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Playing with an extra batsman meant that Bangladesh got a little too complacent, triggering a collapse that may prove to be very costly

Mohammad Isam in Khulna29-Apr-2015Nothing suggested a batting collapse between the dismissals of Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim. Those seven deliveries were as routine as any had been in Bangladesh’s first innings till that stage. Apart from Asad Shafiq’s two brilliant catches of Shakib Al Hasan at leg slip and Sarkar at wide mid-off running from cover, Pakistan, too, had merely been disciplined. Nothing more. Nothing less.Mushfiqur’s dismissal, though, was against the run of play. He had been batting comfortably for more than an hour and now with No. 8 Shuvagata Hom, the circumstances got a little tighter but who else would Bangladesh want in a tight spot these days?Collapses, however, don’t come with warnings. Bangladesh lost their last five wickets in 8.4 overs, adding just 27 runs. The debutant skied an attempted drive over mid-off, the captain couldn’t hold himself back from playing a needless cut, and the tail simply threw their wickets away. The first two wickets were the crux of the collapse, but the gist of it was inevitable.On day one, Bangladesh’s innings resembled batsmen trying to run down an upwards escalator. On day two, it resembled batsmen trying to run up a downward escalator. The players had come off a great time in the ODI series and the one-off T20, scoring hundreds and fifties freely. The run-rate was never a problem even though they used to previously struggle chasing 250-plus totals.But Bangladesh slowed down on the first day in Khulna because they felt the wicket wasn’t conducive to scoring freely, and on the second day, they tried to increase their scoring pace when conservation should have been attempted.Sarkar, who added 62 for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur and had moved to 33 off 55 balls in his debut innings, admitted he played the wrong shot to get out, but he didn’t think his dismissal caused the collapse.”I shouldn’t have played that shot at that time,” Sarkar said. “I thought it was a bad shot after I had played it, maybe I shouldn’t have played the shot. I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes from before. I didn’t think about whether my dismissal caused Mushfiq bhai’s dismissal.”It is hard to find fault in Sarkar beyond his attempted shot that fell to Shafiq’s hand in the 112th over. Before his debut, Bangladesh had lost their last five wickets in less than nine overs on 20 previous occasions. The last of those was against New Zealand in 2013.From an acute angle, a connection can be made between the collapse and the fact that Bangladesh included eight batsman in their line-up. Two batsmen got past 50 while Mahmudullah made 49. Two got out in the thirties, two in the twenties and Shuvagata Hom, the No 8 batsman, faced only 11 balls to be unbeaten on 12. Not converting a fifty into a hundred is a broader problem, but a sense of comfort at having a long batting line-up can put batsmen at ease. Getting out after settling down has been common whenever Bangladesh have played with eight batsmen before.Sarkar agreed that there was a sense of comfort in the knowledge that the extra batsman was waiting in the dressing room, but he said he was also confident batting with the tail.”Yes of course. When I went to bat, there was another batsman behind me. My plan is to play a long innings if the opportunity presents itself. I played a few innings in the past with the bowlers so that belief was always within me.”Soumya’s confidence is not misplaced. The challenge for the No. 7 or No. 8 batsman usually includes negotiating the second new ball, farming the strike with tail-enders, and ensuring a higher run-rate in the first innings.But a look at Mahmudullah’s career as a No 8 batsman suggests it is not just a waste of a batsman, but an unnecessary luxury for the seven players above him. On the second day of the Khulna Test, it resulted in a collapse that could haunt Bangladesh in this game.

Manchester United are considering entering the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.

Could Man United sign Mbappe this summer?

The Red Devils appear to be on the hunt for a new marquee striker this summer ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge.

The club have a shortage of centre-forward options and could even move on Anthony Martial over the coming months, with the Frenchman one of 13 players up for sale.

Mbappe has been a player that has been mentioned, with potential new owner Sheikh Jassim reportedly planning a sensational move for the PSG forward.

Jassim feels like Mbappe “belongs” at Old Trafford, however, the Qatar group are still awaiting to see if their takeover bid will be accepted by the Glazers. However, there has been a further update on Mbappe regardless of who is in charge of United, with the forward entering the final 12 months of his PSG contract.

The Sun provided an update on Mbappe’s future, claiming any club who want to sign him over the coming months will need to pay £250m-plus – a figure which would smash the current transfer record at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are named alongside Liverpool and Real Madrid, with the report stating that the Red Devils are considering entering a transfer bidding war, although they add that the ongoing ownership questions at Old Trafford could hamper their ability to do business at that level.

Has Kyllian Mbappe ever scored against Man United?

Mbappe, dubbed "electric" by journalist Matt Lawton, is a name known around the world and has contributed to an incredible 310 goals in 260 games for PSG. Still just 24 years of age, the France international also has 40 goals in 70 games for his country, including a hat-trick in the World Cup final last year.

Therefore, you can see why the forward would command such a huge fee and why Jassim would want to bring him to Manchester, possibly winning over supporters straight away, should a takeover go through.

Mbappe has played against United on four occasions in the Champions League, winning twice and losing the other two. He scored his first goal against the Red Devils back in the 2018/19 season at Old Trafford, and who knows, he could be looking to find the back of the net in Manchester on a regular basis if a transfer gathers pace.

Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta have made a "very strange" signing in Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, says talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Who have Arsenal signed this summer?

The Gunners have many plates spinning in north London with some reports even suggesting they could spend in and around £200 million in total on new additions.

West Ham star Declan Rice, who is reliably believed to be of interest, has already been at the centre of two rejected bids from Arsenal with one of them being a club record.

Meanwhile, it is believed that Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Southampton's Romeo Lavia are on the list, with talks being held over both players (Football Insider).

Before all of them, though, Arsenal and sporting director Edu have sealed the signing of Chelsea's Havertz in a £65 million move from Chelsea – with the German set to undergo medical tests ahead of a formal announcement (The Evening Standard).

Fabrizio Romano also backs that Arsenal have signed the forward, though former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor thinks the Gunners are making a mistake.

Indeed, the talkSPORT regular seems to believe that Havertz actually doesn't suit Arteta's system, and they should be looking for an out-and-out goalscorer instead.

"I don't understand that transfer its very strange,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider.

“Arsenal haven’t learned their lesson with transfers, Kai Havertz is not a clinical striker.

“He is not an out and out number nine, which what Arsenal need as they currently have Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah but require an upgrade on them.

“Havertz hasn’t got that finishing instinct, so it is very strange from Arsenal if they are going to give £50-£60million to Chelsea, so they can then sign a player that the Gunners want in Moises Caicedo.

“It would be a wrong deal for the Gunners, and I am sure that their fans would agree.”

How has Kai Havertz played?

Scoring just seven goals and grabbing one assist last season, you wouldn't describe Havertz as a serious goal-getter, but his versatility will be a big draw for Arteta.

He can play anywhere across the forward line, out wide and in central attacking midfield, with the 24-year-old also averaging more attempts at goal per 90 than any Chelsea player last season bar Joao Felix (WhoScored).

Havertz, for £65 million, could be viewed as a promising transfer and it will be interesting to see how Arteta utilises him.

Duckett shows fine touch with twin fifties as Broad bags four second-innings wickets against Worcestershire

David Hopps30-Apr-2022Normal service has been resumed as Nottinghamshire, beaten in their first home match of the season by Glamorgan, made it six wins in seven at Trent Bridge with a five-wicket defeat of Worcestershire.The prospect of a lengthy rain delay on the final day heightened their anxiety to chase down a target of 233 in 56 overs by the close and they timed it to perfection as Joe Clarke on-drove the winning boundary from the last ball to leave recourse to an extra half-hour unnecessary.The choicest innings came from Ben Duckett, whose 78 from 85 balls had almost but not quite broken the chase when he hacked at a ball from Charlie Morris and was caught at the wicket, a puff of dust from the surface offering him an alibi for his error.Duckett can be an exhilarating watch, a figure of barrel-shaped invention. That barrel could be full of real ale, frothing and intoxicating, blissful in its belief that anything was possible, unaware of the potential for disaster. Josh Baker, an 18-year-old left-arm spinner playing only his eighth first-class match, has probably faced no more untameable opponent, enduring cuts, sweeps and reverse sweeps from a batter who is addicted to adventure whenever a spinner comes on.In such a frame of mind, it is possible to understand what England saw when they chose Duckett, then at Northants, for the 2016 tour of India. The gamble failed – “I got worked over by one of the best spinners the game has ever seen” he once said of his agonies against Ravi Ashwin. He has rarely entered England’s thoughts since and he is unlikely to enter them again soon as the pressing need is at the top of the order, but he now has a century and four fifties from his last five innings and is arguably in his best touch since those heady days.Batting is often something of an escapade for Notts, who can be careless with their talent. They are awash with character, alive with strokeplay and their flaws are always lurking just below the surface. They are not the sort of side to look at an iffy weather forecast, mutter “you can only control the controllables” and leave their run chase to Sunday and hours of peering at leaden skies from dressing room windows. They are all the more welcome for that.Worcestershire, spearheaded by the admirable Ed Barnard, fought valiantly, but ultimately, they were found wanting. They deserved better luck than to be a man down because of an injury to Dillon Pennington. A Baker’s dozen would normally have been too many, but he had to bowl 19 overs and went for 90, recovering his poise a little after Duckett’s dismissal, although Jack Haynes did not welcome his half-tracker which meant he took a painful blow from Clarke at short leg.Worcestershire needed new-ball wickets and they managed one with their fourth ball when Morris had Ben Slater caught low at first slip. The indefatigable Barnard, who followed up more than five hours at the crease with 15 overs, squeezed one past Haseeb Hameed’s outside edge to clip off stump, took a fine catch at slip to intercept Lyndon James’ reverse sweep (note to James: don’t reverse-lap when the man who can do no wrong is stood at slip) and he was still passing the outside edge on occasions as Clarke assembled his first half-century of the season to guide Notts home.Neither had Barnard quite finished with Nottinghamshire with the bat. His unbeaten 101 on the second day had organised Worcestershire resistance that few expected, and he extended that to a career-best 163 from 310 balls, unconquered to the last as Worcestershire’s innings finally came to grief on 339. The target felt very achievable but with the potential to be messed up.Barnard did not give a chance, although he did pack an over’s worth of misjudgements into a single one from Dane Paterson, on 120, when his thought processes briefly went haywire.Stuart Broad finished up bowling 27 overs, which was probably a heavier workload than he would have preferred in his first of three matches designed to win back his England place. Figures of 4 for 72 in 27 overs will do him no harm. He quickly dislodged Jamie Cox with an excellent ball that bounced and left him before resorting to a succession of wicket-taking theories and unconventional fields which owed something to the nature of the surface, but also a little perhaps to his own impatience.”To be impatient is to be hooked on the future,” said the American psychiatrist, Gerald Jampolsky, which seems appropriate to Broad, whose priority is to be in mint condition for the Lord’s Test. That said, he doesn’t appear to be the sort who gives much credence to Californian self-help books.

Mohamed Salah has been told “he’s a bit like Harry Kane” after putting in another “non-existent” display for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

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Egyptian superstar flopped at WembleyHas scored only one goal in major finalsContract at Anfield continues to run downFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite having 32 goals to his name this season, Egyptian superstar Salah never looked like adding to that tally during a meeting with Newcastle at Wembley Stadium. He was kept remarkably quiet by the Magpies, with no telling contribution being made in the final third of the field.

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It is not the first time that Salah has failed to live up to expectations in showpiece events that see silverware come up for grabs, with lines having previously been fluffed with club and country. His only goal in a major final – not including Community Shields and European Super Cups – came from the penalty spot against Tottenham in 2019 when claiming Champions League honours.

WHAT FORMER SPURS STAR SAID

His forgetable performances are being likened to those put in by England captain Kane when he has seen an elusive trophy fall within reach, with ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara telling : “I feel for Mohamed Salah, he’s a bit like Harry Kane.

“He’s a brilliant player – there’s no doubt – but if you want to be classed as the ‘hero’ player for Liverpool, like Steven Gerrard and Ian Rush, you have to perform in finals. While, yes, Liverpool do have the trophies, they’ve relied on the team performance rather than individuals.

“Him personally, in a final, hasn’t really performed to his usual standard we see often in the Premier League. He was non-existent in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle. In eight finals for Liverpool and Egypt, I think he’s only scored one and assisted one, and the goal was a penalty against Tottenham. He has to be more of a presence in big games.”

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MOHAMED SALAH?

While Salah went missing in the Carabao Cup final, his efforts this season have allowed Liverpool to open up a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. It remains to be seen how long Salah will stick around once another domestic coronation is confirmed at Anfield, with his contract continuing to run down towards free agency.

Tottenham star Son Heung-min has backed Barcelona superkid Lamine Yamal to become the "best winger in the world in a couple years".

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Yamal has been in sensational form Has often been compared to MessiSon backed him to be the bestFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal inevitably draws comparisons with Lionel Messi, who emerged from Barcelona’s youth system to become an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. At just 17 years old, the winger has already made history, proving he can follow a similarly remarkable trajectory.

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The Spanish youngster has already collected significant individual accolades, including the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award, both of which recognise the brightest young talents in the game. Additionally, he played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and will be one to watch out for in the 2026 World Cup.

WHAT SON SAID

While Son acknowledged that Yamal is already among the world’s top five wingers, he hesitated to place him in the top three just yet. However, he was confident that the Barcelona starlet will soon surpass his current level and establish himself as the very best.

In an interview with GOAL, Son stated: "He is unbelievable. Don’t get me wrong. At this age, the way he performs, he is incredible. I’m enjoying every bit of it. It’s a good thing that he is so young and he still has so much room to improve. So, in the next couple of years he will be top, number one."

DID YOU KNOW?

Yamal delivered a standout performance in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Benfica in the Champions League. He provided an assist for the opening goal before scoring himself to restore Barcelona’s lead after Nicolas Otamendi’s equaliser. This historic moment made Yamal the youngest player ever to score and assist in the same Champions League match, further highlighting his rapid rise to prominence.

John Simpson, Luke Hollman put on century stand to suck life out of Leicestershire hopes after Stoneman falls

ECB Reporters Network29-Apr-2022John Simpson and Luke Hollman shared a century stand as Middlesex closed in on victory over Leicestershire on day two of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash at Lord’s.The Foxes were sniffing a way back into the contest, after being bowled out on day one for 149, when the hosts slipped to 218 for 5 shortly before lunch, Mark Stoneman having fallen for 108, his first century for Middlesex at Lord’s.However, Simpson with 71 and Hollman 45 sucked the life out of those hopes by adding 112 for the sixth wicket, carrying Middlesex past 300 in the first innings of a County Championship match for the third game in a row – the first time the Seaxes have achieved the feat since June 2017.Ben Mike’s late spell of 4 for 15 saw Middlesex eventually dismissed for 370, but Shaheen Shah Afridi with 2 for 18 and Ethan Bamber ripped out the Foxes’ top order once more to leave them 37 for 3 at stumps, still needing 184 to make the hosts bat again.Middlesex resumed on 142 for 2, seven runs in arrears, but were soon ahead thanks to a flurry of boundaries from skipper Peter Handscomb. However, with the hard work looking like it had been done the Australian fenced at one from Chris Wright to be caught at slip.New batter Max Holden was in a hurry, reverse sweeping Callum Parkinson to the boundary, but he never looked comfortable. At the other end Stoneman got an attack of the nervous 90s, surviving a huge lbw appeal from Parkinson on 99. His dab into the offside in search of his hundredth run saw a shy at the stumps which had it hit would have left Holden well short of his ground.Holden’s skittish effort ended soon afterwards when he charged Parkinson only to jam the attempted drive into his foot, the ball rebounding onto his pads and then the stumps, disturbing the leg bail.When Stoneman heaved across a long hop from the spinner the hosts were only 69 ahead, but Simpson and Hollman soon set about snuffing out any glimmer of light for the visitors.Simpson, fresh from his hundred against Glamorgan last week, struck the ball purposefully from the off and Hollman caught the mood, twice punching Parkinson through the covers for four.The afternoon saw the pair grow in confidence, Simpson lofting Parkinson over mid-off for four, one of eight in a 50 reached in 83 balls. Hollman too was enjoying himself, flat-batting a wide one from Beuran Hendricks over point for six.Middlesex’s record sixth-wicket partnership of 130 against Leicestershire by grandees Clive Radley and Fred Titmus back in 1965 was in sight when the belatedly introduced Mike yorked Hollman five short of a deserved half-century, Simpson following to the same bowler shortly afterwards, caught at slip.Mike ran through the tail, but some eccentric hitting – including a huge six by Afridi, who scored 29 – ensured a fourth batting point and a lead of 221.Afridi’s batting antics served as a perfect warm-up for his new-ball burst and the Pakistani speedster struck in his third over, pinning Hassan Azad plumb in front and five balls later came the prize wicket of skipper Colin Ackerman, so often the scourge of Middlesex, who bagged a pair after edging to the safe hands of Hollman at slip.Bamber, unusually bowling from the Nursery End to accommodate Afridi, joined in the fun by rearranging Louis Kimber’s furniture before mercifully for Leicestershire the fading light forced an early close.

The January window is fast approaching for title-chasing Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, and a rumoured top transfer target has apparently already made a decision about joining Arsenal next month.

Arsenal beat Man United 2-0 as Arteta rediscovers best Premier League form

Following a very difficult period just before the latest international break, with Arsenal going from mid-October to mid-November without a single Premier League win, Arteta has now guided his side back to an imperious run of form.

Arsenal now prepared to bid for "standout" £17m Martin Odegaard alternative

Arteta is after a foil to the Norway star.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 6, 2024

Convincing wins over Nottingham Forest, Sporting Lisbon, West Ham and Man United have resurrected a sense of real positivity and belief that Arsenal are still in with a real chance of winning their first title in over two decades, with the north Londoners travelling to Craven Cottage for a face-off against mid-table Fulham on Sunday.

Fulham (away)

December 8

Everton (home)

December 14

Crystal Palace (away)

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Ipswich Town (home)

December 27

Brentford (away)

January 1

Arteta dealt Ruben Amorim his first loss as United boss earlier this week with a 2-0 win at the Emirates, courtesy of goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, as Arsenal continue to be a real menace from set-pieces.

Speaking in a post-match press conference after Arsenal’s victory over the Red Devils, Arteta hailed his team’s mental resilience to come back so strongly after their winless run.

“The will to win is there, they try, we try all our best to do that,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s 2-0 win over United.

“It’s true we went through a lot in that period, the schedule and the opposition that we played, a lot of things and that’s the thing you have to react. It’s about trying to do it next, today we have won four in a row but it doesn’t matter we have to go to Fulham now and be better than them to try to win the game. It’s every three days, it’s a crazy schedule, we’re going to need everybody and mentally be very strong because you’re going to have to go through those moments.”

The club could even strengthen their resolve further with new January additions, with reports suggesting that Arsenal are prepared to move for Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton as they contemplate life without out-of-contract duo Jorginho and Thomas Partey.

Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi decides whether he'll join Arsenal in January

According to The Boot Room, Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi remains on Arsenal’s radar as another top midfield target, despite failing to tempt him away from La Liga in the summer.

Former sporting director Edu Gaspar sealed a deal for his former teammate Mikel Merino instead, but there is a belief that Arsenal are reigniting their interest in Zubimendi for 2025.

However, they’ve been dealt bad news about a move for him in the winter, as it is believed that Zubimendi is planning to stay at Sociedad in January amid Arsenal’s interest in signing him.

Liverpool are also contenders for his signature, but the Spain international would actually prefer a move to Real Madrid over anybody else at the end of the season.

Zubimendi’s contract includes a £50 million release clause, so it appears the biggest obstacle to any move for the 25-year-old is his personal preference.

“If he was in a poor physical and mental state, he wouldn’t have given his name in the IPL auction”

Mohammad Isam07-Mar-2022BCB president Nazmul Hassan has hit back at Shakib Al Hasan after the allrounder expressed his reluctance to tour South Africa next week. Hassan questioned Shakib’s commitment, asking whether he would have wanted a similar break from the IPL had he been picked in the auction.”I think it is logical to think that if he was in a poor physical and mental state, he wouldn’t have given his name in the IPL [auction],” Hassan said. “But he went ahead with it. So, does it mean that if he got his IPL contract, he would have said the same thing? We can’t do anything if he doesn’t want to play [for Bangladesh]. But he can’t keep saying I will play this game, I won’t play that game. We are soft on those who we love, but they also have to be professional. Otherwise we will have to take decisions that no one will like.”Shakib had initially informed the BCB that he wants to only play the white-ball formats for the most part of 2022. He made himself available for the IPL during Bangladesh’s Tests against South Africa in March and April, but after he wasn’t picked up by any of the franchises, the BCB assumed that he’d be available for the forthcoming South Africa Tests.Related

Shakib Al Hasan back as Bangladesh Test captain

'Board will decide when to give me rest' – Shakib to tour South Africa after all

BCB rests Shakib from international cricket till April 30

If New Zealand, why not South Africa? Tamim banks on new-found belief to spur Bangladesh on

Shakib, Tamim back in Bangladesh Test squad

After the third ODI against Afghanistan last week Hassan claimed that Shakib agreed to tour South Africa for both the ODIs and Tests. Shakib was picked in both squads but on Sunday, he said that he needed a break. He indicated to the BCB that he could opt out of the ODI series, so that he can come back mentally and physically fresh for the Test series in the same tour.Hassan said that the players have been asked to inform the board beforehand if they want to skip playing a particular format. Tamim Iqbal dropped out of the picture for last year’s T20 World Cup, and has recently said that he doesn’t want to be considered for this year’s edition too. Mahmudullah, meanwhile, retired from Test cricket in the middle of the one-off match against Zimbabwe last July, drawing Hassan’s ire.”I have been clear with everyone that they must inform us beforehand if they don’t want to play a particular format,” Hassan said. “But they shouldn’t do all this. It is not desirable.”What Riyad did was totally unacceptable. He had come to my house to tell me that he is available for all three formats. Tamim had informed me [about his decision to opt out of T20Is].”Shakib had also skipped the Test series in New Zealand last month; it was the third time he took leave from a series for personal reasons. The first time he took such a leave of absence was during the tour of South Africa in 2017-18 and then he skipped the Sri Lanka Tests last year due to his IPL commitments.Since the start of 2017, Shakib has played only 15 of the 33 Tests Bangladesh have played, the reasons for his absences including injury, his one-year suspension for not reporting a corrupt approach, and personal leave.

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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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.