It’s still early on in the season, but Arsenal are looking near enough unstoppable at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side won their tenth game on the spin against Salvia Prague on Tuesday night, and for the eighth game in a row, kept a clean sheet.

Moreover, the Gunners sit atop the Premier League table ahead of a weekend in which Liverpool play Manchester City.

However, Arsenal are not the perfect team, and for large parts of the season, creativity has been a problem, although they now have a star in the side playing like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal's creativity this season

Now, it should be said that overall, this Arsenal team is arguably the closest to being perfect out of every side in the Premier League.

After all, they have far and away the best defence, have managed to score 18 goals, and still, there is a sense that they could go up another couple of gears over the coming months.

However, as with every team, the Gunners have had some areas of weakness this season, notably in their open play creativity.

For example, in the aftermath of the draw with City, everyone’s favourite Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, argued that the club’s problem “is creating.”

At that time, it was difficult to disagree with him, as Arteta’s side created just two big chances despite having 67% of the ball. Then, in the game against Liverpool a few weeks before, they didn’t have a single big chance.

Another way this lack of creativity is clearly visible is in the lack of assists for the club’s top players, such as Saka and Odegaard.

For example, while the former has put in some good performances this season, he has yet to register a single assist in the league.

Saka & Odegaard in the PL
Player	Saka	Odegaard
Appearances	8	6
Minutes	594′	204′
Assists	0	1
Assists per Match	0.00	0.16
Minutes per Assist	N/A	204′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Likewise, while the captain has had to deal with several injuries, his return of one assist in six appearances, totalling 204 minutes, is still underwhelming.

Fortunately, things have started to improve in recent weeks, and other players have begun to step up and enhance their own creativity, especially one star who is starting to emulate the best aspects of Saka and Odegaard in his own game.

The Arsenal star playing like Saka & Odegaard

Some of the players who have stepped up in recent weeks include Leandro Trossard, who provided an assist against Burnley, and Jurrien Timber, who did so against West Ham United.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, there is another regular starter who has been steadily improving the creative side of his game and can now do some of the things fans expect of Saka and Odegaard: Declan Rice.

Yes, the all-action, tough-tackling midfield monster who, in the words of Thomas Frank, has been one of “the best in the world” since his £105m arrival in 2023, has now become something of a creative force for Arteta and Co.

For example, his incredible deliveries from corners and free-kicks are now practically a cheat code for the Gunners, and if they don’t result in a goal, at least they result in a brilliant chance.

However, it’s not just from dead-ball situations that the Englishman has started to show an Odegaard-esque range of passing.

For example, while the attack started from a corner, his delivery for Mikel Merino’s equaliser against Newcastle United was practically in open play.

Then, against Slavia Prague, he delivered a pinpoint-accurate cross into the penalty area for that Spaniard to once again get his head on it.

Finally, in addition to the five assists he has provided this season, his underlying numbers further highlight how his overall creativity has improved.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in the league for progressive passes, the top 4% for total passing distance, expected assists, and crosses, the top 8% for live-ball passes and switches, and more, all per 90 minutes.

Rice’s Scout Report
Statistics	Per 90	Percentile
Progressive Carries	2.80	Top 1%
Inswinging Corner Kicks	2.69	Top 1%
Total Passing Distance	1104.63	Top 4%
Passes Attempted (Long)	11.75	Top 4%
xA: Expected Assists	0.22	Top 4%
Dead-ball Passes	7.84	Top 4%
Crosses	5.82	Top 4%
Corner Kicks	4.03	Top 4%
Total Carrying Distance	304.48	Top 4%
Progressive Carrying Distance	143.28	Top 4%
Carries into Final Third	2.57	Top 4%
Shots from Free Kicks	0.22	Top 6%
Passes Completed	61.34	Top 6%
Progressive Passing Distance	281.08	Top 6%
Passes Completed (Medium)	28.54	Top 6%
GCA (Dead-ball Pass)	0.22	Top 6%
Touches	80.93	Top 6%
Touches (Att 3rd)	22.28	Top 6%
Touches (Live-Ball)	80.93	Top 6%
Passes Completed (Long)	5.93	Top 8%
Live-ball Passes	64.48	Top 8%
Switches	0.67	Top 8%
SCA (Dead-ball Pass)	1.23	Top 8%
Carries	48.69	Top 8%
Passes Received	55.63	Top 8%
All Stats via FBref

Ultimately, Rice has been an incredible player for Arsenal over the last two years, but this season, he has taken another step forward and is showing a passing range and level of creativity you’d expect from Saka and Odegaard.

Saved by Merino: Arteta must drop Arsenal star who won just 28% duels

Unlike Merino, it was a Champions League night to forget for the Arsenal man.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 5, 2025

The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA is creeping up on us, and with England already booking their spot in North America, the talk now is who will be on that plane.

Thomas Tuchel will need to select a 26-player squad as he looks to end the Three Lions’ 60-year wait for a World Cup triumph.

Some are guaranteed to be in the squad, but there are others who still need to impress. Here’s a look at who is best placed to be included.

1

Harry Kane

Forward

Bayern Munich

2

Declan Rice

Midfielder

Arsenal

3

Jordan Pickford

Goalkeeper

Everton

4

Marc Guehi

Defender

Crystal Palace

5

Bukayo Saka

Forward

Arsenal

6

Jude Bellingham

Midfielder

Real Madrid

7

Elliot Anderson

Midfielder

Nottingham Forest

8

Reece James

Defender

Chelsea

9

Anthony Gordon

Forward

Newcastle

10

Phil Foden

Midfielder

Man City

11

Djed Spence

Defender

Tottenham

12

John Stones

Defender

Man City

13

Morgan Rogers

Midfielder

Aston Villa

20

Cole Palmer

Midfielder

Chelsea

15

Adam Wharton

Midfielder

Crystal Palace

16

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Defender

Real Madrid

17

Dean Henderson

Goalkeeper

Crystal Palace

18

Marcus Rashford

Forward

Barcelona

19

Ezri Konsa

Defender

Aston Villa

20

Dan Burn

Defender

Newcastle

21

Eberechi Eze

Midfielder

Arsenal

22

Jordan Henderson

Midfielder

Brentford

23

Jarrod Bowen

Forward

West Ham

24

Morgan Gibbs-White

Midfielder

Nottingham Forest

25

Nico O’Reilly

Defender

Man City

26

Conor Gallagher

Midfielder

Atletico Madrid

1 Goalkeepers

1

Jordan Pickford

Everton

2

Dean Henderson

Crystal Palace

3

James Trafford

Man City

4

Nick Pope

Newcastle

5

Aaron Ramsdale

Newcastle

Jordan Pickford has been England’s number one since 2018 and the Everton star looks set to remain first choice heading into 2026, providing he stays fit.

With two more spots open for ‘keepers, there looks set to be a battle between Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale.

Of the four, Henderson and Pope are getting regular minutes for Crystal Palace and Newcastle, whereas Trafford and Ramsdale are finding minutes hard to come by. Tuchel has been picking Trafford, though, so Pope could miss out.

2 Full-backs

1

Reece James

Chelsea

2

Djed Spence

Tottenham

3

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid

4

Nico O’Reilly

Man City

5

Tino Livramento

Newcastle

6

Myles Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal

7

Kieran Trippier

Newcastle

Top of the full-back charts are Chelsea’s Reece James and Tottenham’s Djed Spence, who have been regulars in Tuchel’s squads recently, with the former working under the England boss at Stamford Bridge.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out by Tuchel earlier this year following his move to Real Madrid, but his technical ability will surely see him selected even if it isn’t as a starter.

Elsewhere, Tuchel has warned Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly he needs more minutes at club level to be considered for selection. Nico O’Reilly is in a good position after starring under Pep Guardiola at Man City, whereas Tino Livramento is set to return to regular action with Newcastle soon.

3 Centre-backs

1

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

2

John Stones

Man City

3

Dan Burn

Newcastle

4

Ezri Konsa

Aston Villa

5

Jarell Quansah

Bayer Leverkusen

6

Trevoh Chalobah

Chelsea

7

Jarrad Branthwaite

Everton

8

Levi Colwill

Chelsea

9

Harry Maguire

Man Utd

With Tuchel potentially going with a back four, Marc Guehi is on course to take one of two starting centre-back spots if he continues to star for Crystal Palace.

John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah and Trevoh Chalobah have all been in Tuchel’s squads and could battle it out to partner Guehi.

Meanwhile, Jarrad Branthwaite and Levi Colwill could make a late push if they can get enough minutes under their belt when they return from injury in 2026.

There may not be a place for Harry Maguire, though, who appears to have fallen out of favour at international level.

4 Central midfielders

1

Declan Rice

Arsenal

2

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest

3

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

4

Jordan Henderson

Brentford

5

Alex Scott

Bournemouth

6

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

AC Milan

7

Conor Gallagher

Atletico Madrid

8

Curtis Jones

Liverpool

Right now, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look set to be the two starting central midfielders in Tuchel’s England side, allowing the Three Lions’ attacking stars freedom to shine.

Adam Wharton appears to be next in line to come in for either Rice or Anderson, whereas Jordan Henderson has also made a few of Tuchel’s squads.

Alex Scott of Bournemouth was also handed a maiden call-up and AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been in Tuchel’s squads in 2025.

5 Attacking midfielders

1

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

2

Phil Foden

Man City

3

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

4

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

5

Eberechi Eze

Arsenal

6

Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

Further forward in an attacking midfield role, Tuchel will surely select Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.

Real Madrid star Bellingham appears to be getting back to his best, whereas Tuchel sees Foden as a central player over a winger.

Cole Palmer has been injured at Chelsea and may have some work to do in 2026 to make the 26-player squad ahead of Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze or Morgan Gibbs-White.

6 Forwards

1

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

2

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal

3

Anthony Gordon

Newcastle

4

Marcus Rashford

Barcelona

5

Jarrod Bowen

West Ham

6

Noni Madueke

Arsenal

7

Jack Grealish

Everton

8

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

9

Danny Welbeck

Brighton

Captain Harry Kane will lead the line for England in North America, providing he stays fit, after starring once again for Bayern Munich, and Tuchel could select a number of versatile forwards instead of another striker to back up the Bayern Munich star.

The likes of Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen can play out wide or through the middle, whereas Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon are currently first-choice wingers.

Players with work to do to make the squad include Ollie Watkins and maybe even Jack Grealish, despite his positive start at Everton. A surprise name to keep an eye on could be Brighton’s Danny Welbeck following his fine form in the Premier League.

Paul Pogba completed one of football’s longest and most scrutinised journeys back to the pitch on Sunday, making his Monaco debut after 811 days away from competitive football. The former Manchester United midfielder stepped onto the grass at Roazhon Park in the 85th minute, greeted by a ripple of applause from travelling supporters who knew how much the moment meant to him.

An 811-day wait ends in Brittany

The timing, however, could not soften the scoreline. Monaco were already trailing 4-0 to Rennes, a match derailed by a sloppy defensive display and a red card for captain Denis Zakaria before half-time. Pogba entered knowing the contest was lost, but the symbolism of his return overshadowed the result. Mika Biereth struck a consolation goal deep into injury time, but the 4-1 defeat, Monaco’s second by the same scoreline in consecutive weeks, dropped Sebastien Pocognoli’s side to eighth in Ligue 1. For Pogba, this night was not about the numbers, but about getting to do what he loves the most.

AdvertisementAFPFrom doping ban to redemption

Pogba’s comeback comes after a turbulent period that threatened to end his career prematurely. In August 2023, while contracted to Juventus, he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), leading to a provisional suspension and a four-year ban issued in February 2024. Pogba insisted the incident resulted from unknowingly taking a contaminated supplement, a view his legal team argued successfully, leading to the ban being reduced and allowing his return in March 2025. Juventus mutually terminated his contract in late 2024, leaving the 2018 World Cup winner without a club or competitive minutes for more than two years. Monaco took the gamble and now Pogba is back on the pitch. 

"There were a lot of emotions. I was happy, but there's a bit of sadness with the result," he told

"We've come a long way. Today was a step to take. I did it, and I'm happy about that. As for the rest, we're a bit gutted to have lost. I feel good; there's been a lot of hard work. I still need time to get fit and play 90 minutes. But that will come with time. We're training for it. We're going to try to help the team as much as possible. It felt strange at first to be back on the plane with the group. I've settled in well. We have a very good group. We're getting back into the right routine."

According toMonaco’s medical staff will now follow a phased reintroduction: gradually increasing his time on the pitch, with the ultimate goal of reaching consecutive 90-minute matches with only three days’ recovery in between. He still dreams of representing France at the 2026 World Cup, believing that one last chapter with Les Bleus is within his grasp. With 91 caps and 11 goals, Pogba views Ligue 1 as a lifeline to force his way into Didier Deschamps's squad. 

"The objectives? In the short term, to get back to 100%, play 90 minutes, and contribute as much as possible to my team," he said. "Today, it's about playing with my team. The World Cup is a long way off. Today, there's step 1, step 2. If I were to do the World Cup, it would be a bonus."

A leader beyond the touchline

Pocognoli has repeatedly emphasised that Pogba’s value to Monaco extends beyond his passing range or physical power. The Belgian coach sees Pogba as an internal pillar, a mentor and a bridge between young talents and the expectations of elite football.

"During one of my first internal meetings, I spoke about the club’s legacy. I believe that leaders, like Paul, must pass on their knowledge to the next generation, to the fans, to everyone involved with the club," he stated. "These experienced players must mentor the younger ones. I have to make sure they succeed. The more leaders we have, the more the pressure is distributed. If Paul is used effectively, the group can benefit from his influence."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPPafos challenge up next for Poba

After 811 days, countless medical tests, legal battles, emotional turbulence and physical frustration, Pogba is back on the pitch. Monaco are currently eighth in the table but are just two points behind fourth-placed Strasbourg. Their next challenge is against PSG in Ligue 1 on November 29, and Pogba will be raring to rack up more minutes under his belt. Pogba added: "It depends on the coach. I'll do everything I can to be there and help the team." The road ahead remains long. But at last, he’s walking it again.

Hampshire finish as runners-up again, one day after the men fell short against Worcestershire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay21-Sep-2025

Gaby Lewis acknowledges her hundred•ECB via Getty Images

Lancashire bookended their season with trophies as Gaby Lewis’ century secured the inaugural Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition over Hampshire.Ireland international Lewis led a brilliant chase of 289 with 141 off 143, helped by an exceptional 72 from Seren Smale – with whom she put on 144.Lancashire started the season by winning the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup, and added a second piece of silverware of 2025 when Ailsa Lister sprinted through a single with nine balls to spare.For Hampshire, whose total was underpinned by Maia Bouchier and Georgia Adams’ fifties, it was a double One-Day Cup heartbreak – after they lost to Worcestershire Rapids in the men’s competition final on Saturday.Chasing 289, Alice Clarke was run out by a Freya Kemp direct hit in the fifth over, but it was a blip before Lewis and Smale seized the initiative and put their side on the winning march.Despite never pulling away from the required rate, the pair oozed control as they both serenely scored half-centuries as they added 144 together to break the back of the chase.Both survived strong run-out shouts in their 60s before Smale was brilliantly caught at short midwicket by Kemp, and then Fi Morris was undone by a Naomi Dattani direct hit from the boundary.Threlkeld copied Smale’s low-thrills approach to guide Lewis to three figures – brought up after 121 balls and celebrated with a modest fist pump the moment the ball left her bat for a single.Lewis never looked in trouble, blocking where appropriate but also finding the ropes in all areas of Utilita Bowl – striking 16 fours in total.Lancashire skipper Threlkeld got her side even closer to the winning line before flailing to midwicket – handing former England bowler Freya Davies the final wicket of her career before retiring.But Lewis and Lister ticked the final 46 runs off with relative ease to spark the celebrations.Earlier, having been stuck in, Bouchier and Rhianna Southby got Hampshire off to a flier as they found the boundary at will in a 70-run opening partnership.Southby was caught at mid-on, but Adams continued to keep the momentum with Bouchier – the pair putting on 48.Bouchier came into the season with low confidence after a nightmare Women’s Ashes campaign, but has been crucial for Hampshire at the top of the order.She passed 1,000 runs across the Vitality Blast and One-Day Cup on her way to a run-a-ball fifty – her eighth of the season – in an innings of high-quality.Bouchier chipped to mid-on, but again it didn’t impact Hampshire’s impetus, as Freya Kemp bashed a quick-fire 41, with Adams supporting in a 75-run alliance.Even when Kemp squirted to cover, Abi Norgrove found runs flowing with Adams – who followed her semi-final century with a classy 77.With 300 on the cards, Lancashire pulled Hampshire back with regular wickets at the death. Grace Potts had already dismissed Southby, and added Norgrove and Nancy Harman to take three for 47.

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has made an admission about his future at the club amid repeated suggestions he could leave in January.

Paqueta’s time at West Ham has been intriguing to say the least, and fresh speculation has emerged recently about a potential winter exit from the London Stadium.

West Ham paid £51 million to secure his services in a club-record deal from Lyon three years ago, with the Brazilian quickly establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most technically gifted playmakers in his debut season under David Moyes.

Paqueta helped the Hammers to a glorious Conference League triumph that year, their first major trophy since 1980 and first European trophy since 1965, but a spot-fixing scandal then began to overshadow his time at the London Stadium.

The 28-year-old was charged with four alleged breaches of FA rule E5.1 in May 2024, relating to matches involving West Ham, with allegations that he directly sought to influence matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for influence of the betting market.

The investigation, which began in August 2023, cast a dark cloud over his future, with the FA once seeking a lifetime ban for him. Throughout the ordeal, West Ham stood firmly by their star man, and in July this year, he was finally cleared.

With that uncertain point of his career finally over, Paqueta got back to focusing on the pitch, and clubs also started taking an interest in the £150,000-per-week star.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Aston Villa tried to sign Paqueta in the summer, but he ultimately chose to stay put and show loyalty to a side who backed him off the field.

However, credible reports are indicating that his long-term future could be away from Rush Green. The Times recently reported that Paqueta is keen to leave West Ham as early as next month, with Fabrizio Romano also backing up that the ex-Ligue 1 star’s exit is a realistic possibility.

Lucas Paqueta makes West Ham transfer admission and expects move to happen

Now, the player himself has come out to make a revelation of his own.

Speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo, as translated by Standard Sport, Paqueta says that he had a desire to return to Flamengo in the most recent summer window, and he expects that transfer to happen eventually due to his close ties with the club.

Paqueta’s current deal expires in 2027, and while Nuno Espirito Santo won’t want to lose him in January, a summer transfer certainly appears on the cards next year.

Unfortunately for chairman David Sullivan, by that point, the Irons wouldn’t be in a position to demand big money for the player with just one year remaining on his contract.

Flamengo’s best opportunity to strike a reunion could be next year, if a more illustrious European or Premier League big-hitter don’t move to entice him first.

Mikel Arteta has provided a window into the ongoing contract negotiations between Arsenal and star winger Bukayo Saka. The Gunners boss said he is confident the 24-year-old will "leave a legacy" at his boyhood club. Saka is under contract with Arsenal until 2027, but is expected to sign a new deal as the club looks to lock down the core of its title-challenging squad.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Arteta provides update on Saka contract

  The Spanish manager was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal's north London derby clash with Tottenham on Sunday. 

  When asked if he was confident the winger would sign a new deal with the club, Arteta shared that Saka has expressed his desire to remain with Arsenal going forward. He described the relationship between the England international, his representatives and the club's hierarchy as "very healthy and powerful". 

  Saka signed his current deal in May 2023. The four year deal is set to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season, prompting the likely re-opening of talks over the past few months. 

Advertisement

• Arteta: Saka wants to "leave legacy" at Arsenal

  Arteta was asked if he was confident in Saka's desire to stay with the club and replied: “I prefer that word, I think it is confidence.

  “What Bukayo has transmitted to me and the club, and Emeka (Obasi, Saka’s agent) as well, is that they want to continue to be here. I think it’s a very healthy and powerful relationship.

  “The journey that he has had at the club and what he has become is something we want to maintain. I think that is something that is going to leave a legacy at this football club and he needs to fulfill that role.

  "What I’m very aware of is that he wants to continue with us, that he’s very happy and that he’s in the place that he wants to continue to be and achieve everything that we want to achieve together.

  “When that (a new contract) happens and how it happens, I leave that to Andrea [Berta] and the club to figure it out.”

• Arsenal lock down title-challenging squad

  The north London club have systematically looked to secure the futures of a number of their best performers over the past few months. Saka's fellow academy graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri penned new deals in the summer, locking them down until 2030. 

  Real Madrid's reported interest in William Saliba was staved off with a new deal; the Frenchman is under contract until 2030 too. His defensive partner Gabriel — who was recently ruled out for a month after sustaining an injury on Brazil duty — extended his deal with the club until 2029. 

  Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard and David Raya also improved the terms of their respective agreements with the Gunners. 

  Speaking on the club's proactive approach to managing their players' futures, Arteta said: “It’s been a very clear vision and route on how we want to do things.

  “Ownership has been incredibly supportive and determined to make sure that we can continue the journey with these players and maintain the core of the team. That is the efficiency of everybody that works upstairs, starting with Andrea (Berta) and all the team to get things done because at the end there are always three parties and it’s never an easy thing to get done.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Saka's growing Arsenal legacy depends on lifting trophies

  There is scant evidence to suggest that Saka views his future outside of north London. Since breaking through into the first team as a left back in the 2018/19 season, the Gunners' 'Star Boy' has developed into one of world football's most consistent right wingers. He has made 277 appearances for the club, scoring 76 goals in all competitions. That form has seen him bloom into a trusted player at international level. Saka has won 48 caps, scoring 14 times for England. 

  For the 24-year-old to leave a true legacy at such a massive club will depend on his ability to drive Arsenal on to more silverware. Saka has lifted just one majour honour in his career, the 2019/20 FA Cup, which the Gunners won during Arteta's first season with the club. Three straight second place finishes in the Premier League will have only further fuelled his ambition to win more. Arsenal's push for their first league title in more than 20 years continues with that north London derby on Sunday. 

The India vice-captain claimed the No. 1 ranking for the fourth time in her career

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2025India batter Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC rankings for women’s ODI batters following her half-century in the first ODI against Australia on Sunday.Mandhana’s 63-ball 58 helped her overtake England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt at the top of the charts. Australia’s Beth Mooney also rose three places to fifth, while Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield are joint 25th after their half-centuries.Australia chased down their 282-run target in New Chandigarh with eight wickets and 35 balls to spare. The teams play the second of three ODIs on Wednesday.This is the fourth time Mandhana has achieved the No. 1 ranking for ODI batters. She did it first in January 2019 and most recently in July before Sciver-Brunt overtook her. Harmanpreet Kaur (12th) and Jemimah Rodrigues (15th) are the other India batters in the top 20.In the bowling rankings, Australia’s Kim Garth and Alana King achieved their career-best rankings of fourth and fifth. India offspinner Sneh Rana, who took 1 for 51 moved up five places to 16th.England spinner Sophie Ecclestone continues to lead the ODI bowling rankings with Deepti Sharma at No. 7 being the only Indian in the top ten.

With less than two months to go before the January transfer window opens for business, there is already speculation about what Leeds United are going to do to their squad.

The Whites have picked up 11 points in 11 Premier League matches and sit one point above the relegation zone as a newly-promoted team, which is a respectable, but not ideal, position to be in.

Daniel Farke may want to bolster his squad with more quality in the offensive areas, because the team has only scored 11 goals in their 11 top-flight matches so far this season.

The lack of goals for the Championship champions has not been because of a lack of creativity, though, as they have missed too many high-quality opportunities in the final third.

Leeds United’s biggest xG underperformers

25/26 Premier League

xG

Goals

xG differential

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

2.89

1

-1.89

Jayden Bogle

0.88

0

-0.88

Brenden Aaronson

1.79

1

-0.79

Joel Piroe

0.73

0

-0.73

Pascal Struijk

0.65

0

-0.65

Dan James

0.47

0

-0.47

Jack Harrison

0.41

0

-0.41

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been particularly wasteful with the chances that have been created for him in the Premier League.

Former Leeds striker Patrick Bamford signed for Sheffield United earlier this week, and the Whites need to be looking for their next version of the English forward.

Why Leeds need to find their next Patrick Bamford

The experienced marksman left Elland Road on a free transfer in the summer after he failed to score a single goal in 18 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

It is not last season’s Bamford that Leeds need to find a new version of, though. Instead, the 49ers need to find Farke’s own version of Bamford from the 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa.

After Leeds were last promoted to the Premier League, in the summer of 2020, the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough attacker played a pivotal role in the club’s survival and eventual top-half finish in their first season back in the big time.

The left-footed centre-forward scored 17 goals, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa in the highlights above, and provided seven assists in 38 appearances in the division in that term.

Since that impressive season from the former England international, no Leeds player has scored more than 13 goals in a single Premier League campaign.

Leeds United’s top Premier League scorers since 20/21

Season

Top goalscorer

Goals

25/26

Noah Okafor

Joe Rodon

Lukas Nmecha

2

22/23

Rodrigo

13

21/22

Raphinha

11

20/21

Patrick Bamford

17

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, the club’s top three scorers in the current term have all managed just two goals, which speaks to the lack of outstanding goalscorers within the squad.

This illustrates how badly the Whites need to find their next version of 2020/21 Bamford, due to their lack of goalscorers, and they are reportedly interested in a star who could be exactly that.

Leeds chasing move for Eredivisie star

According to LeedsUnitedNews, the Premier League new boys are eyeing up a swoop for AZ Alkmaar centre-forward Troy Parrott in the upcoming January transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

The report claims that the Whites are now looking at signing the Ireland international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, as they chase a winter deal for the marksman.

It adds that Leeds had scouts in attendance to watch his performance for the Republic of Ireland against Portugal earlier this week, when he netted twice against Roberto Martinez’s side.

The same outlet has posted an update on Farke’s future at Elland Road, explaining that the 49ers are not ready to pull the plug on him yet, but that they could be forced to make a decision if results do not improve.

With this in mind, Leeds could save themselves from having to remove the German head coach from his role by signing Parrott to save his job in January.

Why Leeds should sign Troy Parrott

The Whites should swoop for the Irish centre-forward because his performances in the Netherlands this season suggest that he has the quality to be Bamford 2.0, which would help to push the club up the table.

Per FotMob, Leeds are 10th in the Premier League for xPTS (15) and have underperformed their xG of 13.2 by 2.2, as they have only scored 11 goals. This suggests that Farke and his coaching staff have not been rewarded for the performances that they have coached, due to poor finishing.

These statistics indicate that it is not the German boss who should be under fire for where the team are in the division, and that signing a clinical striker could change the perception of the job that he is doing in the dugout.

Parrott, as shown in the graphic above, enjoyed an incredibly prolific first season with AZ Alkmaar in the 2024/25 campaign, netting 20 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster, once dubbed “phenomenal” by former boss Ryan Lowe, has proven that his form last term was not a flash in the pan, as he has carried his exceptional goalscoring exploits into the current season.

Troy Parrott – 25/26

Eredivisie

Conference League

Appearances

7

7

xG

5.56

N/A

Goals

6

7

Minutes per goal

87

59

Conversion rate

25%

N/A

Big chances created

2

3

Assists

0

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Parrott has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar, on top of the two goals that he scored for Ireland against Portugal.

This means that the striker has already scored an eye-catching 15 goals for club and country in the 2025/26 campaign, whilst no Leeds player has scored more than twice in all competitions.

Parrott, per Sofascore, has scored 37 goals from 30.67 xG in the Eredivisie since the start of the 2023/24 season, which suggests that he is the clinical striker that Leeds are crying out for at the moment.

Therefore, the Ireland international could be the next Bamford to fire the Whites to safety with his prolific goalscoring, whilst saving Farke’s job in the process by making the most of his coaching to improve the results picked up by the team.

Related Leeds have "standout" teen who could end Aaronson's career & it's not Gray

Leeds United have a promising young attacking midfielder who could end Brenden Aaronson’s career at the club.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 15, 2025

Throughout his contract negotiations with the Toronto Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remained steadfast about one thing: he wanted to remain in Toronto for the rest of his career.

Well, he and the Blue Jays on Monday took a big step towards making that a reality, as the four-time All-Star officially signed his $500 million contract that will keep him in Toronto through the 2039 season.

During a press conference to announce the deal, Guerrero was asked what he liked about Toronto that made him want to sign a longterm contract with the Blue Jays.

"I'd say the fans," Guerrero said. "I always say the fans. How they treat us. How they respect my family and they always come here to give you support. Another thing is the organization. I don't see this like an organization, I see this like I'm a family.

"I've been with this organization since 2015—10 years. This organization is part of my family."

During negotiations, Guerrero said he consulted with members of his family, particularly his father—Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero—and his daughter. She was steadfast about Guerrero remaining with the Blue Jays longterm, so it was an emotional moment when she found out that was likely going to be the case.

"She asked me two weeks ago if we were gonna stay here and I think that moment was a little bit emotional for me. . . . When I called her and told her that we're gonna spend 14 more years in Toronto, she just went off and started crying. She made me cry with that," Guerrero said with a smile before pointing out his daughter among the news conference's attendees.

With the lucrative—and unique—contract extension, Guerrero and his family both got their wish.

"I would think about this, always," Guerrero said when asked what the 20-year-old version of himself would say right now. "Thank God we did it and I'm going to be a Blue Jay forever."

Leeds United need to improve their offensive output if they want to stand a chance of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League this season.

Last season, every team that avoided the drop scored at least 42 goals, with Spurs in 17th place scoring 64 times, whilst all three of the teams that went down averaged less than a goal per game.

The Whites are currently in the middle of that, with 11 goals in 11 matches in the Premier League, which shows that they need to improve their output at the top end of the pitch.

11 games into the season, no Leeds player has scored more than two goals in the division, with three players leading the way for goals, and that needs to change in the coming weeks.

25/26

Noah Okafor

Joe Rodon

Lukas Nmecha

2

22/23

Rodrigo

13

21/22

Raphinha

11

20/21

Patrick Bamford

17

As you can see in the table above, at least one player hit double figures for goals in each of the three seasons that the club were in the Premier League during their last stint.

In their run in the division before that, Australian forward Mark Viduka hit double figures in four successive seasons, including 17 and 20-goal hauls in two of them, per Transfermarkt.

Why Leeds need to sign a new centre-forward

Leeds need to sign a new centre-forward to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch in the January transfer window because none of their current options look likely to be their next Viduka.

As aforementioned, no one in the squad has scored more than two goals in the Premier League after 11 matches, and summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a particular disappointment so far this term.

The experienced number nine, who was signed on a free transfer from Everton in the summer, is reportedly the highest earner in the squad on £100k-per-week, but has not done enough on the pitch to justify that.

25/26

1.62

1

24/25

8.85

3

23/24

13.63

7

22/23

6.50

2

21/22

6.22

5

20/21

18.21

16

19/20

16.11

13

18/19

6.17

6

17/18

5.44

4

16/17

1.25

1

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has historically been a poor finisher in the Premier League, mostly for Everton, and arrived at Elland Road in the summer off the back of four successive seasons without scoring more than seven goals in a league campaign.

It should, therefore, not be a surprise that he has struggled for form for the Whites in front of goal, with one goal and ten ‘big chances’ missed in all competitions so far this season, per Sofascore.

Nmecha, meanwhile, has scored two Premier League goals this season, but has not scored more than eight goals in a league season, per Sofascore, since he plundered 18 goals in the Pro League for Anderlecht in the 2020/21 campaign.

Leeds plotting move for new striker

The unlikelihood of Calvert-Lewin or Nmecha pushing on to hit double figures for goals in the Premier League has reportedly prompted the club to pursue another option in their position.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to TEAMtalk, the club recognise that they let Daniel Farke down in the summer transfer window and plan to rectify that mistake by adding more firepower to his squad in January.

The report claims that Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda is one of the players they are plotting a possible move for, alongside Coventry’s Haji Wright, AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott, and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia.

It adds that the Scottish Premiership forward has told the Hoops of his desire to move on from Parkhead in the next transfer window, which will come as a boost to Leeds, as well as Everton and Brentford, who are said to be leading the race for his signature.

Maeda was reportedly valued at around £21m by Celtic in the summer, amid interest in his services at the time, but it remains to be seen if that valuation has changed ahead of January.

Why Daizen Maeda could be Leeds United's new Mark Viduka

As aforementioned, Viduka had great success in the Premier League during his time at Elland Road, with 72 goals in 166 matches in all competitions for the club, per Transfermarkt.

That impressive form for the Whites came after he made a move from Celtic, where, per Transfermarkt, he scored an eye-catching 27 goals in 37 games in the 99/00 season, before his switch to West Yorkshire in the summer of 2000.

Maeda, who is currently shining for Celtic, could follow in Viduka’s footsteps by making a similar move to be a goalscoring sensation for Leeds in the second half of this season, and beyond.

The Japanese forward, who can play on either wing or as a number nine, scored 33 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, and has scored four goals so far this term.

These statistics show that Maeda has been an incredibly prolific goalscorer for the Scottish giants, which is exactly what Leeds are lacking in their current squad.

xG

12.76

Top 1%

Goals

16

Top 1%

xA

5.99

Top 6%

Assists

10

Top 1%

Duels won

104

Top 23%

Tackles won

44

Top 6%

Possession won in the final third

13

Top 16%

Perhaps most interestingly, though, the Japan international ranked within the top 16% of his positional peers in the Premiership last season for winning possession back in the final third, despite Celtic being an incredibly dominant team who won the title.

At Leeds, Maeda would be in a team that is under pressure a lot in matches, as they are fighting relegation, which would give him even more opportunities to use his incredible pressing skills and speed to win the ball off the opposition to spark counter-attacks.

The Celtic star, who ex-Rangers boss Barry Ferguson claimed is “built like a brick”, could be the perfect signing for Leeds because he has the goalscoring record to suggest that he can provide the threat that they are currently missing, whilst also possessing the out-of-possession attributes that you need a player to have in a relegation scrap.

Maeda’s relentless running and pressing could be invaluable to the Whites as they battle to avoid the drop, and his goalscoring quality could make him Viduka 2.0 at Elland Road.

Raphinha repeat: 49ers keen on signing "generational" £79m star for Leeds

Leeds United are lining up a January swoop for a star who could be as exciting a signing as Raphinha once was.

ByDan Emery Nov 18, 2025