Manchester City have snapped up yet another exciting Lionesses prospect after England youth international Naomi Layzell signed a four-year deal.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man City add another Lionesses prospect in Layzell
• Young defender a bright spot in Bristol City's relegation
• Fourth England youth star to join the Cityzens in 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 20-year-old is a product of the Bristol City youth set-up and has been a regular in the Robins first-team since making her debut back in 2020, aged 16. Layzell helped the club win promotion back to the Women's Super League in 2023 and was one of their stand-out performers last season, winning the young player and players' player of the year awards.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, her performances could not help the Robins upset the odds and beat the drop, with their relegation always likely to result in several key players being eyed up by top-flight clubs. As an exciting prospect in defence, Layzell was one of those many believed could move on and it is Man City where she will take the next steps of a promising young career.

• WHAT LAYZELL SAID

  "It’s quite surreal to be honest," Layzell said upon the announcement of the move. "You always want to play for the top teams as a young player and I think joining City is an exciting opportunity for me. Playing alongside and against top elite professionals in the world is just a brilliant opportunity and a really hard one to turn down. I grew so much as a person at Bristol City, but I felt it was time for me to find a new challenge. I’m really excited to get involved."

  Head coach Gareth Taylor added: "We‘re pleased to add Naomi to the team for next season. She’s a quality defender and we’re looking forward to helping her grow and develop as a player."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Manchester City FC
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Layzell is the fourth England youth international that Man City have signed in 2024. In January, the club added Laura Blindkilde Brown, a versatile attack-minded player, and Poppy Pritchard, a promising striker, before recruiting young goalkeeper Eve Annets earlier this summer.

Eoin Morgan has been making “the best out of a bad situation”, enforced by the coronavirus pandemic, spending time with his three-week-old baby. Had things been normal, Morgan would not have been at home, he would have been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the IPL.Reflecting on a remarkable year for him as England’s white-ball captain, Morgan said that the 2019 World Cup final had lifted the profile of cricket in England in unprecedented fashion.”I think the journey that we went on is probably the most exciting. In 2015, the embarrassing nature in which we were bundled out of that World Cup and the journey we embarked on to try and change the brand of cricket that we played with a new group of extremely talented players over the course of four years – it’s brilliant,” Morgan told .

Morgan on the reverse-sweep and his playing role:

“The more experience that I’ve got, I find myself batting in that middle order and hopefully being there at the end. It’s probably one of the better skills that I do have and probably over the last two years, it’s been at its best.
“I started playing reverse-sweep when I first came to London as a 16-year old and signed up at Middlesex. Playing at Lord’s, the boundaries were very short square of the wicket and they are really long straight. When I played in the first team as a 17-18 year old, trying to clear the long straight boundary at Lord’s was very difficult for me. So I started playing a lot more sweeps just because they were more effective at our home ground. I sort of drilled the reverse-sweep and swept for as long as I could. The reverse-sweep has been one of my favourite shots because it’s been so effective over the years.”

“It sort of culminated in last year’s World Cup. The final was the most dramatic game of cricket and the best game of cricket that probably has ever been played which contributes to the hype of it. But I think one of the great things about it was on the day of that great game of cricket was, it’s always now associated with the longest ever Wimbledon final that was epic as well. It helped us in growing cricket outside of the normal bubble that we’re already in to a different audience, and for us at home it has lifted the profile of the game like we’ve never seen.”Straight after the World cup win was the Ashes series which was absolutely amazing to watch. Australia thoroughly deserved to win it [the series was drawn with Australia retaining the urn] but again, the dramatic nature in which the whole series unfolded really did attract the whole country and sort of galvanised one of our biggest rivalries in sport. It was fascinating to watch and I thought it was a great year for us, cricket-wise.”Morgan was also looking forward to a second stint with Knight Riders, having played for the franchise from 2011 to 2013. He will reunite with good friend Brendon McCullum, the two having first built a friendship when they were team-mates at Knight Riders. McCullum is now the head coach of the franchise.”I think his contribution not only to New Zealand cricket but to world cricket really took the front in 2015 with their campaign – throughout the 2015 World Cup,” Morgan said. “They really did, I suppose, transform the fate of a nation and the hope of a nation in the way that they played. They played aggressive, positive cricket but also in a way that wasn’t in your face the whole time. It was really good to watch, it created a huge amount of attraction and I think majority of the time actually the way that they play and the manner that they play overlooks the skill level that they produce.”And I think Baz is the reason for that turnaround. I think he has had a huge input in the way they’ve played and in all formats as well not just white ball. I suppose it makes that move to KKR all the more sweet when he’s head coach. I think if we see any similarities in the impact that he’s had as a player and as a captain on his coaching, the impact will be monumental. I really do think he’s changed the landscape of cricket and the attitude of the way people play.”Morgan was also looking forward to learning from Dinesh Karthik, the Knight Riders captain.”While I’m here to help, I also want to learn as much as I can from him. There are a lot of dynamics about being a captain when you’re playing in India that I don’t know about, I’ll be picking his brain the whole time,” Morgan said. “I’ll naturally be myself and try to give as much as I can just like the rest of the international players. But it’s going to be fascinating to see how and when we get to play and how the competition lines up. Because everybody is going to come out of isolation extremely excited, rearing to go, batting, bowling, fielding the whole lot.”

Lahiru Thirimanne dropped, injured Wanindu Hasaranga included as 16th member

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2020

Sri Lanka have left Lahiru Thirimanne out of their Test squad to play England, and Kusal Perera has been included in his place despite a finger injury leaving him doubtful for the first game of the two-match series.Wanindu Hasaranga was named as the 16th member of the squad, but with an addendum that his left hamstring injury would not allow him to take part in the series. A replacement is expected to be picked before the first Test.There are three specialist spinners already in the squad however – with offspinner Dilruwan Perera, left-arm spinner Lasith Embudleniya and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan all in the 15. Dhananjaya de Silva is around to bowl some offspin as well. There are four specialist seam-bowlers: Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and left-armer Vishwa Fernando.This surfeit of bowlers means there is only room for one spare batsman – Kusal Perera – in addition to the top seven that played Sri Lanka’s most-recent Test in Harare.ALSO READ: Injuries leave Perera, Hasaranga on the sidelinesThirimanne is the only omission from the squad that won 1-0 in Zimbabwe in January. He did not play any part in that series, and last played in the series against New Zealand in August 2019.Perera had been left out for the tour of Zimbabwe earlier this year. That completed a strange year for him in the format, after he had played one of the great Test innings of all time in Durban in February 2019, but totalled just 44 runs in three Tests after that, including bagging a pair in Colombo against New Zealand in August in what was his last Test appearance.He was in the squad for the December Test tour of Pakistan, but didn’t get a game, and chief selector Asantha de Mel confirmed while announcing the squad for Zimbabwe that Perera had been dropped after consultation with coach Mickey Arthur, who felt it was better for the wicketkeeper-batsman to remain in Sri Lanka and train for the white-ball series against West Indies, rather than tour Zimbabwe and not get a game.England play two Tests, the first starting in Galle on March 19. They had won each of the three Tests on their last tour of Sri Lanka, in late 2018.Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Wanindu Hasaranga (injured, replacement to be named before first Test)

MatériaMais Notícias

A torcida do Flamengo ficou na bronca após a derrota por 1 a 0 do Rubro-Negro fora de casa contra o Juventude, no início da tarde deste domingo pelo Brasileirão. Mas dessa vez o alvo não foi Rogério Ceni, que foi poupado das críticas. Internautas usaram o Twitter para reclamar da condição do gramado, encharcado.

+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão atualizada

RelacionadasFora de CampoEurocopa garante audiência maior para o SporTV do que Band e RedeTVFora de Campo27/06/2021Fora de CampoAudiência: Band passa Record e encurta vantagem para a Globo, que fica em 1º com Liga das NaçõesFora de Campo27/06/2021Fora de CampoMedina detona COB após entidade não permitir que surfista leve esposa para Tóquio: ‘Me sinto injustiçado’Fora de Campo27/06/2021

Muitos comentários irônicos questionavam o motivo do Flamengo não ‘escalar’ Isaquias Queiroz, medalhista olímpico que representa o clube carioca na canoagem.

– Coloca ele Ceni. Chegou a hora – postou um perfil com um vídeo em que Isaquias agradece a torcida pela recepção dele como atleta do Flamengo.

Rogério Ceni foi outro nome bastante citado, mas, em sua maioria, os torcedores poupavam o comandante pelo resultado, ao contrário do que já aconteceu em outras ocasiões onde ele foi muito pressionado.

-Rogério Ceni não teve culpa no resultado e na atuação de hoje. Matheusinho teve uma falha grotesca por conta da condição do gramado – opinou um torcedor, sobre o lance que originou o gol do Juventude.

Veja alguns dos comentários

COLOCA ELE CENI. CHEGOU A HORA pic.twitter.com/SYP2xzUkfS

— FLA DA NAÇÃO (@FlaDaNacao_) June 27, 2021

Por que o Ceni não coloca o Isaquias?? pic.twitter.com/tLKPJnpZNt

— Marcelo (@marcelo_sucks) June 27, 2021

Pra mim a culpa é do MATHEUZINHO

— Matheus Caiçara (@matheuscrf00_) June 27, 2021

Bom, antes que me esqueça. Rogério Ceni não teve culpa no resultado e na atuação de hoje. Matheusinho teve uma falha grotesca por conta da condição do gramado.

— Camisa 81 (@Camisa81FLA) June 27, 2021

Bom, antes que me esqueça. Rogério Ceni não teve culpa no resultado e na atuação de hoje. Matheusinho teve uma falha grotesca por conta da condição do gramado.

— Camisa 81 (@Camisa81FLA) June 27, 2021

Sheffield Wednesday are interested in sealing the signing of a "fantastic" goalkeeper in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

Sheffield Wednesday chase signings after survival

The Owls completed an incredible escape act in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 away to Sunderland to ensure that they avoided an immediate return to League One.

It has been a stunning effort from Danny Rohl and his players, who looked doomed when the German replaced Xisco Munoz earlier in the campaign, with their end-of-season form similar to those chasing promotion.

In fact, Wednesday ended up second in the form table in the final six league matches, going to show how impressive they were when the pressure really cranked up.

The key now is for the Owls to kick on this summer and ensure that another relegation battle doesn't come their way in 2024/25. Keeping hold of the impressive Rohl is as important as anything, but equally, signing top-quality players has to be near the top of their priorities.

The hope is that funds are available to strengthen the squad significantly, with a lack of depth and quality often seen as the reason for struggling so much in the first place this season.

Sheffield Wednesday to move for "fantastic" gem this week

Writing on his Patreon [via Sheffield Wednesday News], Nixon claimed that Sheffield Wednesday want to re-sign goalkeeper James Beadle on loan and will even get the move started this week, perhaps no surprise given Dawson is out of contract this summer: "Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday will be on to Brighton this week for keepers Carl Rushworth and James Beadle.

"The two loanees have been stand outs in the Championship and both the Swans and Owls are keen to have them for another season."

Bringing Beadle back to Wednesday in the summer transfer window is a no-brainer for Rohl, considering the positive impact he made when he arrived on loan from Brighton in January. Granted, the 19-year-old wasn't necessarily always perfect, but for a 'keeper to arrive at such a young age and do so well is testament to both his ability and his character.

He immediately ousted Dawson between the sticks, due to his superior use of the ball playing out from the back, and Rohl heaped praised on him: "He is very calm and when I look back to the Leicester game, making such a decision after four minutes. Conceding the goal, this for a young player is not easy.

"He did very well and when you look at his second half even he had good decision making passing the first pressing line. This is fantastic and it shows his quality. I think he will have a great career having worked at this level."

The hope is that Beadle eventually makes a permanent switch to Wednesday, but that could be unlikely if Brighton see him as a big part of their future, allowing him to mature out on loan before using him regularly further down the line.

Championship play-offs 2024: Fixtures, ticket info, prize money & more

FFC looks forward to the 2023/24 Championship play-offs with all you need to know, including updated ticket information.

ByLuke Randall May 20, 2024

Nottingham Forest face arguably one of their most important games of the season this weekend when they take on Chris Wilder's Sheffield United side at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo's side come into the encounter looking to return to winning ways after falling to a 2-0 defeat against Champions Manchester City last Sunday.

The Reds have failed to win in their last four league outings and are staring the prospect of a return to the Championship in the face.

However, the club have a huge opportunity to pull clear of any looming danger, facing a Blades side who are already confirmed to be playing in England's second tier once again next season.

Forest claimed a 2-1 victory over United earlier this season after Chris Wood was brought on and scored a perfectly placed header to secure the Reds' first victory of the 2023/24 campaign.

If Nuno's side are to claim three vital points from the meeting, he must recall one player to the starting lineup and stick with one after his magnificent display against Pep Guardiola's side.

Why Andrew Omobamidele must start against Sheff Utd

In recent weeks, Nuno has decided to drop defender Andrew Omobamidele from the starting lineup, replacing him with Moussa Niakhate for the games against Everton and Manchester City.

The Irishman has started eight games in the Premier League under Nuno and has often partnered Murillo at the back, offering balance and allowing each other to feature on their natural side of the backline.

However, against Guardiola's side, the Reds boss switched to a back three, which saw Niakhate sit in the centre, with Willy Boly and Murillo featuring on either side of the Senegalese defender.

His side matched City for large spells, but Niakhate, as he did against Everton, struggled to make a real impact on the encounter, failing to win any of the duels that he contested.

Despite limping off, Nuno confirmed that Murillo and Boly should be fit to face the Blades this afternoon, with the former Wolves boss needing to reinstate Omobamidele alongside the duo.

Nuno must stick with one Forest player for Sheff Utd clash

As previously mentioned, Boly was recalled to the side for last weekend's defeat and produced a stellar display at the back, despite not featuring since the 1-1 draw against Luton Town back in March.

The 33-year-old slotted straight back into the team, contesting eight tackles, whilst also making two blocks and two interceptions.

The Ivorian "unit", as dubbed by former teammate Pascal Estrada, also completed 15 defensive actions – the most of any Forest player that day – plus winning ten duels in the narrow 2-0 defeat.

Boly's stats against Manchester City

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

84

Passes completed

22/27 (88%)

Tackles

8

Blocks

2

Interceptions

2

Defensive actions

15

Duels won

10

Stats via FotMob

Although he's coming towards the back end of his career, the £40k-per-week centre-back has the aerial ability the Reds have been crying out for at the back, with Nuno's side conceding 22 goals from set pieces this season – the most in the Premier League this season.

Boly is an underrated cog in Forest's defensive system, with Nuno needing to start him once again in a back three this weekend at Bramall Lane.

Related Nottingham Forest dud who lost 100% duels was worse than Wood v City

The Reds fell to a second successive Premier League defeat yesterday.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 29, 2024

Chris Gayle has avoided sanction for his public criticism of Ramnaresh Sarwan and other Jamaica Tallawahs personnel, after the CPL Tournament Committee (CTC) said in a media release on Friday that it was satisfied with the batsman’s statement, even though he stood by his comments – calling Sarwan a “snake” and “vindictive”, and accusing the franchise owners of “playing a game”.A three-member independent tribunal had been looking into Gayle’s comments, made in a YouTube video on April 27, where he had made clear his displeasure at being abruptly ousted by Tallawahs for the 2020 season.In the statement, Gayle indicated that he realised how his words might bring disrepute to the tournament and Cricket West Indies. “I made these videos with one single intention – to explain to the fans in Jamaica the reasons behind what has now become my second departure from Tallawahs franchise,” Gayle’s statement read. “It was my greatest wish to finish my CPL career in Jamaica – playing in front of my home crowd at Sabina Park with the franchise that I had previously led to two CPL titles.ALSO READ: Tallawahs ‘weirdest’ team I’ve ever played for – Andre Russell“In so far as my resentment at the treatment, I stand by my comments in those videos. My words were spoken from the heart. Having said that, I must be honest and say that I now realize how portions of my comments may be viewed as being damaging to Cricket West Indies, and to the CPL Tournament and its brand – a tournament which I have sincerely enjoyed not just being a part of, but also helping to build and promote.”The CTC said it was satisfied that Gayle would continue to act in good faith and the tribunal, set up after a formal complaint on May 6, would no longer be needed, and that the CTC, CPL, and CWI all considered the matter closed.Gayle had returned to Tallawahs – the Jamaica CPL franchise – last season after a stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the two seasons. Gayle had been given a three-year contract and said he had always wanted to end his career in the “uniform” of Tallawahs. But in a late development late in April, he ended up signing for St Lucia Zouks. Just about a week after that, he lashed out at Sarwan, who is an assistant coach at Tallawahs, the chief executive Jeff Miller and owner Krish Persaud.With Sarwan, in particular, Gayle had indicated the issue went as far back as to their Under-19 days in 1996, when a complaint about Gayle watching TV late into the night forced head coach Gus Logie to evict him from a camp.Gayle said in his video that Tallawahs had a “good” team last season, but were “traumatised” by Sarwan, who he claimed was close to Persaud. “Sarwan wanted to be the manager, he wanted to be the coach. But Sarwan is like the owner for the team because Sarwan go back and tell the owner what transpired within the team,” Gayle had said. “Sarwan want to put curfew for players when game starts at 8 o’clock. Sarwan, when me and you play for West Indies, we used to party every night, so why you want to put curfew for players, why do you want to tie down players?”Sarwan you are a snake. You are so vindictive. You are still immature. You are still stabbing people in the back. You are still carrying news. When you gonna change, Sarwan, seriously? When are you planning to change?”Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle during their Test-playing days•Getty Images

Following the outburst, Sarwan had “categorically” denied any hand in Gayle’s ouster from the team and said that decision had come from the owners and management.”In that video, he has levelled false allegations and tarnished the good name and reputation of a series of persons,” Sarwan had said. “I was the focus of most of the onslaughts. I reply, not because I feel that Gayle’s rantings are worthy of it, but because I feel that the public’s record must be set straight and also, to protect the character and careers of so many people, whose image he sought to besmirch.”On Wednesday, CWI president Ricky Skerritt had hinted on a Trinidad-based radio station that Gayle’s comments might draw sanctions for bringing the game to disrepute, given that he was still active in the league and not a retired player speaking as an outsider.The CPL, independent from the CWI, was satisfied with the statement, which went on to say: “It was never my intention to damage the T20 Tournament, as playing in the CPL has guaranteed an opportunity for the past 7 years to play in front of the great fans of the Caribbean. This is a privilege which I genuinely appreciate and have never taken for granted.”Right now, my eyes are fixed firmly on the season ahead, and the new challenge which playing for the St. Lucia Zouks franchise will bring. I hope to see you there.”The tournament is scheduled for August-September this year.

Glasgow Rangers face a busy summer at Ibrox which will be filled with plenty of incomings and outgoings as Philippe Clement aims to assert his own influence on the side.

The Belgian inherited a mixed bad of a squad from Michael Beale and while he has worked wonders with this group of players, recent weeks have begun to expose the Glasgow side's fragilities.

This means a clear-out is required, especially as several of the senior players have failed to really cover themselves in glory since returning from the international break at the end of March.

John Lundstram hasn’t exactly been at his best as it appears he has eyes on a move away from Ibrox when his contract expires this summer, while James Tavernier hasn’t been the leader that Rangers have needed when the going got tough against Ross County and Dundee.

Tavernier will likely still be the captain next season, with Lundstram moving on to pastures new, but is it perhaps the future of Connor Goldson which is most debatable?

Why it could be the right time to sell Connor Goldson

The Englishman has been a rock at the heart of the Ibrox defence for over five years now, being reliable even among the worst injury crisis at the club.

This season, however, his form hasn’t quite been as good as in previous seasons. Could this be the beginning of his decline as a footballer?

He remained the first-choice centre-back during the early stages of the season under Beale, but the Light Blues suffered three Premiership defeats in their opening seven fixtures, making a title challenge seemingly impossible after just a few months.

Things began to turn under Clement as the 50-year-old coach steadied the ship, which saw the Gers grind out some vital results.

Goldson was still arguably the first name on the team sheet for the new boss, but his performances, particularly in recent weeks, have lacked some degree of leadership, with the odd mistake or two cropping into his game.

The defender has two years left on his contract, suggesting that this summer could be the ideal chance to move him on for a decent transfer fee.

Not only would this allow Clement to sell when it is clear he is approaching the final few years of his career, but it could also give him the licence to bring in someone much younger with a higher resale value. This, in turn, establishes a proper player trading programme at the club.

Additionally, the manager would also be freeing up a large chunk of the wage bill, as Goldson is currently the highest earner in the first team squad, earning £7k more per week than the next highest earner.

Connor Goldson's wage at Rangers

The 31-year-old defender is currently earning £37k-per-week at Rangers, with Tavernier trailing him in second place, earning £30k-per-week.

Of course, these salaries are the two highest in the squad, but one player has constantly delivered throughout the 2023/24 campaign, while the other one has not.

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

Accurate passes per game

69.4 (89%)

60.1 (86%)

Total duels won per game

5.4

6.1

Possession lost per game

9.5

10.8

Accurate long balls per game

5.5

5.6

Interceptions per game

0.8

0.3

Tavernier has enjoyed the greatest goalscoring season of his career to date, finding the back of the net on 24 occasions across all competitions. With four matches remaining, all he needs is six goals to hit 30 goals in a single campaign.

For a right-back, these numbers are simply incredible. While many will debate that many of his goals come from penalties and free kicks, the fact that he keeps getting into scoring positions while bursting up and down the right flank makes him one of the most dangerous attacking players in the starting XI.

Tavernier’s numbers are certainly irreplaceable. Could Goldson say the same, especially with his performances recently?

Connor Goldson’s statistics this season

Since the start of the campaign, Goldson has earned nearly £2m in wages. Judging by his experience, his presence in the heart of the defence was supposed to give Clement peace of mind, yet the opposite was true.

It was a far cry from the days under Steven Gerrard, with the former Liverpool icon praising Goldson during his first few months at Ibrox, saying:

"He is a leader and a huge player for us," said Gerrard. "He has been superb on and off the pitch, ever since the day he rolled in.”

With over 300 competitive appearances under his belt, his ability to command the backline should have been crucial in Rangers securing wins over Ross County and Dundee last month, yet the Gers took just one point from six.

Goldson and John Souttar were poor throughout as the Highland side scored three goals without reply in what was a display of schoolboy defending.

He completed just 73% of his attempted passes during the 3-2 defeat, along with delivering just four of his ten long ball attempts, proving that his distribution was extremely poor.

If this was a poor display, then his showing against Celtic the week prior was even worse. Again, his distribution from the heart of defence was dismal, finishing the game with an 80% pass success rate while succeeding with just five accurate long balls from 15 attempts, along with losing the ball 14 times.

He should have been in a better position to prevent Adam Idah from scoring Celtic’s third goal and was spared his blushes as Rabbi Matondo scored a sensational equaliser with minutes to go.

These are not isolated incidents. Goldson has been caught out with balls over the top in matches against Aberdeen, most notably the 1-1 draw in November, and the 2-1 win at Ibrox a few months later, with both of the Dons’ goals coming via his mistakes.

The defender will be 32 in December and while centre-backs tend to have a slightly longer playing career, after six years, it could very well be his final season at Ibrox – with rumours rife that Gerrard is seeking a reunion with the experienced figure in Saudi Arabia.

Philippe Clement confirms major Rangers injury setback in title race

The Gers boss admits that it is a “big blow”.

ByHenry Jackson May 4, 2024

Goldson will miss the remaining few matches due to injury, but if Clement receives a decent offer for the Englishman this summer, he should grab it with both hands.

Just moments before the final whistle sounded in Munich last Wednesday night, Bukayo Saka struck a corner straight onto the head of a Bayern defender at the front post.

It was a shocking set-piece, but one that rather summed up the tired nature of his recent performances, and indeed Arsenal's.

The last seven days or so have given Mikel Arteta and his side a reality check. The Gunners tasted a bitter defeat in the title race to Aston Villa last weekend and were then dumped out of the Champions League following an aggregate loss to Harry Kane and Co.

Both performances were rather lifeless, with Saka even singled out for criticism. Typically, the winger has been one of a few members of this team to escape the blame but not on this occasion.

His set pieces are usually some of the best in the business too – there is a reason Arsenal are the best in that department in the Premier League – but that moment in the dying embers in Germany signified that he may well be running out of gas.

Who could blame the Englishman, either? He has played over 3,000 minutes this term with five games still left to play.

It must be stated, however, that he has still been sublime for the vast majority of the campaign. Although he could not add to his tally for the season as Arsenal bounced back with a 2-0 win at Wolves, Saka remains the club's top goalscorer on 18 strikes.

That said, their player of the match from that victory at Molineux, Declan Rice, will be right up there with his national teammate when the club's player of the season award is discussed in a few weeks.

Declan Rice's performance in numbers

Is there anything the former West Ham man can't do? Seemingly not. Against Bayern, Rice was one of the players who looked like he was running on empty but it's amazing what a more positive performance can do.

As Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard wrapped up all three points in the Midlands, it was the Gunners' record signing who was running the show, not quietly either.

For large parts of the campaign the England international has operated as the lone 6 in the side, the only man in the midfield pivot. He was charged with that role again on Saturday evening, Kai Havertz moved back into a deeper role beside him.

Usually when that happens, Rice has to stay back and do the so-called 'dirty work'. He performed that task admirably at Molineux but he also surged forward with great purpose.

That lung-busting run the midfielder performs has become something of a trademark and it was that guile and power from the centre which set the tone for Arsenal's win. Only William Saliba (11) made more passes into the final third than Rice (10) from those on the visiting team while no player on either side provided more key passes than his five.

No matter how Arsenal play, the £105m man often stands out and is sure to run Saka close for Arsenal's Player of the Year. However, another man deserves to be in the conversation, Ben White.

Ben White's performance in numbers

The right-back has been a hot topic of debate in recent months. Now refusing to play for England, many outside of Arsenal have lambasted White for his decision.

Only he will know the true reason he doesn't want to play for his country, but either way, it's a rather big shame. Indeed, the defender has one of the best in his position in the division this term.

White will rightfully be judged on his ability to defend, first and foremost, but it's his attacking intuition that has caught the eye so much in 2023/24. This is already the 26-year-old's best campaign for goal contributions in his career to date, scoring twice and supplying five assists in all competitions.

That's certainly not a bad tally for a player who initially arrived in north London as a central defender.

He has been particularly vibrant in the last few weeks of the season, assisting two goals against Brentford a few weeks ago and supplying Saka's opener against Bayern in the first leg.

Against Wolves, the £150k-per-week earner showed many of the same qualities, even if no assist was forthcoming on this occasion.

White was accurate with 100% of his crosses – the only man on either team to prove as such – and was successful with all five of his long balls during the contest. It is probably not a surprise, therefore, to learn that no player at Molineux left the field with a better pass success rate than the full-back's 96%.

Also boasting 86 touches, the third-most of any player, it's clear just what a pivotal role White played in Arsenal moving back on top of the table again. He truly was the "utter monster" that blogger Rohan Jivan described him as.

When the former Brighton man first arrived in a £50m deal, eyebrows were raised. Some may not like what he brings to the table, notably those not associated with Arsenal, but it's hard to dispute what a key figure he has become at the Emirates. Watch out Saka and Rice, you have found yourselves a new rival for player of the season.

Friday's clash between Lyon and Strasbourg had major American flavor as Caleb Wiley provided an assist while Tanner Tessmann made his Ligue 1 debut.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Tessmann makes Lyon debut
• Wiley provides assist
• Lyon win seven-goal thriller

• IMAGO / Just pictures
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Caleb Wiley got his first Ligue 1 assist of the season, but it wasn't enough to defeat Lyon and debutant Tanner Tessmann in a dramatic 4-3 result.

  Both Tessmann and Wiley started the game on the bench for their respective clubs, but the latter, in particular, made his mark. Wiley came into the match with the score level at one apiece, but Strasbourg raced ahead with a pair of goals early in the second half. Wiley assisted the second of those goals with a fantastic through ball, playing Emanuel Emegha in all alone to make it 3-1.

  Lyon, though, stormed back with three goals between the 61st and 72nd minutes, putting them ahead 4-3. With the game winding down, Tessmann was handed his debut for the club as he was thrown into the fray in the 87th minute to help Lyon eventually see out the chaotic win.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ligue 1 is certainly a league to watch for American soccer fans with several rising stars playing in France's top flight. Wiley and Tessmann both joined their new clubs this summer, as did Mark McKenzie, who is now featuring for Toulouse.

  Folarin Balogun is also plying his trade in Ligue 1 as he begins his second season with Monaco and third season in the league overall after breaking out while on loan with Reims.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The assist is Wiley's first in Ligue 1, but the teenager certainly made is mark on games during his time in Atlanta. Wiley had seven assists during his time with the Five Stripes while also contributing six goals. Eight of those 13 goal contributions came during his breakout 2023 season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WILEY AND TESSMANN?

  Following Friday's match, both teams head into the international break, with the U.S. set to play Canada and New Zealand in the coming days. Tessmann will look to make his first start for Lyon against Lens on Sept. 14, while Wiley and Strasbourg will be back in action against Angers on Sept. 15.