards and replacing them with untrained, unqualified agency staff. There’s no overheads with agency staff, no training, no uniforms, nobody having to work wages and holiday out.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Once a symbol of gratitude, the club previously awarded long-serving stewards with engraved watches, often presented by legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. These timepieces, valued at over £1,000, were a cherished acknowledgement of loyalty and dedication. Now, such traditions have disappeared.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Taubaté acertou os trâmites para a contratação do goleiro Felipe, que chega ao Joaquinzão para a briga pelo acesso para a elite do futebol paulista. O arqueiro tem passagens de destaque por Corinthians e Flamengo no futebol brasileiro.

Com um currículo recheado de grandes clubes, Felipe ganhou notoriedade no Corinthians, onde foi campeão da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro e da Copa do Brasil, e também no Flamengo, onde também venceu a Copa do Brasil. Ao todo, foram oito temporadas e mais de 350 partidas vestindo as camisas dos dois times de maior torcida do país.

Felipe também atuou por equipes como Vitória, Bragantino e Figueirense. Nas últimas temporadas, disputou a Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro pelo Botafogo, somando mais de 50 partidas como titular pelo time paraibano nos dois últimos anos.

O experiente arqueiro é um dos reforços confirmados pelo Burro da Central para 2022, na disputa da Série A2 do Campeonato Paulista. A pré-temporada para a competição se inicia nos próximos dias.

أعلن مجلس إدارة نادي مودرن سبورت برئاسة وليد دعبس، عن التعاقد مع الجزائري عبد الحق بن شيخة لتولي مسئولية تدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وكان مودرن سبورت قد أعلن عن رحيل المدرب فرانك دوما عن تدريب الفريق أمس الخميس، وذلك بسبب سوء النتائج وتراجع الأداء في الدوري المصري.

وتولى أحمد صالح مهمة تدريب فريق مودرن سبورت أمس في مباراة طلائع الجيش وانتهت بالتعادل السلبي، والتي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

طالع | التعادل يحسم مباراة مودرن سبورت وطلائع الجيش في الدوري المصري تشكيل الجهاز الفني الجديد لـ مودرن سبورت

عبد الحليم علي – مدير الكرة

عبد الحق بن شيخة – المدير الفني

فريد زميتي – مدرب

أحمد صالح – مدرب

دانيال خيمينيز – مدرب

فريد بلملاط – مدرب حراس

كمال بوجنان – المعد البدني

محلل الأداء – سيصل مصر خلال أيام

ويمتلك بن شيخة مدرب مودرن سبورت الجديد والذي تولى مهمة تدريب المنتخب الجزائري الأول عام 2010، مسيرة تدريبية كبيرة وحافلة أبرزها اتحاد العاصمة الجزائري والذي حقق معه لقبي الكونفدرالية الإفريقية وكأس السوبر الإفريقي على حساب الأهلي في عام 2023.

كما حصد لقب كأس السوبر الإفريقي أيضاً مع فريق نهضة بركان وكأس تنزانيا مع فريق سيمبا، كما حقق 3 ألقاب مع فريق شباب بلوزداد وكأس قطر مع فريق أم صلال وبطولة تونس مع فريق الإفريقي التونسي.

وله تجارب مميزة وعديدة مع أندية كثيرة أبرزها اتحاد كلباء الإماراتي وشبيبة القبائل والرجاء البيضاوي واتحاد طنجة والمغرب التطواني والدفاع الحسني الجديدي ومولودية الجزائر وغيرهم.

Qalandars’ playoff hopes now hinge on result of Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings

Danyal Rasool18-Jun-2021There’s been plenty of talk about when the world will get back to normal, but Lahore Qalandars look like they’re there anyway. A vintage capitulation from a side for whom qualification to the semis once looked a mere formality means their chances for progression hang in the balance. Multan Sultans swatted them aside by 80 runs, with Sohail Akhtar’s side bowled out inside 15.1 overs for 89, which – aside from the points going to the Sultans – has produced a devastating blow to the Qalandars net run rate that they could ill afford to absorb. Shahnawaz Dhani was the architect of the huge win, taking four wickets once again in the face of listless opposition from Qalandars.Having lost three on the bounce when failing to chase down targets, Qalandars’ decision to put Sultans in first was curious, but the bowlers kept them on a leash for much of the innings. Aside from a menacing 63-run partnership between Rilee Rossouw and Sohaib Maqsood – whose 40-ball 60 was redolent of his best days as a T20 power hitter – Sultans were never truly able to pull away. And once that partnership was broken, Shaheen Afridi and James Faulkner helped Qalandars run riot, ripping through the lower-middle order to leave Quetta hovering around 140. Only a destructive – in every sense of the word – final over from Haris Rauf, from which Sohail Tanvir plundered 24, helped Sultans set Qalandars 170 to win.Given their chasing struggles in this leg of the tournament, that was always going to be an uphill task. Ben Dunk was promoted, signalling a shift in approach. But the experiment failed before Dhani, sensational once again, got some extra bounce to prise out a struggling Fakhar Zaman. Blessing Muzarabani got in on the act as Mohammad Hafeez fell thanks to a loose shot. Imran Tahir joined the party too, and aside from one big over courtesy Faulkner, the chase was never really on. When he was dismissed, the fight left the Qalandars. At this rate, the Qalandars might be leaving Abu Dhabi soon enough.Dhani delight Shahnawaz Dhani’s special relationship with the PSL shows no signs of cooling, his dizzying figures of 3.1-1-5-4 the zenith of an already glittering tournament. The signs of a remarkable day presented themselves the very first time he bowled, nailing Fakhar Zaman with a bouncer off his first ball and putting Qalandars on the back foot straightaway. When he returned in the middle overs, he got rid of the last dregs of Qalandars’ hope, extra bounce putting paid to Faulkner’s enterprising little stay. All that remained was the snuffing of the tail, and in this sort of mood, he accomplished that with disdainful ease.Harif Rauf’s 20th overIt’s easy to forget what a seemingly impregnable position Lahore found themselves in 19 overs into the match. Sultans had hobbled along to 145, and Tanvir kept the strike off the final ball of the previous over, hoping to get a few big hits in. It began with a couple of streaky fours, before a hammer blow over square leg for six saw the momentum shift ominously away from the struggling Qalandars. Assisted by supremely ordinary bowling, Tanvir – who has struggled for runs this PSL – managed another ten off the last two, wrenching the momentum back to his side. While Lahore had conceded just 26 off the five overs prior, Sultans plundered 24 more in just one. Lahore would never quite recover.Where they standLahore Qalandars are joined by Multan Sultans on ten points and both teams have one match to play. Sultans have the best net run rate in the tournament and barring a historically catastrophic loss to Islamabad United, Sultans are assured of a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Qalandars’ fate rests in the hands of Quetta Gladiators. If the last place Gladiators can beat Karachi Kings, then Qalandars will take the final playoff berth. However, a win for the Kings and they’ll move to ten points but will be in the playoffs ahead of Qalandars due to a superior net run rate.

Mikel Arteta personally "dreams" of bringing a £68 million forward to Arsenal, and it is believed the Spaniard is plotting a unique bid to sign him.

Arteta agrees new Arsenal contract as transfer plans continue

It's been a hectic week at London Colney, as Arteta and his coaching staff prepare for their all-important North London Derby clash away to Tottenham on Sunday.

Related Arsenal hold extensive internal talks over signing £86m starlet for Arteta

He’s very highly regarded in north London.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Sep 12, 2024

Arsenal look set to be without Mikel Merino, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard for their trip to Spurs, giving the Gunners a real selection headache.

Arsenal's next five Premier League games

Date

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

It is believed Arteta is planning to use Raheem Sterling as a false-nine against Tottenham, dropping Kai Havertz back into midfield, as they also sweat on Riccardo Calafiori's fitness after the defender picked up a calf injury on international duty.

While supporters anxiously wait for official injury updates ahead of Spurs, some very good news has at least come out of the club today. Indeed, widespread reports claim Arteta has just agreed a new three-year contract with Arsenal, which will keep him at the club until 2027.

The Spaniard's current deal was set to expire at the end of this season, prompting some concern over Arteta's long-term future, but Arsenal no longer have to worry about retaining their manager as they continue to work together for the foreseeable.

Arteta is rumoured to have a big say on Arsenal transfers and regularly holds internal discussions with sporting director Edu Gaspar over whom to bring in. Now that the 42-year-old has committed his future to the club, it is believed there is one player in particular very high on his wishlist.

Arteta "dreams" of signing Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram

According to Inter Live, Nerazzurri striker Marcus Thuram is seriously wanted by Arteta. The Frenchman has started 2024/2025 in fine form, scoring four goals over his opening three Serie A starts of the new season, following up a 23/24 campaign where he bagged 13 goals and seven assists in Serie A alone.

This form has not gone unnoticed in London, as it is claimed Arteta "dreams" of signing Thuram for Arsenal, and he is even prepared to offer striker Gabriel Jesus plus a substantial amount of money in a player-plus-cash bid.

It is unclear whether the Serie A champions would entertain such an offer, but other reports have stated that Inter value Thuram at no less than £68 million. The former Borussia Monchengladbach forward has averaged an impressive 3.7 shots at goal per 90 so far this season, and a very high match rating of 8.27 according to WhoScored.