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A round-up of matches from the final round in the Super Eights of the World Cup Qualifiers tournament in South Africa

Cricinfo staff17-Apr-2009Thomas Odoyo and Collins Obuya added an unbeaten 113 for the fifth wicket to ensure Kenya qualified for their fifth successive World Cup•ICC/CricketEuropeKenya ensured they would be at their fifth successive World Cup with an impressive six-wicket win over Ireland in Pretoria. Wednesday’s humiliation at the hands of Namibia had left their place in doubt, but against an Ireland side already assured of their own qualification, they eased home with 12 balls to spare. It wasn’t easy, though, and chasing a target of 209, they slid to 96 for 4 with the loss of the talismanic Steve Tikolo. Their batting has often been brittle, but Collins Obuya and Thomas Odoyo combined to add 113 for the fifth wicket to guide them home. Man of the Match Obuya hit an unbeaten 66 off 73 balls while Oboyo struck 50 off 68.Niall O’Brien was the top-scorer with 59 during Ireland’s innings. John Mooney (34), Andrew White (25), Kevin O’Brien (22) and William Porterfield (21) got starts without really pressing on. Tikolo was the most successful wicket-taker with 3 for 11.”I am very happy we qualified – that was our main goal coming here so that is good enough for me,” a relieved Tikolo said afterwards. “I think we outplayed Ireland today. The guys came to the ground today very determined and we wanted it badly so that was encouraging, especially considering our poor performance against Namibia two days ago.”A splendid 167-run opening stand between Alexei Kervezee and Mudassar Bukhari made short work of Canada’s 205 in Johannesburg and confirmed Netherlands also grabbed one of the three remaining slots at the 2011 World Cup, along with Canada who had already all but qualified. Kervezee (77) and Bukhari (84) led a confident reply to a target of 206 and though Netherlands wobbled after their stand was snapped in the 37th over, the cool hand of Bas Zuiderent was there when the winning runs were hit. The win was set up in the field thanks to a controlled bowling and fielding display. Bukhari and Edgar Schiferli struck with the new ball and the pressure was maintained by Darron Reekers and Peter Borren. Only Sandeep Jyoti (46) and Umar Bhatti (39*) waged some resistance down the order but a target of 206 proved too easy for Netherlands.”I’m feeling very happy and excited that we are through to another World Cup,” said Netherland’s skipper Jeroen Smits. “We played in 2003, 2007 and now we have made it to another one. I think we deserve to be there. We had a few hiccups along the way but basically our batting lineup has been solid through the tournament and we have a good mix of youth and experience. It all came together nicely today and we showed just how well we can play.””It’s been a good effort by everyone in the squad,” Canada’s captain Ashish Bagai said. “We’ve played pretty consistently and I am really looking forward to the final now. We are delighted to have qualified for the World Cup but we want to win this trophy. It’s been a long tour for us and everyone is tired but we will keep it going for one more game and we will get a good rest after that. Then, once we have recovered, we will set out our plan for the World Cup 2011 so that we prepare as well as possible and come into that tournament playing as good cricket as we possibly can.”For a report on Afghanistan’s tense win over Namibia click here.For a report on Scotland’s victory over UAE which meant they retained ODI status click here.

Ireland 7 5 2 00 10 +0.689 1434/295.5 1447/348.0Canada 7 4 3 0 08 +0.687 1643/333.0 1357/319.3 Kenya 7 4 3 0 0 8+0.035 1281/310.2 1354/330.5 Netherlands 74 3 0 0 8 +0.0251601/337.0 1624/343.4 Scotland 7 34 0 0 6 -0.140 1509/350.01503/337.4 Afghanistan 7 3 40 0 6 -0.209 1635/350.0 1670/342.1 U.A.E. 7 3 4 00 6 -1.080 1345/327.5 1503/290.0Namibia 7 2 5 0 04 -0.079 1650/350.0 1640/342.1

Manchester United’s summer transfer window of 2021 will be remembered for many years to come following the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.

The job of fitting the club’s new and existing talent into one harmonious, successful team falls to their popular if controversial manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Under the Norwegian tactician, United have made substantial progress, achieving consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, yet a first major trophy in four years still eludes them.

With only Dan James exiting Old Trafford, the Red Devils have their strongest squad available for several seasons, and the pressure for Solskjaer to finally deliver some silverware is growing by the week.

Many players will be vying for a place in the starting XI as United aim to return to their former glory this term, meaning some talented stars may face the axe.

With that in mind, this is how Football FanCast expects the 48-year-old to line up his best XI following the conclusion of the summer transfer window…

In goal, David de Gea should get the nod over Dean Henderson following an impressive start to the new campaign. The Spain international’s outstanding double save over the weekend helped United to three precious points, and he’s expected to keep his place between the sticks for the foreseeable future.

Ahead of De Gea is set to be a rather familiar-looking back four only with one major addition. Former Real Madrid centre-back Varane replaced the £120k-a-week earning Victor Lindelof for the win against Wolves, and his impressive debut is likely to see him keep his place alongside Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defence.

The engine room could be occupied by a trio of Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, although Fred may be expected to come back into the mix when Solskjaer feels the need to tighten things up – he averages the most tackles per game of any United player this season in the Premier League.

In attack, the injured Marcus Rashford is set for an extended spell on the sidelines, meaning Sancho and Mason Greenwood are set to occupy the wings, while Ronaldo takes charge upfront.

That will leave Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard as exciting options off the bench, meaning United must fancy their chances of securing a long-awaited 21st English title come May.

And, in other news…Sky Sports reveal Deadline Day update over £40.5m-rated MUFC gem, Ole will be gutted 

Football Insider pundit Alex McLeish has been reacting to details of Celtic’s move for striker Georgios Giakoumakis.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis details

The Greece international was one of three Celtic arrivals on deadline day, with Filipe Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers penning Parkhead terms.

Speaking on the Celtic Exchange podcast (7th September), Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph admitted that the Hoops actually landed themselves a cut-price deal when it came to Giakoumakis.

The 26-year-old cost Celtic £2.5m, but if VVV-Venlo weren’t relegated from the Eredivisie last season, they would’ve asked for £8.58m (€10m) for the striker’s services.

The Latest: McLeish’s comments

McLeish was asked for his thoughts by Football Insider on Giakoumakis’ £6m price drop. This is what he had to say in reply, believing the Hoops may have got themselves a bargain:

“Well, it remains to be seen. We’ll assess the guy’s level.

“I tend to think that when you’re coming from Holland and you’ve excelled against some of the top teams, then it does seem to be a good signing.

“The fact that Venlo were relegated and for it to go from €10million to £2.5million is some bit of business.

“That’s if he can live up to the reputation that he has shown in the Dutch Eredivisie.”

The Verdict: Magic from McKay?

The Hoops parted ways with Odsonne Edouard after bringing in Giakoumakis, selling the Frenchman to Crystal Palace. That transfer could be worth £20m in total, so Dominic McKay could end up with a £17.5m profit when it comes to late deals on centre-forwards.

Of course, Giakoumakis needs to impress to make it a shrewd piece of business, but if he can replicate his 2020/21 form (26 goals in 30 league games) in Scotland, a transfer will surely be viewed as a bargain, as McLeish has suggested.

In other news: Celtic source: Hoops chiefs are scouting record-breaking ace; could be available for cut-price fee

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge believes Emerson Royal fits the bill of what Tottenham were looking for. 

Spurs signed Royal on deadline day from Barcelona, with the right-back signing a contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 2026. BBC Sport reported that the agreed fee for the right-back was €30m (£25.8m).

Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo added five new faces to his squad this summer, with Cristian Romero, Pierluigi Gollini, Bryan Gil, Pape Matar Sarr and Emerson Royal all penning deals with Spurs.

Michael Bridge believes the latter ticks a lot of boxes for Tottenham, telling Football FanCast: “Nuno knows him quite well. He’s had a very good reputation from Real Betis, sort of fits the bill of what Tottenham are looking for – good defender, but can bomb forward, he’s six foot as well so quiet a decent height. He’s 22 which is a fantastic age, so he ticks a lot of boxes.”

It’s been a good summer transfer window for Spurs and they’ve also had the perfect start to the Premier League campaign, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side currently sit top of the league and are the only team with maximum points from their opening three matches.

Alongside being successful domestically, Spurs have also progressed to the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League, after beating Pacos de Ferreira 3-1 on aggregate over two legs and have been drawn to face Rennes, Muta and Vitesse in Group G.

An update has emerged on Leicester midfielder Hamza Choudhury, regarding Newcastle’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards, Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury is closing in on a loan move to Newcastle on deadline day.

It was reported by John Percy on Monday that the holding midfielder is expected to depart from the King Power on a temporary deal, with Newcastle now poised to sign him.

Delight

Leicester fans will be delighted by this news as it means that Choudhury will finally be sealing his exit from the club. The Englishman wanted to leave in the winter window during the 2020/21 campaign, before ultimately staying and fulfilling his role as a squad option for Brendan Rodgers.

Earlier this year, Rodgers admitted that the player wanted to leave the club in January. He claimed that Leicester were prepared to let him leave if they signed a replacement, although that failed to materialise and he remained in the Midlands. Rodgers said:

“I said earlier in the window that he wasn’t a player that we wanted to lose. He’s a very important player for our squad, but of course, all players want to play.

“We were going to grant him that possibility if we could get someone in.

“I said to him on the Monday after training and framed it for him: ‘You may not get out, and if you don’t, you’re playing on Wednesday night, and that shows you how important you are to us, you’re going to play in our next Premier League game.”

This shows that Choudhury has had an exit on his mind for a while and the fans will not want to see a player in the squad who does not want to be there.

It is in the best interests of everyone involved to get him out of the door, albeit only on a loan deal at this point, as there is no point in keeping an unsettled player at the club as it could lead to issues in the dressing room.

Last season, the 23-year-old only played 10 games in the Premier League and averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.19. The previous campaign was only slightly better for Choudhury, as he averaged a score of 6.35 in 20 league matches for the Foxes. This shows that he has not been able to perform to a high enough standard when given the chance, which is another reason why Leicester fans will be delighted that he is being shipped out on loan.

If he fails to catch the eye on loan at Newcastle then there could be a decision to make for Leicester next summer in terms of his long-term future at the club. A permanent exit could be the ideal move for all parties if he does not have a realistic chance of breaking into Rodgers’ XI.

—

UPDATE: As per Luke Edwards, this deal for Choudhury may not be signing. He tweeted at 11:11am: “Someone now appears to be briefing that Choudhury is not signing and business is done in this window. That would mean Bruce has been denied a loan he thought he could have. Whatever you think of him, this is scandalous. Leicester thought this was happening. So did player #nufc”

And in other news, Leicester agree a Deadline Day deal for star forward… 

Southampton picked up a promising point against Manchester United on Sunday, and they could’ve easily taken all three against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Fred’s own goal gave the Saints the lead in their first home fixture of the new Premier League season before Mason Greenwood’s low shot squirmed under Alex McCarthy for the equaliser.

Adam Armstrong had two great chances to score as Southampton weathered a United storm in the second half but ultimately, both sides had to settle for a point.

Despite having their own chances to win the game, Hasenhuttl’s men may well have found themselves on the losing side on Sunday afternoon if it were not for Mohammed Salisu’s impressive performance at centre-back.

The Ghanaian defender made two goal-saving blocks during the game and generally defended very well against the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Greenwood, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial.

As per SofaScore, the 22-year-old would earn an impressive 7.7/10 rating for his performance, which was the highest of any Southampton player to feature in the game, and the joint-highest along with Greenwood from either side.

Although Man of the Match Tino Livramento was hugely impressive once again at right-back and then further forward in the second half, Salisu’s influence on the game should not go unnoticed, as he made three clearances, blocked three shots and made three interceptions.

For comparison, last season Salisu averaged 2.4 clearances, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 interceptions in the Premier League, which emphasises that he was excellent on Sunday afternoon.

Although Hampshire Live journalist Tom Leach only rated him a 6/10 for his performance, he did acknowledge his influence, writing:

“Salisu saved the day multiple times during the first half, clearing inevitable goals off the line with last-ditch attempts to get it away.”

The £9m-rated Salisu also looked good with his passing, completing 27/34 of his passes at St Mary’s, whilst he would win 3/4 of the duels he was involved in, which emphasises just how dominant his performance was at the back.

And, in other news… Southampton dealt decisive blow with “exceptional” winger

Nineteen-year-old batsman Umar Amin has been rewarded for his impact on the domestic season with a call-up to Pakistan’s 15-man squad

Cricinfo staff12-Jan-2009
Khurram Manzoor retains his place ahead of Nasir Jamshed © AFP
Nineteen-year-old batsman Umar Amin has been rewarded for his impact on the domestic season with a call-up to Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the first ODI against Sri Lanka on January 21 in Karachi. The team, the first picked by a new-look selection committee headed by Abdul Qadir, has gone back to traditional Pakistani strength, pace, but is not entirely without surprise.Amin was the second-highest run-getter in last month’s RBS Pentangular One-Day Cup, scoring 254 runs at an average of 84.66 and strike-rate of 89.12. A sound left-hand top-order batsman, he has impressed on several Under-19 tours and was also part of Pakistan’s Under-19 squad at last year’s World Cup in Malaysia.”He is a real prospect and the coach and captain were both keen to have him in the squad, to encourage him and groom him further,” Salim Jaffer, one of the selectors, told Cricinfo. “He has impressed a number of people this season.”But pace it is that dominates Pakistan’s thinking ahead of the three-match series. Sohail Khan returns having missed the Abu Dhabi series against West Indies in November as does the skiddy, all-round option of Yasir Arafat. Ahead of both are the first-choicers, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul and Iftikhar Anjum, thus giving Pakistan six options. The wickets, it is a given, will be quicker and bouncier than have been seen in recent times.”The selection committee spoke to the coach Intikhab Alam about the plan for the series and we have picked a squad according to that,” Jaffer said. “Our strength is pace and we believe our options there are stronger than Sri Lanka’s so we have gone for that.”But there are some surprises in this squad, prime among them the exclusion of Nasir Jamshed. Arguably Pakistan’s find of a lean year in 2008, Jamshed has been overlooked despite being in the runs domestically. Jamshed missed the Abu Dhabi matches after pulling out at the last minute with an illness and was replaced by Khurram Manzoor.A fair rather than spectacular return in those three ODIs has meant Manzoor retains his place over Jamshed, though it is learnt the spot was the focus of considerable debate and disagreement between the committee. One selector was in favour, but was ultimately ruled over by the other two.There was also some friction over the dropping of Fawad Alam, the allrounder, who has become a regular squad fixture over the last year. As much as a lack of impact, it is thought Pakistan’s preference for pace in this contest went against him.The only spinner in the squad is offspinner Saeed Ajmal, which means there’s no place yet for legspinner Danish Kaneria, who was hopeful of a one-day call-up with the change in the PCB management. Kaneria was surprisingly promoted to the top grade of central contracts and noises coming from the new management had suggested he may get a look-in under these selectors, having long been outside of Pakistan’s ODI thinking. But a poor showing in the Pentangular one-dayers seems to have gone against him for the moment.Sri Lanka’s visit will be the first test for Shoaib Malik after he was given an indefinite extension as the team’s captain earlier this month.Pakistan squad : Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk) , Sohail Tanvir, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Iftikhar Anjum, Saeed Ajmal, Khurram Manzoor, Sohail Khan, Yasir Arafat, Umar Amin.

Cricinfo previous the ICL match between Hyderabad Heroes and Royal Bengal Tigers

Cricinfo staff07-Nov-2008Match factsNov 8, 2008
Start time 7.30pm (1400 GMT
Nicky Boje, who is the highest run-getter and wicket-taker for Hyderabad this season, will be keen to carry his good form into Saturday’s game © ICL
The Big PictureHyderabad Heroes and the Royal Bengal Tigers, who have both confirmed their places in the semi-finals, after Lahore Badshahs’ comfortable win over the Dhaka Warriors on Thursday, will meet for a preparatory game in the lead-up to the semis. Hyderabad go into the match with their confidence sky-high, following their 79-run win, the highest margin of victory in the tournament, over Mumbai Champs on Wednesday. Their score of 214 is also the highest in the competition.Both of Bengal’s defeats have been comprehensive; they lost to Ahmedabad Rockets by eight wickets and sustained a nine-wicket loss to Chandigarh Lions in the same week. However, they will be buoyed by their resounding nine-wicket win over Chennai Superstars, who head the points-table, on Tuesday.Where they rankBoth teams have won five games and lost two, but Hyderabad have a significantly higher net run-rate, boosted by their win in their most recent game against Mumbai. With Lahore, who have a run-rate higher then Hyderabad, having all but confirmed their place in the semis, a loss for either side will mean slipping down the points table to the fourth place. The actual draw for the semi-final will be determined when Lahore take on Chennai in their final league game on Sunday.Form guide (last five matches, most recent first)Hyderabad- WLWWL
Bengal- WLWLWStats Hamish Marshall, the Bengal batsman, is the highest run-getter in the tournament, with 331. He has hit 13 sixes, which is the second-highest, after Alok Kapali’s 18.Upul Chandana, the Bengal legspinner, has taken 12 wickets, the second-highest in the competition, after Mohammad Rafique.The 132-run stand between Hamish Marshall and Deep Dasgupta for Bengal against Chennai on October 22 is the second-highest in the tournament.Players to watchNicky Boje has clearly been the star for Hyderabad in this competition with brilliant all-round figures; He has scored the most runs for his team -238 – and taken the most wickets – 10. He was largely responsible for the one-sided affair against Mumbai on Wednesday, scoring 88 in 49 balls and adding 92 for the fifth wicket with Stuart Binny to help take his team to 214.Bengal will be hoping for Lance Klusener to fire; He averages 51.50 in the competition but his batting opportunities have been limited. He’s only taken three wickets and will feel he is due for a big performance in the upcoming game.

Efforts are underway at the Pakistan Cricket Board to cut down heavily on the administrative expenditure of running the organisation

Cricinfo staff18-Nov-2008
Wasim Bari (middle) has said all needless appointments by the previous regime will be terminated © Pakistan Cricket Board
Efforts are underway at the Pakistan Cricket Board to cut down heavily on the administrative expenditure of running the organisation as the board struggles with the financial crunch caused by the spate of postponed series and tournaments in 2008.Wasim Bari, the former wicketkeeper and captain as well as selector, has recently been appointed director HR and administration and is keen on trimming expenses. “Needless appointments made to the board will be terminated to reduce the overall expenditures,” he said.Three areas will be looked at in particular to cut down costs. General administrative costs are to be cut down by at least 50%. The budgets of each director and their department will also be revised, this time, say officials, based on more accurate forecasts. Finally, capital expenditure on stadiums through the country will be halted. The only exceptions are the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the renovation work is yet to be completed.Pakistan suffered heavy losses this year after Australia pulled out of a full series in March-April and the Champions Trophy was postponed, both due to security concerns. The current administration has also accused Nasim Ashraf’s regime of whittling down the PCB’s treasury dramatically over the last two years. The number of PCB employees ballooned under Ashraf’s time, going from approximately 300 to an estimated 700, though officials dispute this figure.

It's extremely likely the club's trophy drought will reach the five-year mark, with questions being asked over the manager and his mentality

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Article continues below

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Arsenal no longer need an on-field miracle to catch Liverpool in this season's Premier League title race, rather an inexplicable reason for the table-topping Reds to be deducted points. The gap from Arne Slot's men to the Gunners stands at 15 after this weekend's results, with Southampton beaten 3-1 at Anfield 24 hours prior to Arsenal's frustrating 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

The likelihood is, for a third successive year, the red half of north London will have to settle for silver instead of silverware. Manchester City pipped them to the post on the previous two occasions, and now Slot's Liverpool have proven far too strong a matchup over the course of a season.

Considering where Arteta found Arsenal – toiling in mid-table amid a failed rebuild following Arsene Wenger's departure – there has been remarkable progress at the Emirates Stadium. But questions remain over whether the team and club in this current iteration have what it takes to shake off their 'contender' status and become winners.

Being held by the worst United team in a generation, and perhaps being a little grateful to even leave the north-west with a draw, was the latest in a long line of gut-punches Arsenal have had to withstand during this hellish domestic season. And despite all the caveats brought about by injuries and extenuating circumstances, there's no guarantee things get better for them.

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportKeane's criticism

Never one shy to air his feelings, Roy Keane was particularly scathing in his assessment of Arsenal, not only in Sunday's draw at United, but the trajectory of their project under Arteta.

Asked by presenter David Jones if the Gunners could win the 2025-26 Premier League with the Spaniard at the helm, the ex-United captain replied. "No. Why would I? What makes you think the manager can do it? They've got close over the last few years, but [Manchester] City will be strong next year and I'm sure Liverpool will be too.

"Where is the evidence to think they can do it? Getting a striker in would help, have they got the right mentality? Has the manager? You see a different side to them when they're winning every week, but they get all agitated when they're losing.

"I don't think getting a striker in who'll score 20 goals a season will necessarily be the difference. Will City and Liverpool just stand still? They're going to look to improve, Pep [Guardiola] will bounce back and I think Liverpool will be stronger next season. We don't know where Chelsea are, but what's the evidence of this group of players that they can do it?

"It's alright challenging, but it should be about winning titles."

AdvertisementAFPUndoubted promise

The questions over Arteta's credentials to this point have been disingenuous and attention-seeking. Of the 10 managers in history to have recorded more than 100 wins from their first 200 games as manager, the ex-midfielder ranks fifth (118), with only Pep Guardiola (146), Jose Mourinho (137), Jurgen Klopp (127) and Sir Alex Ferguson (122) coming away with higher tallies. Arsenal's two-season rolling average of 86.5 points from 2022 to 2024 is their highest ever at any point of their history. The numbers don't lie.

The Gunners are no longer the laughing stock they were throughout Wenger's final years, Unai Emery's short-lived spell or even the first 18 months of Arteta's reign. He has completely reinvented the team in his image, restored a dying club to conversations that matter. For that, he deserves enormous credit – it's hard to imagine many other managers walking into N5 back in 2019 and doing a better job.

For these reasons, Arsenal fans are particularly protective of their manager, and not just because he was an important player for them during the twilight years of his past life. When it comes to picking holes in Arteta's approach to date, they're right to get their tails up. Supporters liking the person in the dugout and wanting them to succeed compared to asking questions of how the future may actually look do not have to agree with one another, however.

AFPCracking up?

It's rather ludicrous how often managers have to front up for the media, sometimes taking six press conferences in a week, plus an additional six interviews pre-match and post-match for TV. That is, however, part of their job in the modern day, and a young coach like Arteta should know the importance of saving face.

Not for the first time, he lost his cool in the aftermath of a disappointing result. When quizzed by ' Patrick Davison about the title race, he walked off set. This show of petulance came three weeks after he claimed conceding to Liverpool would have to come "over my dead body". Since then, Arsenal have taken two points from nine available in the Premier League.

Arsenal have been afforded a bit more grace than some of their other rivals in recent years as part of recognition that Arteta picked them up from such a low ebb. That kindness has slipped this season and there is more demand than ever for them to not only win a trophy, but the Premier League title itself, particularly with Guardiola's City toiling.

The 2024-25 season will likely go down as a missed opportunity for Arsenal. Whether they'll have the energy to go again next term is another can of worms.

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Getty Images SportNeed for evolution

Keane, part of various United teams who always found new ways to win, made an important point about teams needing to evolve. The expectation is City will be back with a new cohort of stars, that Liverpool will re-tool regardless of what happens to out-of-contract trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.

So what of Arsenal? As the Irishman suggested, the obvious next step is a big-name striker to add more firepower, but the Gunners' problems run deeper. Their only improvement on this season compared to last is their set-piece proficiency and menace, yet even then the goals have started to dry up in that department. This current iteration of the team cannot hold a torch to their 2022-23 and 2023-24 selves.

The easy answer to the question of why this has happened is injuries. For two years, the Gunners got by with only William Saliba's back problem, which ended his 2022-23 campaign, as the only major headache for Arteta to contend with. Tugging at the string of squad depth has exposed further issues this year, with both captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka missing months of action.

That can't be the only reason why Liverpool have sprinted 15 points ahead of them, though. Arsenal's regression from the league's premier entertainers to a slower and more methodical side has come at a cost. Their inability to maintain that extra attacking edge, or discover how to pick that pace up again, has had the same effect as sticking a Ferrari in farmland mud. Set-pieces were bailing them out to some extent and giving them that extra dimension, though that still hasn't been enough.

Arsenal have not only given up that threat in attack, but look much weaker at the back, despite that becoming the key point of focus. United, one of the least effective teams in the final third across all of Europe, found it far too easy to force David Raya into action. When performances are down across the board, it's a cry for tactical development, only Arteta has shown no desire to this point to stray away from his favoured system and routine structures of play.

It is this rigid approach which has ultimately led to Arsenal's decline from a tactical and footballing perspective. They've spent too long trying to perfect every little detail, attempting to become the best at the intricacies. Their obsession has been with control rather than winning at all means and costs.