Also in the squad is wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert, who is set to make his ODI debut with the regular keeper Tom Latham rested

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Dec-2018

James Neesham drives down the ground•Getty Images

Allrounder James Neesham and fast bowler Doug Bracewell are back in New Zealand’s ODI squad after a gap of more than a year. They have both found places in the squad for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, which begins on January 3 in Mount Maunganui.Also in the squad is wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert, who is set to make his ODI debut with the regular keeper Tom Latham rested. Also rested is the allrounder Colin de Grandhomme.Neesham has not played an international of any description for almost 18 months, but has earned a recall on the back of excellent domestic form. His batting was especially instrumental to Wellington Firebirds’ run to the Ford Trophy List A title over the last two months, as he scored 503 runs at an average of 63.87 and a strike rate of 111. He also claimed 13 wickets in the tournament.Bracewell, meanwhile, who last played for New Zealand in January this year, returns to the side on the back of strong performances for New Zealand A against India A in October and November. It was in the unofficial Tests – rather than the List A games – in which Bracewell impressed, however, taking eight wickets at 28.75, in addition to producing two solid innings with the bat.”Doug and Jimmy have performed well on the domestic scene and showed during the recent New Zealand A series against India A that they’re ready for international cricket,” selector Gavin Larsen said.Also part of that A team series had been Northern Districts wicketkeeper batsman Seifert, who made 123 runs at 42.66 across three innings in the unofficial ODI series. He has played seven T20Is, and is almost certain to make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka with no other wicketkeeper-batsman named in the squad. “Tim’s also been rewarded for his strong New Zealand A form and we’ve been impressed by the development of his all-round game,” Larsen said.In general, New Zealand would like to use the Sri Lanka series as a testing ground for World Cup prospects, Larsen said. “We want to win the one-day series against Sri Lanka, and we want to gain as much new information as possible while doing so.”Perhaps the most notable omission from the squad is left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who was in New Zealand’s ODI squad for the recent tour of the UAE, though he did not play a 50-over game. Legspinner Ish Sodhi is the frontline slow bowler in the squad.Mitchell Santner, meanwhile, recently returned to action in the Super Smash after nine months out with a knee injury. The spin-bowling allrounder could be back in the reckoning soon, Larsen indicated: “Mitchell made a promising return in the Burger King Super Smash over the weekend and we’ll continue to monitor his progress closely.”New Zealand ODI squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor

Arsenal are reportedly ready to make their presence known in the upcoming January transfer window, with the Gunners already linked to a host of star talent in the bid to bolster the squad at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta and Edu enjoyed a successful summer of business, spending over £200m on new signings, however there appears to be a lot of work left to do to strengthen the depth of the team in preparation for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.

Injuries have once again left the north Londoners short of options in their quest to field their best XI week in week out, with the cracks from last season's shortcomings in the title race already beginning to show.

That being said, the January window now provides Arteta with the chance to welcome additional reinforcements to his squad to avoid such patterns repeating themselves.

Arsenal transfer targets – forwards

A report from The Mirror claimed that the midfield is where the manager will hope to rejuvenate in January, although it’s not the only area that is said to be targeted at the Emirates.

Recently, a report from SunSport speculated that Arsenal are ahead of Real Madrid in their rumoured pursuit of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who has a CIES Football Observatory market value of €80m (£70m).

There is no doubt that the 23-year-old would bring a goal scoring presence to the Gunners’ attack, however the Serbian is not the only player linked that could bolster the front line.

A report from TEAMtalk has now suggested that Arteta’s side are one of the teams in the running for Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who is also said to be admired by Manchester United and clubs in Saudi Arabia.

It’s reported that the north Londoners would have to pay a fee in the region of £60m to those at Molineux, a fair price considering the form that the Portuguese forward has showcased so far in 2023/24.

TEAMtalk added that Arteta is keen to welcome another winger to the fold to add to the depth of the squad, with Neto’s proven ability to play in the Premier League making him an exciting prospect to follow.

Pedro Neto’s career in numbers

In 2019, the dynamic wide player arrived at Molineux from Lazio as a hopeful starlet, but unfortunately his time in Wolverhampton has been far from easy.

Every season since his arrival, Neto has missed game time due to injury, with two long-term blows seeing him miss over a year of his career between 2020/21 and 2022/23.

The Portugal international’s misfortune began in April 2021 when he sustained a serious injury to his knee cap, resulting in him missing the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign, and seven months of the 2021/22 calendar.

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Injury absences

44

5

5

21 days – calf

35

5

6

297 days – knee

13

1

1

Missed opening 7 months

21

1

1

127 days – ankle

10

1

7

Current – hamstring

It was only eight months after his return that the 23-year-old was forced to sit on the sidelines once more, picking up an ankle injury in October 2022 that saw him miss not only 127 days of action, but agonisingly the 2022 World Cup as well.

As highlighted in the table above, it was difficult for the young forward to properly get going at Wolves due to injury and squad competition, however this season has seen the former Lazio starlet break out of the chains that restricted his form prior.

In only ten games played, Neto has recorded his best assists tally throughout his career at Molineux, topping the Premier League charts as the best creator with seven assists, despite missing the previous three fixtures to a hamstring injury.

Lauded as “incredible” earlier in the campaign by manager Gary O’Neil, the winger has caused havoc this term to defenders in the league because of his ruthless streak when in possession, with his return from injury eagerly awaited in the Midlands.

Why Pedro Neto would be a good signing for Arsenal

The 23-year-old's injury woes haven’t deterred other clubs from interest, with Neto proving to be a potentially difference-making asset to Arsenal, if the Gunners are serious in their pursuit of the right-winger.

It’s imperative that in the near future, Arteta seeks a right forward of first-team calibre to rival Bukayo Saka on the flank, as the Englishman has dominated the area with little support, cover or competition throughout his rise to prominence at the Emirates.

In both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Premier League seasons, the 22-year-old played every game for Arsenal, testament to his fitness and consistency, but rest and other options are integral going forward to ensure the Hale End graduate doesn’t burn out or sustain injury.

Aside from Neto’s potential introduction giving room for Saka to be rotated and covered sufficiently when unavailable, the Wolves gem is far too impressive to settle for second in the pecking order.

With eight goal contributions in ten appearances this term in the league, the Portuguese dynamo has the same number of contributions in the Premier League as Saka, who has scored four and assisted four in 11 appearances.

Based on their form in the 2023/24 campaign, it’s fair to brand Neto as being of a similar calibre to Arsenal’s prized forward, making his potential arrival an interesting dynamic when it comes to selection on the right side.

Pedro Neto

Bukayo Saka

5.18

4.67

2.34

1.62

50.0%

45.9%

0.71

0.38

0.91

0.67

2.54

2.57

Competition should be welcomed in squads to up the stakes for selection in the XI, which only induces a higher level of performance, with the Wolves gem’s statistics relating to ball carrying actually better than the England international’s this term.

As per FBref, Saka and Neto are statistically comparable based on their per 90 statistics harvested in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, with the 23-year-old averaging 5.18 progressive carries and 2.34 successful take-ons per 90 to Saka’s 4.67 carries and 1.62 take-ons.

While the 2000-born whiz wouldn’t be signed to come in and replace the Hale End product, he would finally hand Arteta and Saka a high-quality right-winger to contend and alternate with throughout the gruelling football calendar.

Pep Guardiola gets the best out of his forwards due to competition, with the likes of Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku consistently interchanging and performing at peak level to support their claim to starting, a feat that Arteta could replicate with Saka and Neto.

That may well be bad news for Saka having been a remarkably consistent presence in the side over the past few years, yet for the benefit of the squad, such a signing could be crucial.

Only time will tell if Wolves will be open to letting their prized winger leave in January, paired with if Arsenal are willing to spend the anticipated high price to obtain his services, although the impact he could have at the Emirates is unquestionable.

Real Madrid's Sofie Svava has reportedly signed a contract at another top European club amid interest from Manchester City and the Portland Thorns.

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Svava to leave Real MadridWants a fresh challenge away from SpainHas already committed herself to a new clubWHAT HAPPENED?

According to transfer journalist , Svava, the talented 23-year-old left-back, is poised to depart the Spanish giants for a new challenge once her contract expires in the summer. Svava has declined to extend her contract with Los Blancos and has already inked a deal with another prominent outfit.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Several top clubs across the globe have expressed interest in securing Svava's services, with City, Lyon, Roma, the Portland Thorns and Utah Royals among the suitors – reflecting her stature as one of Europe's most sought-after defensive talents. However, and official announcement on her next destination is not expected until the end of the current campaign.

WHAT SVAVA SAID

In a recent interview with, Svava expressed her frustrations about limited playing time and hinted at the possibility of departing Real Madrid in search of more regular opportunities elsewhere.

"It probably also has something to do with the fact that I lack a bit of playing time at Real Madrid, but I don't want to go into that too much," she said.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SVAVA?

Svava has made 14 appearances in Liga F this season, including eight starts. She will be in action again against Madrid CFF on Sunday in a Liga F encounter.

Manchester United have been a total enigma so far this season; they stand on the verge of an early exit from the Champions League, they have played out some genuinely shocking defeats in the Premier League, and rival fans seem giddy at the prospect of Erik ten Hag losing his job.

However, with 15 league games played, they are somehow just three points behind defending champions Manchester City and look like they could now mount a serious charge for the European places following their comprehensive victory over Chelsea on Wednesday evening.

The Red Devils could potentially be on the long road back to recovery, and while the previously derided defensive pairing of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have done an admirable job to get them there, Ten Hag should really be looking to upgrade them in 2024 – the pair having both been tipped for an exit over the summer.

Luckily enough, it appears as if that is precisely what the club are planning to do, as the three-time European champions have recently been linked to Crystal Palace's vice-captain, Marc Guehi.

Manchester United transfer news – Marc Guehi

According to Football Insider, Manchester United have made Guehi their 'number one target' for the January transfer window.

The 23-year-old is currently on £50k-per-week at Selhurst Park, and with his contract set to expire in 2026, the Eagles are reportedly sounding out his interest in signing a new deal to see him remain in south London well past that date.

The former Chelsea man joined Palace in 2021 for a fee in the region of £20m, but it will reportedly cost three times as much for the Red Devils to sign him as the required fee is said to be in the region of £60m.

While that is undoubtedly a significant asking price, the performances of the "absolute tank", as described by former England U21 goalkeeper Josef Bursik, in the last couple of years more than justify it.

How Guehi compares to Maguire and Lindelof

The first thing to note is that Maguire and Lindelof have looked significantly better this year and have subsequently played themselves into the team far more than most would have expected prior to the season.

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They have still made mistakes; there is no getting away from that, but they have partially rebuilt their reputations – Maguire, in particular, after winning November's Premier League Player of the Month award.

However, if United really want to progress and get back to where they deserve to be, where they should be, they must move on and improve upon both defenders. Which is where Guehi comes in.

The Palace vice-captain is still just 23 years old but has already accrued significant top-flight and international experience. He has been consistently impressive for Roy Hodgson's side and comes out on top in several key statistics.

Guehi

Maguire

Lindelof

64.4 (88.0%)

60.8 (82.6%)

70.4 (90.1%)

0.79

0.48

0.60

0.93

1.08

0.80

4.57

4.46

2.30

5.21

4.22

4.90

0.57

0.70

1.57

The 'brilliant' centre-back, as described by BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks, wins more tackles, makes more clearances, and recovers more balls, all while committing considerably fewer fouls than his competition.

Additionally, while the Swedish international has the most accurate passing of them all, Guehi is only marginally less precise, suggesting that he could adapt to a more adventurous style of play at the Theatre of Dreams.

Finally, while there are plenty of footballing reasons to sign the Palace defender in January, there is also a fairly significant financial one.

Combined, Maguire and Lindelof earn a whopping £310k-per-week in Manchester, and while the Abidjan-born wall would make a pretty penny in red, the wage bill would be significantly healthier.

West Bromwich Albion picked up a fourth win from their last five games away at Cardiff City, Carlos Corberan's men breaking the deadlock in the tight encounter courtesy of a sensational solo effort from Jeremy Sarmiento early into the second half to win the game 1-0.

The Brighton loanee's excellent strike just minutes into the second half was a goal worthy of winning any contest, the Baggies now eyeing up the automatic promotion spots above them after the win – the slim victory over the Bluebirds catapulting West Brom up to third spot in the division.

It wasn't just Sarmiento's strike that ensured the Baggies would travel back to the west Midlands with all three points however, a resolute team effort from all of Corberan's men kept the Bluebirds at bay for the full 90 minutes to get the victory over the line.

West Brom's game in numbers

In truth, the game at the Cardiff City Stadium lacked overall quality from both teams minus Sarmiento's curled effort – both sides only registering one shot on target apiece, with Corberan relieved that his side's only on-target effort sailed into the back of the net.

The Baggies did edge the possession stats on the night however, holding the ball for 56% of the contest with Alex Mowatt for the away side amassing 92 touches of the ball from midfield as per Sofascore.

West Brom would also hit the post in this contest, leading to a more favourable xG of 1.22 to Cardiff's lesser 0.48 who failed to consistently test Alex Palmer in the opposing net.

Despite the hosts being largely ineffective going forward, Cedric Kipre stood out as a key performer in defence for the Baggies in the Welsh capital.

Facing off against his former club, the 26-year-old battled valiantly throughout and ensured Palmer behind him retained a clean sheet.

Cedric Kipre's game in numbers

The 6 foot 4 colossus was instrumental in nullifying the attacking threats Cardiff had, clearing the ball away a grand total of seven times to alleviate pressure.

Moreover, Kipre used his towering frame to his advantage throughout the game in the Welsh capital – winning three of his five aerial duels in the contest, opposition striker Yakou Méïté having a torrid night up against the determined defender as a result.

Cedric Kipre's game vs Cardiff
Touches	83
Pass Success	59/67 (88%)
Long Ball Success	2/5
Duels Won	3/6
Clearances	7
Blocked Shots	3
Interceptions	3
Stats via Sofascore.

Kipre wasn't just dogged in his game however at the Cardiff City Stadium, displaying an unerring composure on the ball when the Baggies attempted to construct a move out from the back.

Only losing possession eight times in total during the game, West Brom's number four was also accurate with 88% of his passes in an error-free night for the ex-Bluebirds man who got the final laugh over his former employers come the full-time whistle.

It even led to Birmingham Live journalist Joseph Chapman describing Kipre as the "brightest" player on the pitch against Erol Bulut's Welsh hosts, West Brom full value for the three points in their luminous away kit offering with Kipre even garnering a 7/10 rating too from Chapman in his player ratings.

Corberan will hope that his in-form side can pick up another win this coming weekend, even with table-topping Leicester City coming to the Hawthorns up next.

Yet, with Kipre at the heart of defence solidifying an already strong Baggies backline, West Brom will hope they can pull off another impressive victory against an automatic promotion candidate when the Foxes stroll into town on Saturday.

Mandhana overtook Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning while Amy Satterthwaite displaced Mithali Raj from fourth place

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Feb-2019India opener Smriti Mandhana has topped the ICC’s women’s ODI rankings for batsmen after scoring 196 runs in three ODIs against New Zealand women recently. Mandhana moved up three places and displaced Ellyse Perry from the top, who is now second, followed by her team-mate and captain Meg Lanning. New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite jumped up 10 spots to be ranked fourth, followed by India ODI captain Mithali Raj, who was earlier in fourth place.Mandhana struck her fourth ODI century in Napier before scoring an unbeaten 90 in Mount Maunganui when India won the ODI series 2-1 as part of the ICC Women’s Championship. It extended Mandhana’s stellar run in ODIs which has seen her as the highest run-scorer since the beginning of 2018. In 15 innings during these 13 months, she has scored 865 runs with two centuries and eight half-centuries at an average of 72.08 and strike rate of 93.11. She has relied heavily on boundaries in this time, scoring 57% of her total runs with 102 fours and 14 sixes – both also the highest during the above time frame.Mandhana had also been named the ODI Player of the Year when the ICC announced its awards for 2018 recently. In June last year, she was named the best international cricketer among Indian women when the BCCI announced its awards for 2017-18.Satterthwaite struck four half-centuries in this time, two of those against India recently. Allrounder Suzie Bates, who stepped down from captaincy for Satterthwaite to take over, rose up a spot to sixth place after an unbeaten half-century against India in Hamilton. Jemimah Rodrigues, who has played only seven ODIs, broke into the top 100 by climbing 64 places to reach 61st spot after an unbeaten 81 in the first ODI.Among the bowlers, Jhulan Goswami went up one place to No. 4 and spinners Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma broke into the top 10 to reach eighth and ninth places respectively after jumping five places each. Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht reached No. 13 after going up nine spots.

A 2022 World Cup ace is reportedly holding talks to join West Ham as technical director Tim Steidten's transfer plans continue to take shape.

West Ham set for busy but careful January window

The Hammers are reportedly looking to make multiple signings next month in a bid to back manager David Moyes.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that West Ham will be busy in the January window, and another reliable source in ExWHUemployee has suggested the same. However, the latter insider also said that the club will be operating on a somewhat limited budget.

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“I have spoken to the person who would be best placed to answer on our January transfer budget,” said Ex last month.

"What I was told is that Under Financial Fair Play we are struggling. We overspent in 2021 and we have to be careful to not ‘do an Everton’.

“So although there is money there in the pot, it isn’t a huge amount as the club are being understandably careful. We only need to look at the situations at Everton, Man City and Chelsea to know how serious it can be if not keeping within the parameters.”

Ex's claim links in with reports this week that West Ham will be operating on a somewhat sell-to-buy policy, with player sales said to be "first priority" for Steidten and co-chairman David Sullivan in a bid to make squad space.

Taking this into account, West Ham are reportedly eyeing up a few potential bargains. Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy, who has a £15 million release clause in his contract, is one such option widely linked.

The Guinea international has scored 16 goals in just 13 league appearances, and could bolster Moyes' attacking options to no end for an affordable fee.

Elsewhere, West Ham are also real admirers of FC Luzern midfielder Ardon Jashari.

Jashari holding West Ham transfer talks

The Switzerland international, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this time last year, is a star mainstay for Luzern at club level – missing just one league game this season.

He's scored three goals in that time and can prove to be an extremely useful asset in the middle of the park.

Jashari, according to recent reports, could cost as little as £5 million to prise away from the Swiss side – which surely comes as pretty enticing from West Ham's perspective.

Now, Solothurner Zeitung (via Sport Witness) have an update on the 21-year-old. It is believed Jashari is holding talks to join West Ham alongside other interested clubs Villarreal and Freiburg.

Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)

December 13th

Hugo Ekitike (PSG)

November 22nd

Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)

November 22nd

Adam Hlozek (Bayer Leverkusen)

October 25th

Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

December 15th

However, Luzern president Stefan Wolf claims that these personal talks mean less than reported, given he has no official offer on the table just yet.

“We don’t have to sell Ardon. In addition, three parties always have to agree to a transfer – there is nothing on my table," said Wolf to Nau.ch (via Sport Witness).

If West Ham can tempt the chief into doing business, he could be an astute option to shore up Moyes' depth behind the likes of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek. Jashari has also been called a "leader" by football scout Oliver Zesiger (via Luzerner Zeitung).

After flirting with relegation last season, before dramatically winning the Europa Conference League, West Ham United have steered clear of the dropzone and continued their European exploits in the current campaign. After comfortably easing past Manchester United too, the Hammers now sit inside the top six in the Premier League and are on course to once again qualify for the Europa League to sum up the excellent job that David Moyes is doing at the London Stadium.

Things could yet get even better when the January transfer window swings open in just over a week, meanwhile, with the Hammers reportedly eyeing a move to land one particular rival player.

West Ham transfer news

Despite losing Declan Rice to Arsenal, West Ham arguably came out of the summer transfer window far better than they went in thanks to their successful recruitment. The likes of Edson Alvarez and Konstantinos Mavrapanos have slotted straight in, whilst Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse have so far been revelations for Moyes. Kudus has especially impressed, with his goal against Manchester United the latest moment for West Ham fans to savour at the London Stadium. If they can add even more firepower to their side next month, the sky could be the limit for West Ham, however.

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, West Ham have set their sights on a move to sign Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah in the January transfer window. The forward is most likely to leave at the end of the campaign, but a winter move reportedly cannot be ruled out as Arsenal could be prepared to sell as they look to raise funds for improvements of their own.

If the Hammers do want to land their rival's forward, they will have to reportedly fend off interest from Brentford and Crystal Palace and fork out as much as £40m in what would be a hefty deal.

"Incredible" Nketiah could be an upgrade on Antonio

Whilst Michail Antonio has struggled with injuries this season, his impact has lessened when he has been available to lead the line for West Ham, arguably creating the need for a fresh option in Moyes' attack. Nketiah could be the perfect option to turn to, even for the high price of £40m in January or next summer.

The Arsenal forward has struggled to establish himself as Mikel Arteta's first choice over Gabriel Jesus but has consistently been a reliable goalscorer at The Emirates whenever asked to step up in the last year or so. Nketiah's stats show just how clinical he can be in front of goal compared to Antonio.

Player

Goals

Assists

Expected Goals

Goal-Creating Actions Per 90

Eddie Nketiah

5

1

3.7

0.74

Michail Antonio

2

2

1.8

0.55

Earning the praise of Arteta as a result of his performances, the Arsenal manager labelled Nketiah, who has scored twice against the Hammers in the past, as "incredible".

“It was a great goal but I think overall his performance was incredible. The way he understood the pressing, his intensity, the way he counter-attacked certain spaces, the composure he showed. And then he stayed patient. And in the box he produced a moment of real quality to win us the game.”

Arsenal have kicked on from a somewhat underwhelming start to the season this year and currently find themselves atop the Premier League, one point clear of Liverpool and five of Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta's side haven't been as silky in attack this year, but their defensive solidity has been genuinely impressive and the summer signing of Declan Rice has been transformational.

However, if the Gunners want to end their long wait for the title, they will need to find a more prolific number nine this January, and who better than a Premier League-proven striker who has been compared to club legend Ian Wright – Ivan Toney.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 19, 2023 Arsenal transfer news – Ivan Toney

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal have maintained their genuine interest in Brentford's star striker, and in good news for the Gunners, he is said to be equally keen on joining this winter.

The report has revealed that while other sides are interested in his service, notably Chelsea, Arteta's impact in N5 has made Arsenal the 27-year-old's preferred destination.

While the personal details between the club and Toney should be relatively easy to work out given the eagerness of both parties, the deal itself is still going to cost the league leaders a pretty penny, with the report suggesting that it will take at least £70m to land his signature this January.

That is an undeniably massive price tag for a player with just over a year left on his current deal, but considering he scored 20 league goals in 33 starts last year, it might just be worth it for the Gunners – especially if he can follow in the footsteps of Ian Wright.

Arsenal could sign a modern day Ian Wright in Ivan Toney

Now, there is no denying that is a huge statement to make. After all, Wright is one of the most beloved Arsenal legends of all time and ended his spell in north London with 185 goals to his name in just 288 appearances.

Yet, if Toney joins the Gunners, there will be some unavoidable similarities.

Similarities that former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant must have noticed when he gave his take on the move, as relayed by GOAL: "In a team like Arsenal where they can control the game, he would be the absolute perfect fit – he would be like a modern era Ian Wright. I would be shocked if Arsenal didn't go out and get him this season."

That said, what are these similarities then?

Well, first of all, both men will have joined the club as fully established pros and on the older side of the club's general recruitment policy. Wright was 28 years old when he signed for the club in 1991, whereas Toney will be just a couple of months short of his 28th birthday in January.

Second, the Arsenal legend signed for the club off the back of impressing for a fellow London side in Crystal Palace, while the "unplayable" Toney, as described by Alan Shearer, could join off the back of impressing at west London outfit Brentford.

Finally, both players are tireless runners, they have proven themselves to be excellent finishers, and Wright was a predominantly right-footed striker, just like Toney.

At the end of the day, if there is even the slimmest of chances that Toney can replicate Wright's career in red and white, then the Gunners can look forward to several years of excellent football, glorious success and plenty of goals.

With neither Gabriel Jesus nor Eddie Nketiah proving particularly prolific – the pair scoring just eight league goals between them this season – Toney's arrival could be the transformational signing that Arteta will be craving.

تعادل سناسيت، لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي أتلتيك بلباو، بهدف في مرمى برشلونة، خلال المباراة التي تجمع بينهما على ملعب لويس كومبانيس، في الجولة الثانية من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

الهدف جاء من ركلة جزاء تعادل من خلالها الفريق الباسكي، بعدما كان لامين يامال قد سجل هدف التقدم.

طالع أيضًا.. فيديو | لامين يامال يسجل هدف برشلونة الأول أمام أتلتيك بلباو 

ركلة الجزاء احتسبها الحكم جيل مانزانو، بعدما عاد لتقنية الفيديو، وتأكد من تدخل باو كوبارسي القوي على بيرينجوير.

الحكم عاد لتقنية الفيديو، وعاد ليحتسب الركلة، التي سددها لاعب الوسط أويهان سانسيت ببراعة على يسار الحارس مارك أندريه تير شتيجن بعدما ذهب الأخير في الاتجاه الآخر، ليتعادل لـ أتلتيك بلباو.

هدف التعادل جاء في الدقيقة 42، مع اقتراب نهاية الشوط الأول، تحت أنظار المدرب إرنستو فالفيردي، ليتلقى برشلونة الهدف الثاني في المباراة الثانية على التوالي ببطولة الدوري الإسباني. هدف تعادل أتلتيك بلباو أمام برشلونة في الدوري الإسباني