Category Uncategorized

For a long time, it has felt like Chelsea's dominance of the Women's Super League would never end. Since the Blues were crowned champions of England for a third time back on June 5, 2020, they have yet to relinquish their crown, spending over 2000 days as the holders of the trophy thanks to six successive triumphs. This season, however, it looks like their incredible run could finally be stopped.

Heading into the final round of WSL games before the winter break, with this weekend's games to also mark the league's halfway stage, Chelsea are six points off the pace, with Manchester City leading the way in commanding fashion. The defending champions are their closest challengers, too, with Manchester United a further point behind the Blues and Arsenal another point behind the Red Devils.

All signs point towards City claiming just their second-ever WSL crown, ending what will be a 10-year wait for another league title. Not since 2016 have the club got their hands on this trophy, back when the likes of Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh were on the books. But, it must be said, we have been here before. Is City's charge real this time? Or will it turn out to be another false dawn, the kind of which could let Chelsea back in?

• Getty Images
  

  Fantastic start

  City have been outstanding through the first 10 games of this WSL campaign. New head coach Andree Jeglertz has mixed things up well without causing too much disruption to the already-quality squad he inherited – and the results have been excellent. Since losing at Stamford Bridge to the defending champions on the opening day, City have won all nine of their games by an aggregate score of 25-7.

  No team in the league has scored more goals, with the 3-0 thumping of Manchester United in last month's derby one of their most impressive results yet. Only Chelsea have a better defensive record than the Cityzens, too, while the fact that their actual goals scored and conceded statistics are very close to their expected goals scored and conceded statistics suggests there is no crazy over-performance going on here that could suddenly revert to the mean.

  City are very much as good as their six-point lead at the top of the WSL table suggests, with there no reason to believe they should drop off.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Taking advantage

  That's especially the case because City are not in European competition this term. Last season's fourth-placed finish was not what the club wanted, with them making a quite stunning managerial change five days before March's League Cup final in order to try and secure a top-three finish. However, the silver lining of that disappointment is shining through this term, while United and Arsenal, in particular, are struggling to succeed on the continent and challenge for the WSL title.

  "We really must aim for first place," Yui Hasegawa, the excellent City midfielder, told GOAL before the season, noting the significance of not having to play Champions League football. "We can focus on the domestic league so I think the chances of winning the title are probably the highest."

• Getty Images
  

  Not the sturdiest title defence

  Chelsea haven't endured a dramatic drop-off this term, but they certainly don't look like the inevitable force that went an entire domestic campaign unbeaten last time around, winning the WSL, FA Cup and League Cup without losing a single game. It would be unfair to expect them to hit those levels again, really, but there will be internal, as well as external, frustrations at how the first half of the season has panned out.

  One of the main issues has been defensive stability. That was what Chelsea's treble-winning campaign was built upon, with only 16 goals conceded in 30 games in domestic competition last term. This season, however, head coach Sonia Bompastor wants her team to "take more risks".

  "Sometimes, depending on my starting XI, we have a lot of offensive players on the pitch and I think that's okay," Bompastor explained earlier in the campaign, asked about her team's defensive metrics not being quite as impressive as last year. "We want to be a team who want to dominate the opposition. We also want to have a team who take risks on the pitch going forward. So sometimes, depending on the games, in terms of balance, we focus more on in-possession [things] and how we can create and how we can move the ball forward on the pitch, rather than maybe trying to defend more.

  "That's okay for me. This is what we want to achieve as a team. I know going into every game, maybe the plan will change a little bit, so it's always important to find the right balance between in and out of possession. But, again, I think I'm someone who really likes to take the risks. We want to be offensive."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  Lacking cutting edge

  If Chelsea were scoring at the rate they were last season, this probably wouldn't be as big of an issue. After all, while Bompastor's side are conceding significantly more shots, shots on target, key passes and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes this term, compared to last, they've still only conceded six times in their 10 WSL outings. That makes for the best defensive record in the league and one, to this point, that sees them letting in goals at only a slightly worse rate than last year.

  The other problem, which accentuates the impact of a slightly leakier defence, is that lack of cutting edge in the final third. Chelsea have only scored 16 goals in the WSL so far this season, a number that can be significantly bettered by all of Arsenal, United and City. That is despite the Blues having the second-highest number of expected goals in the WSL this season, at 20.7.

  Perhaps this will even itself out over the course of the campaign. Sunday's shock 1-0 defeat to Everton, for example, felt like the kind of game that, if played out 100 times, would end up in a Chelsea win 99 times, with the Blues absolutely peppering the Toffees' goal but finding numerous bodies, excellent goalkeeping or the woodwork in their way on the occasions when they didn’t fire off target. Either way, Chelsea's finishing absolutely has to improve and return to its clinical best if the Blues are to seriously challenge City in the second half of this campaign.

The black-soil pitch is already devoid of any live grass four days before the first Test

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Nov-20251:43

Can Rabada make an impact in India?

Reverse swing will potentially play a key role in the first Test between India and South Africa starting November 14 in Kolkata. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the surface at Eden Gardens, which will host a Test match for the first time in six years, will have good bounce but is expected to start slowing down by the halfway mark.It is understood that the black-soil pitch is already devoid of any live grass four days before the Test with the grass cover expected to be barely a couple of millimetres by the time the match begins. While the second Test of the West Indies series, played in Delhi, was also a black-soil pitch, it is understood the Eden Gardens surface will not be a docile track like the one at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where India won by seven wickets on the fifth day.West Indies played the two-match series on completely contrasting pitches with the first match, in Ahmedabad, played on one of the greenest strips in India in recent times with four mm of live grass on a red-soil pitch with good bounce. The match finished inside three days as West Indies suffered a bruising innings defeat, lasting 44.1 and 45.1 overs in their two innings.Related

Are India mulling Kuldeep vs allrounder?

South Africa return to India without fear of the Turnado

Dhruv Jurel: too good to keep out, too good to just keep

Bavuma to return as SA captain for India Tests

Pant returns to India's Test squad for SA series

In the wake of India’s 3-0 whitewash last year at home against New Zealand, India will be wary of preparing rank turners both in Kolkata and Guwahati against South Africa. It is understood that the Eden Gardens pitch is expected to roughen up quickly facilitating reverse swing for the fast bowlers. There is another encouraging fact for the quicks there: in the last 15 years, it is Kolkata where fast bowlers have recorded the highest wicket percentage (61%) with 97 wickets in six red-ball Tests.Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir visit the Kolkata playing surface•Associated PressAnother factor that is likely to be favourable to seamers is the cooler temperatures both in the first hour of the morning and final hour of the evening which could potentially aid lateral movement. All these factors combined could amount to the toss not playing a defining role. Also, while the outfield at Eden Gardens is among the quickest owing to the black soil (different from the one used for the pitch), the batters are likely to face the challenge once the pitch starts slowing down as the Test progresses.South Africa arrived in India on the back of their series-levelling Test win in Rawalpindi recently against Pakistan. The Pakistan series, which was played on spin-friendly pitches, saw South Africa’s trio of slow bowlers – Senuran Muthusamy (Player of the Series), Keshav Maharaj (Player of the Match in Rawalpindi) and Simon Harmer (second-highest wicket-taker in the series) – excel before arriving in India.This will be the fourth Test for South Africa at Eden Gardens where they won on their first visit in 1996 but lost the last two – in 2004 and 2010. The last Test played at the venue was in 2019 when India defeated Bangladesh under lights in a pink-ball Test. The last red-ball Test played in Kolkata was in 2017, against Sri Lanka, which ended in a draw.

Aitana Bonmati is preparing to lead Spain into another major final but insists her historic third Ballon d’Or does not change who she is. The Barcelona Femini midfielder addressed talk of being labelled the Lionel Messi of women’s football, spoke about expectations ahead of the Nations League showdown with Germany, and reflected on how she handles success on and off the pitch.

Spain’s leader keeps perspective ahead of another final

Bonmati heads into the Nations League final as the heartbeat of both Barcelona and Spain, once again carrying her side into another major showdown. The reigning world champions face Germany over two legs, beginning in Stuttgart on Friday before returning to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, where more than 70,000 fans are expected. The 27-year-old’s consistency has been extraordinary. From Euro 2016 to the 2023 World Cup, from multiple Champions League finals to a perfect season last year, Bonmati has risen to every occasion. Her performance against Germany in the Euro semi-final remains one of the defining moments of Spain’s modern era.

Despite her meteoric rise, the Barca midfielder remains grounded. Asked how she feels returning to yet another decisive stage with Spain, she emphasised how the team cannot afford to take anything for granted. "It seems normal, but we're in another final. It can't be taken for granted. I'm so grateful for what's happening to me and what we're all experiencing. We've reached the finals in every championship we've played in. The road isn't easy, and we have to appreciate it. You win or you lose, but that's not all there is to it, because getting here is incredibly difficult."

Bonmati was also asked about Spain’s mindset heading into the first leg against Germany, and she made their intentions clear and said: "It's clear: since we're here, we have to go all out and win. We want this Nations League title. It's true that it's an unusual final, because it's played over two legs. That's why the idea is to approach each leg as if it were a single match. If you try to play it safe, it could backfire."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBonmatí shuts down Messi comparisons and reflects on Ballon d’Or night

Although Bonmati has now won three consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin awards, she continues to reject comparisons to Barcelona and Argentina icon. With her dominance at club and international level, the parallels are understandable but she insists she is following her own path.

When asked by about comparisons to Messi, she responded calmly: "No, no. I don't compare myself to Messi; he's on another level. I'm following my own path. The Ballon d'Or awards don't change me. I'm still the same person, with the same personality. I still enjoy the same things that make me happy and I'm surrounded by the same people who make me feel like myself. Nothing changes me, and I think that's a very positive thing."

Bonmati also lifted the curtain on what it was like attending the Chatelet Theatre ceremony in Paris, especially in such elite company. "This year, to be honest, I went in with very low expectations. I believe that the higher your expectations, the harder it can be if you don't win. It was a surprise. You look around and see the incredibly high level of competition. I understand that everyone experiences it in their own way. It's a very special day, surrounded by the best in football. I feel that the most important thing is to enjoy it. To experience it with your loved ones."

A legacy already built with more still to come

The Barca midfielder's achievements are redefining what consistency looks like at the highest level of women’s football. Her Champions League masterclasses, especially against Chelsea and Wolfsburg laid the foundation for her latest Ballon d’Or. Her landmark displays for La Roja, including the semi-final performance against Germany, only strengthened her case.

She has now won three Ballons d’Or in a row, been Player of the Match in a World Cup final, dominated the Champions League with three titles, starred in multiple European campaigns, and collected 22 domestic trophies with Barcelona. Even if she walked away tomorrow, her place among the all-time greats would be secure.

And yet, she still hasn’t reached what many consider a midfielder’s peak years. At 27, her evolution continues – playmaking, leadership, spatial intelligence, defensive discipline. With Spain and Barca still competing for every major title, her influence is only deepening.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesWhat comes next for Bonmati and where Barca fit in?

Spain’s immediate focus is the two-legged Nations League final, where Bonmati will once again be central to their tactical approach. After that, the long-term question inevitably returns: will she spend her entire career at Barcelona?

The midfielder addressed that speculation with honesty, stressing both her loyalty and her openness to the future. "Right now, I have a contract with Barcelona, I've been here for 14 years, and it's a club I love, a club I feel connected to," she said. "But I'm not closing the door on anything. It all depends on how you feel personally, emotionally, and in terms of motivation. Never say never. I have a contract, and my intention isn't to leave."

Central Zone spinners ran through South Zone on the opening day, restricting them to 149

Ashish Pant11-Sep-2025

Kumar Kartikeya struck thrice in the first session of the final•PTI

Saransh Jain bagged his second successive five-wicket haul, while Kumar Kartikeya finished with a four-for as the Central Zone spinners ran through South Zone on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final.Under cloudy skies and on a surface with a greenish tinge, Jain picked 5 for 49 and Kartikeya returned 4 for 53 to bowl out South Zone for 149 in 63 overs at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. In reply, the Central Zone openers Danish Malewar and Akshay Wadkar were steady in their approach before bad light ended the first day early.At stumps, Central Zone were on 50 for 0, trailing South Zone by just 99 runs.South Zone’s new opening pair of Mohit Kale and Tanmay Agarwal weathered the new-ball storm, adding 24 runs in 15 overs. When spin was introduced in the 16th over, Kale’s went for a slog, only to be cleaned up by Kartikeya.Related

Patience and precision: how Kartikeya turned the Duleep final on its head

Hungry and on the move, C Andre Siddarth sets sights on Ranji Trophy glory

Soon after, R Smaran swiped Kartikeya across the line, but could only manage a top-edge and was caught at square leg 1.There were immediate signs of extra zip and bounce for both Kartikeya and Jain, who operated in tandem. South Zone then lost Tanmay Agarwal through a run-out. Looking for a second run, Tanmay and Ricky Bhui collided in the middle and the former was found well short.Kartikeya struck for a third time when South Zone captain Mohammed Azharuddeen was squared up and bowled for 4 as South Zone went to lunch at 64 for 4. Jain joined in on the wicket-taking fun after lunch, trapping Bhui lbw.Salman Nizar took 13 balls to get off the mark by going on the assertive against Kartikeya, striking for a six and four. C Andre Siddarth also clipped Kartikeya through mid-on for four. But aggression got the better of Siddarth when he waltzed down to Jain, got beaten in the flight and was stumped as South Zone slipped to 97 for 6. That became 116 for 7 when Jain got a length ball to kick off the surface, rapping Nizar’s gloves, with Patidar taking a low catch at slip.Kartikeya then picked his fourth trapping Gurjapneet Singh lbw. Vasuki Koushik and Ankit Sharma tried to delay the end, but Jain picked his fifth wicket with a straight delivery that breached Ankit’s defences and trapped him in front.South Zone started with the spin of Ankit at one end and the left-arm pace of Gurjapneet at the other.Wadkar and Malewar hit Gurjapneet for three fours in an over to kickstart the charge as they reached the 50 mark in 17 overs. There was an appeal for lbw by Ankit against Wadkar but replays suggested that the ball would have clearly missed leg stump.Koushik got the ball to move around late in the day, but the two batters hung on.

حسم منتخب العراق تأهله إلى الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العالم 2026، بعد تحقيقه الفوز اليوم الثلاثاء، على الإمارات.

ولعب منتخبا العراق والإمارات، في الملحق الآسيوي ضمن المرحلة النهائية المؤهلة إلى الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026.

وتأهل منتخب العراق على حساب الإمارات، بالفوز بنتيجة 3-2 في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب، حيث انتهت مواجهة الذهاب في الإمارات 1-1، ولقاء الإياب 2-1 للعراق. نظام الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026

المحلق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026، يقام بين 6 منتخبات، منتخب من قارة إفريقيا ومنتخب من قارة آسيا ومنتخبان من قارة أمريكا الشمالية ومنتخب من قارة أمريكا الجنوبية ومنتخب من قارة أوقيانوسيا.

طالع | المنتخبات المتأهلة إلى الملحق العالمي المؤهل لـ كأس العالم 2026

ويقام الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026، في شهر مارس 2026، حيث ستلتقي الـ4 منتخبات الأقل تصنيفًا وجهًا لوجه، المتأهل منهما سيواجه المنتخبان الأعلى في التصنيف، ثم الفائز في تلك المباراتين الأخيرتين، يتأهل رسميًا إلى نهائيات كأس العالم. موعد قرعة الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026

وأعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، يوم الخميس المقبل، الموافق 20 نوفمبر، موعدًا لإقامة قرعة الملحق العالمي، لتحديد المواجهات.

ومن المقرر أن يصدر الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، التصنيف الشهري غدًا الأربعاء 19 نوفمبر، لتحديد تصينف المنتخبات بناء عليه سيتحدد من سيلعب مباريات نصف النهائي ومن سيتواجد في النهائي مباشرة من بين الستة منتخبات المتواجدة في الملحق العالمي المؤهل لـ كأس العالم 2026. من يواجه العراق في الملحق العالمي المؤهل لـ كأس العالم 2026؟

وحل منتخب العراق، في المركز الثاني في تصنيف المنتخبات المشاركة في الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم حيث حل في المركز 58 بينما منتخب كاليدونيا الجديدة (أوقيانوسيا) في 149 والكونغو الديمقراطية (قارة إفريقيا) 56 ومنتخب بوليفيا (قارة أمريكا الجنوبية) 76، وجامايكا (الكونكاكاف) 70 وسورينام (الكونكاكاف) 123.

وبالتالي سيتواجد منتخب العراق في المباراة النهائية مباشرة للتأهل منتظرًا الطرف الثاني والذي سيكون المتأهل من مباراة بوليفيا أمام سورينام.

Celtic are currently back in training and preparing to return to action in the Scottish Premiership with a trip to face Dundee away from home on Sunday.

The Hoops beat Motherwell 3-2 at Parkhead before the international break, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Daizen Maeda, and will be hoping to follow that up with another victory.

However, Brendan Rodgers may have some injury issues to contend with ahead of selecting his starting line-up to chase the three points against Dundee.

The latest Celtic team news before Dundee

Starting with the positive news, Alistair Johnston has returned to first-team training this week for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury in August.

He was initially ruled out until November, per the Daily Record, but the Canada international is now in line for an early return against Dundee on Sunday.

There was more positive news out of the camp earlier this week when Sebastian Tounekti played for Tunisia against Namibia, having missed his country’s first match through injury.

Whilst the Tunisian whiz, who scored his first goal for the club against Partick Thistle, may be available for selection, Celtic’s right-sided winger may not be.

Daizen Maeda had to withdraw from international duty with Japan due to a foot issue, not playing a single minute in either match, and his injury has left Rodgers concerned, per Football Insider, ahead of Sunday.

How Celtic could replace Daizen Maeda

Football FanCast recently suggested that unleashing 18-year-old winger Rhys Dargie could be one way for the Hoops to replace Maeda if he is unavailable for selection against Dundee, because the output from the manager’s other options has left a lot to be desired.

Output from Celtic RWs
25/26 season (all competitions)	Appearances	Goals + assists
Daizen Maeda (first-team)	13	3 + 2
Michel-Ange Balikwisha (first-team)	6	0 + 2
Hyun-jun Yang (first-team)	8	1 + 0
James Forrest (first-team)	12	0 + 0
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Hyun-jun Yang, and James Forrest have struggled to deliver consistent quality in the final third.

If Rodgers does not want to bring in Dargie, as he has not featured in a matchday squad for the first team, he could solve his Maeda problem by unleashing Callum Osmand for the first time.

The summer signing from Fulham has made the bench for the senior side on two occasions, both against Kairat in the Champions League, which shows that he is in the manager’s thoughts.

Osmand is a centre-forward by trade, but he has played on the right wing before, per Transfermarkt, scoring two goals in one game. He was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, which suggests that he has the mobility and speed to play out wide.

Callum Osmand’s U18 & U21 form for Fulham
Season	Appearances	Goals	Assists
24/25	22	11	4
23/24	29	21	6
22/23	21	11	2
21/22	1	0	0
Total	73	43	12
Stats via Transfermarkt

The 19-year-old attacker’s form for Fulham at youth level, as shown in the table above, shows that he has the potential to deliver quality in the final third, particularly as a goalscorer, which is what the Hoops are lacking.

Maeda is Celtic’s top scoring winger, with three goals, which is why it would be a blow to lose him for any number of games through injury, but Osmand is a young talent who could ease that blow.

The Wales U17 international has scored two goals in three Challenge Cup games for Celtic, per Transfermarkt, which also shows that he has carried his goalscoring form over to Scotland.

This Sunday could be the perfect opportunity to provide him with a chance to impress on the right wing, even if it is not his preferred position, with a first-team debut for the Hoops, if Maeda is unavailable.

Rodgers must sell Celtic flop who's now worth even less than Adam Idah

Celtic must sell this flop whose value has dropped millions and is now worth less than Adam Idah.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 14, 2025

Osmand may be a more viable short-term option for Rodgers than Dargie, who does look like an exciting prospect, because of his first-team involvement earlier this season.

Whether it is Dargie or Osmand, who could both be intriguing options to call upon on the right wing, Celtic may have to do something different on the right flank if Maeda is out, due to how underwhelming their senior alternatives have been.

Hale End. It’s not quite La Masia but Arsenal’s academy system has very quickly become revered across the country.

While the Gunners have always had a habit of producing top young players, in the last decade it’s taken on a particular level of prominence.

From Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, the conveyor belt of talent has consistently provided Mikel Arteta with some of the finest young talents in the country.

For Nwaneri and Dowman, the goal will be to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and there is every chance they will.

The generational academy duo have become the two youngest players in Premier League history and the world is their oyster. They look ready to dominate English football for years to come.

1. Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 5 months

2. Max Dowman

15 years, 7 months

3. Jeremy Monga

15 years, 8 months

4. Harvey Elliott

16 years, 1 month

5. Matthew Briggs

16 years, 2 months

While Nwaneri looks special, Dowman looks next level. He’s burst onto the scene at an almighty rate of knots and aged just 15, is already impacting Premier League games. It’s echoes of Lamine Yamal’s rise at Barcelona.

While Arsenal will hope they have another Yamal or Saka on their hands, expectations must be tempered, just as they had to be when the latter burst onto the scene under Unai Emery.

What happened when Saka burst onto the scene at Arsenal

Arsenal supporters don’t have much to thank Emery for but he was the manager who spotted Saka and gave him his first-team debut.

The date was 29th November 2018. The competition was the Europa League. The opposition were Vorskla Poltava. Saka appeared from the bench in a 3-0 win aged 17 years, two months and 24 hours. The rest, as they say, is history.

Just a few weeks later, Saka made his first start for Arsenal in a 1-0 Europa League victory over Qarabag. Then, in the New Year, he made his Premier League debut in a 4-1 win over Fulham on 19th January 2019.

GK – Emi Martinez

RB – Carl Jenkinson

CB – Sokratis

CB – Laurent Koscielny

LB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles

CM – Mo Elneny

CM – Joe Willock

CAM – Mesut Ozil

RW – Eddie Nketiah

LW – Bukayo Saka

CF – Alexandre Lacazette

At first, Saka appeared on the left wing but made a seamless transition across both flanks. It was from the right side that he scored his first senior goal.

While he should have scored in that game against Qarabag, firing at the goalkeeper from a matter of yards out, he did finally find the net nearly a year later.

The Europa League was a fine competition for Saka to develop in and it was on the continental stage that he scored in Arsenal colours for the first time, bagging in a 3-0 win over Frankfurt.

While the England international has now found a home on the right wing, much of the embryonic stages of his career played out at left back or left wing-back.

Indeed, he has played at left-back 21 times in his club career. During Arteta’s first match in charge of the club in December 2019, Saka was fielded in that position. He even made his England debut in that area of the pitch.

It’s rather remarkable, therefore, that he is now one of the best wingers in world football. Arsenal journalist Charles Watts even went as far as to say that the club’s number 7 was “the best right winger in the world” in 2023.

Now, in 2025, Saka has very much lived up to that billing, winning England’s Player of the Year on a couple of occasions and proving he is the man for the big occasion for club and country. He stepped up and scored at a vital moment at the Euros in 2024, netting against Switzerland and bagging inside the Bernabeu last season.

So in 2025, seven years after Arsenal’s best player burst onto the scene, where is the next Saka coming from?

Arsenal's next Saka has emerged from Hale End

Be it luck, be it the hard work of those behind the scenes at academy level, Hale End has had enormous success in recent years at producing players ready to be integrated into the first team.

Last term, Nwaneri featured on 37 occasions for the Arsenal senior side, scoring nine goals and supplying two assists. For a 17-year-old, it was a remarkable campaign.

However, the teenager is not the academy darling anymore. Dowman is the shiny new toy and he’s making his own impact.

While yet to score at senior level, the 15-year-old has showcased why he is rated so highly. He won a penalty against Newcastle in pre-season and won another spot-kick against Leeds in the 5-0 win at the beginning of the season. He did so by using his dazzling dribbling ability. Few in the game have as good close control of the ball as Dowman.

Yet, while both will naturally draw comparisons to Saka – being left-footed and playing off the right – it’s Myles Lewis-Skelly’s rise that evokes the strongest comparisons to his international colleague.

While many onlookers spent much of last season waxing lyrical about Nwaneri, it was actually Lewis-Skelly who enjoyed the brightest rise, quickly overtaking his good mate and becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet.

But, like Saka, he has emerged on the scene out of position and in the same role too.

Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder by trade and that is where the Gunners envisage his future. Yet, his development so far has been best served at left-back.

Standing in for an injured Riccardo Calafiori last term, the 18-year-old enjoyed a standout season, eventually being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Season award.

While ill-discipline cost the youngster at times, being sent off on two occasions, he was particularly vital during the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.

Speaking on TNT during Arsenal’s win against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital, Premier League great Rio Ferdinand said: “I’m sorry, is Lewis-Skelly really 18? His date of birth is right, isn’t it? He looks so calm and so cool in and out of possession. Before the game he was on a call, just talking and chilling. He is special.”

Chalkboard

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

So, like Saka, he broke through at left-back despite it not being his natural position, and he’s got the composed, mature personality that his fellow Hale Ender possesses.

The problem for Lewis-Skelly, as Thomas Tuchel recently outlined, is his game time.

Last season was a special one for the teen, one that saw him also earn his first England caps. He even scored on his international debut. He’s an unbelievable talent, alright.

Yet, Arsenal’s squad is now stacked. Calafiori is fit again and the academy graduate is still awaiting his first Premier League start of the campaign.

Quizzed on whether Lewis-Skelly would be in next summer’s World Cup squad if he doesn’t play regularly, the Three Lions boss said: “Maybe it becomes a problem for him, yeah. To just be a good citizen in camp will not be enough over the course of a year.

“You have to perform at club level on a regular basis. In the last camp he got the credit, that I was convinced we have to take care of him and nominate him because we accelerated his career. It was our responsibility after we called him last season.”

We do have to remember that the Arsenal gem is still only 18. Even if he doesn’t make it to the World Cup next year, his time will no doubt come.

However, like Saka, it may not come at left-back. Arsenal’s sparkling number 7, the club’s poster boy, eventually made it on the right flank. He’s captained the club, he’s played 200 times in the Premier League, contributing 55 goals and 51 assists.

As club insider Hand of Arsenal once revealed, however, there is a belief that Lewis-Skelly could well be a “future captain” too, and he must now channel his inner Saka to get there.

A change of position to midfield will come at some point and it’s when that happens that he’ll get to really push on and explode. Just you wait.

He's just like Saka: Arsenal now have the "biggest talent in England"

The sensational gem could become as good as Saka at Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Chelsea have received plenty of criticism – some justifiably – for their transfer policy over the last few years.

However, while the club have certainly made their fair share of poor signings, and perhaps even sold some players they shouldn’t have, they’ve also acquired some brilliant young talents.

The likes of Andrey Santos, Jorrel Hato and Estevao could all come good and lead the team to real success in the coming years.

The latter gem, in particular, is seen by many as a future superstar, but the club now looks to have secured the future of another youngster who could be just as good, if not better, and a future rival for Lamine Yamal.

Why Estevao coule be a world-beater

Chelsea beat a number of other top European sides to Estevao’s signature in the summer of 2024, but due to his age, the young Brazilian had to wait another year before joining up with Maresca’s squad.

The teenage sensation made good use of that time in his homeland, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 37 appearances for Palmeiras last season, which took his total output with the club to an impressive 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances.

Since arriving on these shores, the Franca-born gem has wasted no time showing fans of English football just why he’s so highly rated and is seen as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

Appearances

83

Minutes

5610′

Goals

27

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

133.57′

For example, he proved a real threat when coming off the bench to make his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace in the Blues’ opening game of the season.

Then, just a couple of weeks later, he made his full debut for the club, starting against West Ham United and running their defence ragged.

The East Londoners just could not live with his brilliant close control, quick decision-making and turn of pace, which allowed him to provide his first assist of the campaign to Joao Pedro.

Since then, the youngster has continued to impress in bursts, with a particularly mercurial piece of dribbling getting Stamford Bridge on their feet against Benfica.

In all, it does feel like Estevao is destined to make it to the very top of the game, and now it looks like Chelsea have got their hands on another prospect who could not only rival him, but Yamal as well.

Chelsea's future Yamal rival

There is no sign of Chelsea slowing down their pursuit of some of the most exciting youngsters in world football, and the next gem everyone could be talking about is Dastan Satpayev.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The Blues agreed a deal to sign the incredibly exciting prospect from the Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty in February of this year for a fee of around €4m, which is about £3.5m.

However, as was the case with Estevao, he cannot join up with the squad until he is 18 years old, which will be next August.

The 17-year-old is in the news somewhat at the moment, as he has now made his Champions League debut, playing against Sporting CP and Real Madrid.

The youngster played a key role in the club, even making it into the competition proper, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the seven qualifying games, which saw them ultimately beat Celtic to make it.

There is an enormous amount of excitement over what the Almaty-born dynamo could achieve in the coming years, so much so that one scout labelled him “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and not only that, but “a future rival to Lamine Yamal.”

That might sound like too much pressure to put on a youngster’s shoulders, but he’s shown no signs of being even remotely fazed by senior football.

For example, in 30 appearances this season, totalling 2146 minutes, the “incredible” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored eight goals and provided 13assists.

In other words, he has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or every 102 minutes, despite only turning 17 in August.

Ultimately, there is a long and winding road ahead for Satpayev, but as things stand, he appears to be a future superstar, someone who could potentially push Estevao at Chelsea and possibly even rival Yamal for the biggest individual honours.

Chelsea sold a Gittens upgrade who's now playing "better than Saka"

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca made a big mistake.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 2, 2025

Everton failed in their efforts to sign a player with a “huge future” right at the end of the summer transfer window, seeing an offer for his services turned down.

Rohl "really excited" about Everton move

The Blues managed to complete the signing of Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl on deadline day, adding in one more player talented player to David Moyes’ squad.

The German is clearly raring to get going at his new club once club football returns after the international break, speaking of his delight at his move to Everton after his switch was sealed.

“I’m really excited and full of joy to sign for Everton. It’s a big club, with great history and great fans. It’s the right time for me to join Everton. It feels like a shifting point for the Club. The future looks really good and I’m excited to be part of it.

“I’ve watched the evolution of the Club closely. With the manager and stadium, there are a lot of positives. “I just love to play football and can’t wait to play in front of such passionate fans in such a great stadium.”

It was a strong summer for Everton overall, with Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among the star additions, while Tyler Dibling is a player with a big future in the game. Now, it has been claimed that the Merseysiders missed out on signing another young star.

Everton failed with bid for future star

According to a report from reports in Spain [via Sport Witness], Everton submitted a last-gasp offer for Espanyol right-back Omar El Hilali, but were rebuffed in their efforts to snap him up before the window closed. Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Como were all in the same boat, but the £22m-rated defender ended up staying put at his current club.

It is a shame to see Everton fail to sign El Hilali, considering what an eye-catching young player he is, already making 90 appearances for Espanyol at the age of just 21.

He has also been capped at both Under-23 and Under-20 level for Morocco, while scout Jacek Kulig has tipped him to have a “huge future” in the game.

Hopefully, the chance still arises for Everton to go back in for El Hilali in the near future, whether that be in January or next summer, with the Moroccan a footballer who could add so much long-term quality to a position that has too often seen ageing players used there in recent years, from Seamus Coleman to Ashley Young.

Not Dibling: Everton are brewing Grealish 2.0 in "phenomenal" 18-year-old

Everton are brewing a terrific homegrown talent who is similar to Jack Grealish.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 3, 2025

He could also provide good competition for Jake O’Brien, who has become a very solid right-back for the Blues, but is also a centre-back by trade.

Shammi Silva has been elected president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for a fourth consecutive term. He will hold the position for a two-year period from 2025-2027.This is also the third time Silva has secured the post uncontested, while the rest of his team has also been re-elected without contest.Jayantha Dharmadasa and Ravin Wickramaratne have been re-elected to the post of vice-president, while Sujeewa Godaliyadda, Chryshantha Kapuwatte and Lasantha Wickremasinghe remain as treasurer, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer, respectively.Only secretary Mohan de Silva, who resigned in November 2023, does not return. His post has been taken up by Bandula Dissanayake, the only new face in the executive committee. Kapuwatta had been acting Secretary since de Silva’s resignation.The end of Silva’s term in 2027 will mark eight years in charge, an eventuality made possible by a recent change in Sri Lanka’s sports law that allowed for officials to hold posts for up to two consecutive four-year terms.The most notable facet of this year’s election is that it’s the first one to be held since last December’s change to SLC’s constitution which saw the voting body reduced from 147 down to 60.