Tag Futebol

He got there in 54 balls after Sean Williams cracked 91 off 58 deliveries, as Zimbabwe made it two in a row

Madushka Balasuriya20-Jun-2023

Sikandar Raza bashed Zimbabwe’s fastest ODI hundred•ICC via Getty Images

Zimbabwe 319 for 4 (Raza 102*, Williams 91, Shariz 2-62) beat Netherlands 315 for 6 (Vikramjit 88, Edwards 83, Raza 4-55) by six wicketsYet another imperious hand from Sean Williams and an all-round masterclass from Sikandar Raza ensured that a potentially tricky chase was handled with relative ease, as Zimbabwe made it two wins from two with a six-wicket victory over Netherlands.Raza’s impact on the game was absolute, having started with a four-wicket haul to help keep the opposition down to what he deemed a “par” total of 315 – such was the nature of the track. That culminated with a truly belligerent display of power-hitting that climaxed incredibly in him reaching the fastest ever ODI century by a Zimbabwe batter, finishing unbeaten on 102 off 54 deliveries.But while Raza will rightly take all the headlines, Williams’ role cannot be understated. His was a knock that was an exhibition in game management. Having come in to bat in the 14th over, he took a few overs to get in before cutting loose and looting 48 runs from overs 17-21. And he kept plugging away at a steady rate before Raza joined him in the 25th over.At that point, Raza immediately made his intentions clear, as Williams took on a more reserved role. While Netherlands would no doubt rue some dropped chances over the course of the innings, once Williams – and then Raza – started going, there was no stopping the Zimbabwe juggernaut.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Raza would end the game having struck six fours and eight sixes – three of which came in three consecutive deliveries in a brutal assault on Shariz Ahmad in the 39th over – and such was his authority at Harare Sports Club that you wondered if any score Netherlands would have put up would have been enough. If it was any consolation, then 315 was their joint-highest score in ODIs.Having been put into bat on a belter of a batting track, Netherlands weathered some early movement, and proceeded to motor along in their innings. A 120-run opening stand between Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh was followed by a 96-run partnership between Vikramjit and captain Scott Edwards, who hit 83.But despite their best efforts, they were never allowed to get out of hand, as Raza – utilising his vast experience and array of variations – consistently struck with the ball. Having broken the first-wicket union with a quicker one outside off that was chopped on by O’Dowd, Raza struck in his next over too, cleaning Wesley Barresi up with another one that was quicker and full.And just as Edwards and Vikramjit would have been eyeing a big finish, Raza returned in the 39th over to have the latter miscue a sweep when on 88, and thus broke a threatening stand. That wicket, of the set batter, potentially took the momentum out of Netherlands’ innings; they did go on to score 81 off the final ten overs, which was a good effort, yet not good enough in terms of what the surface offered.And so it would prove, as Raza returned with the bat to land the finishing blow on an otherwise respectable Netherlands performance.

Nortje, Markram, Stubbs also out of Men’s draft; Schutt, Sutherland pull out of Women’s

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-2023

Mitchell Starc has been in fine form for Australia in the ODI series in India•BCCI

Mitchell Starc will be a high-profile absentee from this year’s Men’s Hundred, after withdrawing his name from the long-list for the tournament draft, which is due to take place on Thursday.Starc is currently in India with Australia’s ODI squad, where his five-wicket haul in Sunday’s second match helped to secure a 2-1 series victory. He had been one of the few multi-format Australians to put his name forward for this year’s competition, which is due to get underway one day after the scheduled end of the fifth Ashes Test.After entering the draft last month, Starc would have been a tempting option for one of the five vacant £125,000 slots available for overseas players – although Northern Superchargers, where his wife Alyssa Healy plays, did not have availability in that price bracket.Starc had been lined up as a top draft pick by Superchargers for the 2022 draft as well, but withdrew shortly before the registration deadline.A number of other prominent overseas players have also withdrawn from both the men’s and women’s drafts, including Australia’s Jhye Richardson, and the South Africa trio of Anrich Nortje, Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs. Nortje was this week unveiled as a marquee pick for Washington (DC) Freedom in the inaugural Major League Cricket season in the USA, which is set to run from July 13 to 30, with the Hundred starting two days later on August 1.Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland and Tayla Vlaeminck are also notable absentees, joining an exodus of Australia’s women’s players including Meg Lanning, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath, all of whom recently secured lucrative deals in the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India. Sutherland had previously been a retained player for Welsh Fire.As revealed by ESPNcricinfo, Laurie Evans – Player of the Match in the 2022 Big Bash Final – has been included in the draft after his provisional ban following a positive test for a banned substance was lifted.Other notable additions to the draft include the England Test wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, and Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal.

The former MLS defender suggested Balogun should be appreciative of another chance, needs to capitalize on it

• Lalas described Balogun as "the chosen one"
• Says that the team hasn't moved past him
• Emphasized this camp offers crucial evaluation period

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Folarin Balogun was a late inclusion in the USMNT roster for September friendlies after the Monaco striker missed several previous camps. The 23rd player named to the squad for matches against South Korea and Japan, this will be Balogun's first appearance under USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino.

  Former USMNT star Alexi Lalas characterized Balogun as having once been viewed as "the chosen one" following his high-profile commitment to the United States, but suggested that status has diminished following inconsistent performances and availability. 

  “I'm glad because remember a time where he was the 'chosen one' and he was going to bring us out of the wilderness when it came to that striker position,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “And we haven't seen him a while and he's gone through, you know, some bad injuries. And so it's almost kind of like a  second bite at the Balogun apple.

  “And we get to reassess him here in August of 2025, less than a year before the World Cup. But with kind of the same situation, in that nobody has really grabbed that spot. And so he's got a wonderful opportunity. I mean, he should in a certain sense, thank his lucky stars that the team hadn't moved on from him. But you know, now it's going to be about what he can possibly do."

  Lalas framed the upcoming matches as a critical opportunity for Pochettino to assess Balogun's role for the 2026 World Cup.

  “You're potentially looking at a starting XI come these games against Japan and South Korea in this window that has Balogun, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest," Lalas said. "You know what a good handful of players can do… So, a lot of players that absolutely could feature and could start in the World Cup next summer. So I'm, I'm glad to see that he's brought in, because I think we need to assess where he is right now. And kind of realize, is he going to be in the mix, or isn't he going to be in the mix?”

Advertisement

• WHAT LALAS SAID

  Lalas also addressed some of the criticism over Pochettino's roster.

  “I think that still are looking at this roster and this window as a missed opportunity, a wasted opportunity, and giving opportunities to players that ultimately are not going to feature next summer, in in their mind,” Lalas said of some of former USMNT teammates, now turned pundits. “But I also want to remind people that, you know, the only comparison that we have – and I know it's a little apples to oranges – but in 1994, obviously the US hosted the men's World Cup.

  “And because of that, the United States did not have to go through a qualifying process. And if you look at the team that showed up in the summer and the fall of 1993 – so about the time that we are in right now – there are a lot of players that were starting for the national team that ultimately not only weren't starting that following summer, but weren't even on the 22-man roster.”

  The former defender suggested this historical precedent demonstrates the fluid nature of roster building.

  “But for Pochettino – and in that case for Bora Milutinovic – without that qualifying process and all that, all you could assess was during friendly games," he said. "That assessment went all the way up to – I mean, literally – the end of May. In that case, it would have been 1994, May 1994, getting ready for that summer.

  “So I think he's going to continue to assess. And I don't think that that's necessarily wrong…  a lot of people out there still felt that it should have been pared down for this window. And the reality is that there's only four more windows after it."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Balogun's journey with the USMNT has been marked by unfulfilled expectations since he switched allegiance from England in May 2023. Since that period, the striker has battled injuries and struggled to translate his club form to the international stage, scoring just five goals in 17 caps.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Balogun will likely feature in upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan, providing a crucial opportunity to impress Pochettino. 

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been lauded for his 'ingenuity' after masterminding the signing of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, using a special clause in the deal to navigate several financial challenges.

Hincapie joins Arsenal in creative deal structureBerta credited for dealmaking geniusHeavily involved in key summer signings Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Berta, who joined Arsenal in March 2025, oversaw a summer of unprecedented activity at the club, culminating in the €52 million (£45.2m) signing of Hincapie. report that the deal required coordination with Jakub Kiwior’s departure to Porto – Hincapie’s arrival was conditional on Kiwior leaving, while Kiwior’s exit depended on Hincapie being secured. Arsenal also had to manage cash flow and financial regulations, prompting Berta to engineer a loan-permanent hybrid agreement with Leverkusen, allowing both clubs to trigger the permanent move. Berta received kudos internally for coming up with this solution.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Berta’s role has largely been focused on first-team transfers and contract renewals, operating quietly behind the scenes. His work has helped Arsenal strengthen their squad across multiple positions, including the additions of Viktor Gyokeres as a marquee striker, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard.

DID YOU KNOW?

Berta previously spent 12 years at Atletico Madrid, building a reputation as a shrewd operator and dealmaker. His first summer at Arsenal saw a change in direction from his predecessor, Edu Gaspar, who preferred a more public approach to deals.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GOALWHAT NEXT?

With the transfer window closed, Berta’s attention may now turn to contract renewals for players including Bukayo Saka and William Saliba.

MEYBA are back again with a tantalising new collaboration bringing together the wider culture of the beautiful game

If you’ve read the headline, your interest has already been piqued. What on earth do any of these things have in common?

Well, it’s quite the story, actually. You wouldn’t expect anything less from a tale that combines one of the world’s greatest sporting institutions with another of the world’s finest cuisines, in a country neither of them hail from.

That’s the beauty of football and food. Borders don’t quite exist in the same way as the real world. ‘Culture’ and cultures blend all the time to produce the most fascinating art. MEYBA and Tamila are the artists in focus here.

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• MEYBA
  

  MEYBA and the 'Dream Team'

  There is a legacy to MEYBA that is unique from other kit designers. They were the first external suppliers to Barcelona, a deal that lasted a decade from 1982 to 1992, with the likes of Diego Maradona and Pep Guardiola having a chance to play in those kits as part of the ‘Dream Team’.

  In their final game donning MEYBA shirts, Barca, managed by the great Johan Cruyff, lifted their first-ever European Cup at the old Wembley Stadium, with Ronald Koeman’s strike seeing off Sampdoria. The orange adorned by the Blaugrana that night still lives long in the memory and has become an alternate colour for the club in the years since.

  MEYBA were a powerhouse in Spanish and Portuguese football. However, as an independent brand, they couldn’t quite compete with the new money being thrown about in the football world, ultimately entering receivership in 1994 and closing three years later.

  Now, they’re making a comeback. Under the control of Premium Inc., who are also behind the Cruyff brand, they have launched a careful reboot. That started with partnerships in the United States, and this has been followed with ventures in Spain and back in England, as well as with the Guyana national team, with various other deals lined up with clubs dotted all over the world. But it’s not only the professional game they’ve been diving into.

Advertisement

• MEYBA
  

  The Beatles, festivals and raves

  This isn’t MEYBA’s first venture into the wider world of football-shirt culture. In 2024, they launched two licensed collaborations with The Beatles, which in turn produced five different shirts honouring the legendary band, their four members and their most iconic albums.

  Jonathan Jones, Head of Global Marketing for MEYBA, said of The Beatles release: "I was gifted Sgt Pepper's gate fold vinyl many years ago and was intrigued by the design, use of colours, the special touches and hidden extras that came with the record which made it something very special.

  "We've taken that wonder, added our love of design and football heritage and delivered a truly unique MEYBA remix of this iconic album."

  The Beatles are the glamour name of MEYBA’s recent releases, but they have also dipped their toes into the world of festivals and raves, notably Download and the iconic London underground club fabric.

  Jones added: "At MEYBA we’ve always believed football culture doesn’t stop at the touchline – it lives in music, art, food, nightlife and fashion. That’s why collaborations with the likes of Defected, fabric, and other cultural pioneers have been so important to us. They’re not just about creating limited-edition shirts, they’re about capturing moments that resonate with communities and subcultures who live and breathe creativity.

  "MEYBA were the trend-setters in the 80s and 90s, and today we’re proud to be setting the pace again. It’s no coincidence that you now see other sports brands stepping into this space – we’re driving that cultural conversation and proving that football shirts can be as much about identity and expression as they are about the game itself."

• MEYBA
  

  Tamila collaboration

  That brings us to MEYBA’s latest collection. They are now teaming up with Tamila, a South Indian curry house based in London. As the name suggests, it is a small group of Tamil restaurants with a menu that any culture or cuisine would be proud of.

  Together, MEYBA and Tamila have produced a shirt which combines three worlds which aren’t so far apart – curry, beer and football. It’s hard not to notice the distinct orange-and-brown colour scheme which leaps off the canvas, symbolising their Tamil roots and their curry houses dotted around London. Close to the heart is a specially-designed ‘TFC’ crest, and on the back is the number 5 in Tamil, the Indian flag, and the name ‘Prince’, in a nod to one of the brains behind the chain and its success, Prince Durairaj.

  All of these unique idiosyncrasies would have been enough to create a strip of cult status, but the Indian flag and classic collar really take this over the top. It looks the part both in its underlying meaning and face-value style.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• MEYBA
  

  'Curry, pints and football'

  Let’s rewind a minute. Football, and English football in particular, is built on tradition. It’s about passing down from generation to generation, love that is unconditional and makes no damn sense. For many matchgoers, football isn’t only about the football, but all the bells and whistles that come with it, including your routine on the day of the game.

  The majority of supporters will meet up with friends and family, make an event out of an afternoon or evening. There will almost certainly be food and drink. Tamila, with their curry houses spaced out across central London, makes for the perfect stop on that itinerary, be it fans going to or from games, into the capital or on their way out of it.

  Glen Leeson, co-founder of Tamila & The Tamil Prince, said: "People have been asking us for years about merch. But we didn’t want to do it just for the sake of it. When we started talking to the MEYBA team over a few beers and a biryani, it just clicked. Curry, pints and football. What else do you need?"

Manchester United face being ground down by Real Betis in Antony’s transfer saga, with the Spanish side willing to wait on a loan agreement.

• Brazilian starred on loan in Spain last season
• Red Devils had been hoping to generate a fee
• Saga set to be dragged out towards deadline

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After seeing Antony impress on loan at Betis last season, helping them to the Conference League final, United had been hoping to find a suitor willing to take the Brazil international on a permanent basis.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Antony has no part to play in Ruben Amorim’s plans at Old Trafford, meaning that he is being left in limbo during pre-season. No formal bids have arrived for the 25-year-old, making it impossible for the Red Devils to generate the funds they crave.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , Betis will look to use that situation to their advantage. They have made it clear that they want to take Antony on a season-long deal that includes no obligation to buy.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  TELL ME MORE

  It is claimed that a “strategy of attrition” is being implemented, as “Betis will wait until the end of the transfer window to secure another loan”. ABC report that “the Verdiblancos drew up a plan that is expected to be implemented only in the final stretch of the transfer window”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Luís Castro chegou ao Botafogo em março deste ano e vem tendo que lidar com um importante período de reformulação dentro do clube. Durante uma longa entrevista, o treinador ressaltou as dificuldades encontradas em seu trabalho no Glorioso.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo: Quem é João Paulo Costa, coordenador que vai auxiliar projeto de criar estilo de jogo único no clubeBotafogo26/09/2022BotafogoBotafogo tem aproveitamento surpreendente sem Saravia neste BrasileirãoBotafogo26/09/2022BotafogoBotafogo Way: Luís Castro dá palestra e mostra ideia de jogo aos treinadores do clubeBotafogo26/09/2022

+Lembre os últimos jogos da Seleção Brasileira antes de Copas do Mundo

– Elas foram muito além do que eu esperava (dificuldades). Não pensava que não teria um campo para treinar. Só para exemplificar. Os jogadores equipam-se há duas semanas a esta parte em um balneário. Não tinha um balneário comum, tinham que equipar-se de forma separada até então – declarou Luís Castro em entrevista ao jornal “Record”, de Portugal.

-Em seis meses, poucas coisas foram resolvidas. O clube não tem um centro de treinos, há um problema de organização – completou.

+Júnior Santos elogia elenco do Botafogo, relembra período no Japão e revela idolatria por Ronaldinho

O treinador também ressaltou a dificuldade de disputar um Brasileirão, afirmando que é um dos campeonatos mais difíceis do mundo.

-No Botafogo, tenho a oportunidade de disputar um dos campeonatos mais difíceis do mundo. São sete, oito equipes que disputam o título. Oito equipes lutam para permanecer na Série A. Se somarmos, são 16 de um total de 20. Portanto, apenas quatro ficam ali no meio da tabela. É um campeonato muito intenso e competitivo.

+Luís Castro analisa momento do Botafogo e ressalta ‘mentalidade vencedora’ do elenco

OBotafogo entra em campo nesta quarta-feira, contra o Goiás, às 21h45, na Serrinha, em partida válida pelo Brasileirão. Fora de casa, Luís Castro vai em busca da segunda vitória consecutiva na competição.

He will now head home for further assessment

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2023

Kane Williamson had to be helped off after falling awkwardly on his right leg and damaging his knee•Associated Press

Gujarat Titans batter Kane Williamson has been ruled out of IPL 2023 with a knee injury he had sustained in the opening game of the tournament, against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad.Williamson will head home next week and be seen by relevant medical specialists to establish a treatment plan, according to NZC.”It is sad to lose Kane to injury so early in the tournament. We wish him a speedy recovery, with the hope of seeing him in action very soon,” Titans’ director of cricket Vikram Solanki, said in a statement.In what was his debut game for Titans, Williamson had landed awkwardly – with his right knee buckling under his weight – while attempting a catch at the deep square leg boundary in the 13th over of Super Kings’ innings. He had leapt to intercept a ball headed for six off Ruturaj Gaikwad’s bat. He managed to save two runs, palming the ball into the field of play before it bounced onto the boundary boards, but by that point Williamson was on the ground clutching his right knee.Despite receiving treatment for some time, he could not return to the field, with Titans bringing B Sai Sudharsan on as substitute fielder first and later swapping the two in the XI via the new Impact Player rule.It remains to be seen for how much longer after the IPL Williamson will be out of action, but New Zealand coach Gary Stead had called the injury “a big blow” for Williamson and the team. New Zealand are currently playing T20Is against Sri Lanka at home after the Tests and ODIs, and will then fly to Pakistan for five T20Is and as many ODIs. Williamson was missing both those tours for his participation in the IPL.Williamson had only recently fully recovered from a long-standing elbow injury, which had plagued him over the past two years.

Manchester United officials have set their sights on signing a player from West Ham United this summer, with Red Devils officials under the impression that he’d suit Ruben Amorim down to the ground.

Players tipped to leave West Ham this summer

Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings and Michail Antonio are all out of contract at the London Stadium this summer, meaning Graham Potter, co-chair David Sullivan and Hammers transfer chiefs could be forced to orchestrate a serious summer rebuild.

West Ham table £16.5m contract offer to sign "sensational" star for Potter

Graham Potter has identified his top target ahead of the summer, and the Hammers have now made a concrete approach.

ByDominic Lund Mar 4, 2025

Carlos Soler is also set to return to PSG after his east London loan, as things stand, with no official decision made on whether West Ham will trigger the £17 million option to buy in his temporary deal, while there are some reports that Jean-Clair Todibo could be sold right after his obligation to buy from Nice gets activated.

Lukasz Fabianski will leave on a free at the end of this season if West Ham don’t activate the one-year extension clause in his contract as well, which would put an end to the Pole’s seven-year stay at the club.

Newcastle United (home)

March 10th

Everton (away)

March 15th

Wolves (away)

April 1st

Bournemouth (home)

April 5th

Liverpool (away)

April 13th

Lucas Paqueta’s future remains uncertain, amid rumours that clubs in Brazil are interested in poaching the midfielder as he battles spot-fixing allegations off the field.

Mohammed Kudus has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool ahead of the next transfer window, and there are suggestions that the Ghanaian’s contract includes an £85 million release clause which will become active this summer.

Kudus has apparently shown frustration behind-the-scenes at West Ham, and was unsettled during Julen Lopetegui’s brief tenure in charge. However, it is very debatable whether clubs will be prepared to pay £85 million for his services later this year.

Meanwhile, amid his excellent loan spell at Real Sociedad, defender Nayef Aguerd is believed to be attracting attention from elite clubs.

West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd attracting Man United interest

Real Madrid have already expressed interest in Aguerd, with the Morocco international standing out as Sociedad’s best performer by average match rating over 19 La Liga starts this campaign, according to WhoScored.

The 28-year-old is making a real success of his stint in La Liga, and Sociedad are believed to be attempting a permanent deal for the centre-back before next season.

However, as per a Spanish media source, Imanol Alguacil’s side will face stiff competition from Old Trafford.

Indeed, Man United are plotting a move to sign Aguerd from West Ham this summer, and the club are said to be convinced that the African would slot into Amorim’s system perfectly.

However, as per other reports, Aguerd won’t come cheap to suitors following his brilliant 2024/2025 campaign. West Ham will apparently demand around £42 million to sell Aguerd, which would give Potter’s side a £12 million net profit on the player after they paid £30 million to bring him in from Rennes on a five-year contract in 2022.

The representatives of a major Arsenal target are set to fly to London for further talks this week, having now reached an agreement on contract terms, according to a report.

Mikel Arteta planning for the summer

Although Liverpool eked out a 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday, Mikel Arteta’s side remain in a strong position to mount a title push as we approach a crucial stage of the season.

In truth, another second-place finish would be very tough to take, having narrowly missed out to Manchester City in the previous two seasons, but making up a seven-point gap could prove to be a tall order.

Arteta will be keen to ensure his side set the pace next season, rather than having to chase, and the manager is looking at adding the final touches to his squad, with bringing in a top striker believed to be of particular interest.

Related Arsenal now make contact for "composed" £50m striker with 20 league goals

The Gunners have made the first move to sign a striker who is the top scorer in his league this season.

Posts ByDominic Lund Feb 16, 2025

Midfield hasn’t been a problem position for Arsenal this season, with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey among their most consistent players in the Premier League, but Arteta is still keen to bring in additional depth in the middle of the park this summer.

There have been widespread reports indicating Martin Zubimendi’s move to the Emirates Stadium is more or less wrapped up, but there has now been a new update on the Gunners’ pursuit of the Real Sociedad man.

According to a report from Football Transfers, Arterta’s side have now struck an agreement with Zubimendi on a four-year contract, having held advanced talks over a summer transfer.

The midfielder’s representatives are set to fly to London for further talks this week, with the deal developing, although he still has reservations about the move due to non-football related issues, such as relocating to England.

Arsenal remain confident they will be able to get the deal over the line, however, with Arteta believed to be the driving force behind the move.

Zubimendi could be a statement signing for Arsenal

The central midfielder, who is expected to cost around £51m, could help take Arteta’s midfield to the next level, given the displays he has put in for Real Sociedad for quite some time.

Former Gunner Kieran Tierney has lauded his ex-teammate as “world-class”, and he has been one of Sociedad’s best-performing players in La Liga this season, averaging a 6.91 WhoScored match rating.

Although the Spaniard is not much of a goal threat, he has impressed across a number of key defensive metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Aerials won

1.76 (91st percentile)

Clearances

2.32 (90th percentile)

Blocks

1.38 (69th percentile)

Interceptions

1.30 (74th percentile)

Partey has put in some impressive performances for Arsenal this season, but the Ghanaian turns 32 in June, and there are plenty of signs the 26-year-old Real Sociedad star could be a solid long-term replacement.