أكد أمير عزمي مجاهد، المدرب العام السابق لنادي الزمالك، أن أزمة التجديد تؤثر بشكل واضح على أحمد سيد زيزو، مشيرًا إلى أنه يخشى أن يتم تحميل اللاعب مسؤولية أي إخفاقات قادمة، كما حدث مع المدير الفني السويسري كريستيان جروس من قبل، حيث تم تصويره على أنه يطلب أموالًا كثيرة.

وقال أمير عزمي في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “زيزو لاعب محترم جدًا، وما أعرفه عنه أنه يريد الاستمرار في الزمالك، لكنه قد يكون كبش فداء في الفترة المقبلة”.

أمير عزمي: جروس تعرض للخيانة في الزمالك.. والمدرب قد يلجأ للتصعيد

وكشف أمير عزمي عن كواليس رحيل جروس، مؤكدًا أن المدرب السويسري كان متحمسًا لمواجهة الأهلي ومدربه مارسيل كولر، الذي سبق أن أشرف على تدريبه، وكان واثقًا من الفوز، إلا أن القرار كان قد تم اتخاذه قبل المباراة.

وأضاف: “جروس كان يستعد لمواجهة الأهلي وكان يشعر بأنه قادر على تحقيق الفوز، لكن البعض قال: إلحقوا، لا بد أن يرحل حتى لا يخسر المباراة”.

وأشار إلى أن نسبة نجاح جروس مقارنة بولاية جوزيه جوميز في بدايته كانت أكبر، لكن في كل يوم كانت تصدر شائعات حول إقالته، بينما حصل جوميز على دعم أكبر.

وعن الأسباب الحقيقية لرحيل المدرب السويسري، أوضح أمير عزمي أن الأمر لم يكن متعلقًا بتراجع الأداء، قائلًا: “هل المطلوب أن نقدم أداءً جميلًا ونخسر، أم نحصل على الثلاث نقاط؟”.

كما نفى تمامًا الشائعات التي انتشرت بشأن تأخر اللاعبين في المران، مشددًا على أن هذا لم يحدث سوى مرتين فقط، مع محمد عواد ومصطفى شلبي بسبب ازدحام الطريق، واصفًا ما تم تداوله في هذا الشأن بأنه “كذب”.

وتابع المدرب السابق أن جروس واجه ظروفًا لم يعهدها طوال مسيرته التدريبية، وقال له بنفسه إنه لم يشاهد مثل هذه الأوضاع من قبل، كما كشف أن المدرب السويسري لم يكن مقتنعًا باللاعب ميشالاك، مؤكدًا أنه أعطاه فرصة لكنه رأى أنه غير مناسب للأجواء، ولا ينسجم مع الفريق، وليس قويًا في الالتحامات.

وأشار إلى أن بعض اللاعبين مثل عمر فرج وميشالاك اشترطا الإقامة بمفردهما في الغرف، دون مشاركة أي زميل آخر، وهو ما يعد أمرًا غير مألوف في الفرق الكبرى.

وفي حديثه عن المشاكل التي تواجه الفريق، أكد أمير عزمي أن المشكلة الحقيقية لا تتعلق بجروس أو أي مدرب آخر، بل بكيفية إدارة منظومة كرة القدم داخل النادي.

واستكمل: “المشكلة ليست في جروس، أو بيسيرو، أو جوميز، أو أوسوريو، بل في الأشخاص المحيطين بالفريق، هناك عش دبابير، وكل شخص يحاول إنشاء مملكته الخاصة داخل النادي”.

وأكد أن جروس كان مصممًا على استقدام يوسف أوباما وكان أول لاعب طلب ضمه، لكن بيراميدز رفض التفريط فيه، كما أنه لم يكن يرغب في استمرار زياد كمال مع الفريق.

وعن رأيه في صفقات الفريق، أوضح أن الزمالك كان بحاجة إلى لاعب مثل طارق حامد، لكنه قرر البقاء في السعودية، كما علق على انتقال أشرف بن شرقي إلى الأهلي، قائلًا: “عندما سمعت عن توقيعه للأهلي، لم أشعر بأي مفاجأة”.

واختتم أمير عزمي مجاهد حديثه بالإشارة إلى أن طريقة رحيل جروس كانت غير عادلة، مؤكدًا أن المدرب السويسري شعر بظلم شديد، متممًا: “جروس ترك لي حذاءه وقال لي: خذه، أنت مثل ابني، ربما لا أدرب مرة أخرى، وشكرني على كل ما قدمته معه”.

Journalist Phil Smith has revealed what Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris loves about one Black Cats player, following another Championship win that put them top of the table.

Sunderland top of the Championship

The Black Cats are flying under their new manager, with dreams of a genuine Championship automatic promotion push now growing by the week.

On Saturday, Sunderland picked up a 3-1 victory in the long trip south to Portsmouth, and it means Le Bris' side still have a 100% record to start to new season, winning all four league matches to date. They are the only team to achieve that goal.

Victories have also been secured against Cardiff City, Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley, the latter of which felt like a statement victory, due to the Clarets arguably being seen as the favourites to win the Championship title in 2024/25.

It is still early days, of course, and losing star man Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town is a massive blow, but life under Le Bris couldn't be going much better at the moment. Various players are thriving for Sunderland, including Chris Rigg, who at only 17 years of age, already looks like a seasoned veteran, featuring in all four league matches and starting three of them. It is another young gem who has come in for special praise, though.

Journalist talks up Le Bris' admiration for Mayenda

Writing for The Sunderland Echo on Monday, Smith claimed that Eliezer Mayenda has become a favourite of Le Bris' at Sunderland due to "his willingness to learn and how quickly he was able to understand the demands being placed on him in terms of his out-of-possession work".

He also adds that "at this point, we have to acknowledge that his status in this squad has changed", in terms of him now being first choice instead of a backup attacking option, perhaps even changing future transfer plans when it comes to signing a senior number nine.

Mayenda deserves all the praise that is coming his way, following an excellent start to the season that has seen him lead the line impressively. The 19-year-old has scored and assisted twice apiece in his first four Championship appearances of the season, while Le Bris himself has heaped praise on him.

“He truly sets a good example for the entire squad. Last season, he wasn’t in the starting lineup, but his desire to enhance his game is commendable. He possesses a wealth of talent, but being young means he is constantly striving to fine-tune his skills. His hard work was rewarded today."

At 19, Mayenda still has to be considered a work in progress, and fans must stay on his side if he goes through a bad run of form, but the early signs are so exciting.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

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He is starting every week on merit, and the fact that Smith also mentions he thinks the Portsmouth game was the teenager's "best showing" of the campaign to date – he bagged two assists at Fratton Park – suggests that he is only improving as a player.

Amid recent injuries threatening to expose his side’s squad depth, Mikel Arteta now reportedly wants Arsenal to sign another versatile defender in the January transfer window.

Arsenal transfer news

Whilst the Gunners had no reason to panic in the summer transfer window, recent injuries to Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori have begged the question as to whether they should have brought in further reinforcements. Of course, any concerns were eased by their resilient 1-0 victory in the North London derby over Tottenham Hotspur, but that doesn’t mean the January window isn’t one to watch.

If those in North London want to compete on all fronts, then a January boost will undoubtedly help. After all, Arteta’s side are up against the winning machine that is Pep Guardiola’s winning machine, who they face this Sunday.

In the biggest match across the Premier League campaign so far, Arsenal could gain a crucial edge over the champions in pursuit of making it a third time lucky in their challenge to dethrone City. There’s still a long way to go no matter what though, and January could make all the difference.

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According to reports relayed by Football 365, Arteta now personally wants Arsenal to sign Jules Kounde from Barcelona in January, with the Spaniard of the belief that the Frenchman would be the final piece to unlocking a side capable of competing on all fronts.

What’s more, Arsenal are reportedly prepared to bid as much as €50m (£42m) to test Barcelona’s resolve in the winter window. Kounde, who can play both right-back and centre-back to match the trend of Arsenal defenders, is still only 25 years old and would offer Arteta the ultimate depth within his backline.

With another defender potentially on his way, perhaps Arteta is aiming to prove that attack wins you games and defence wins you titles to finally dethrone Manchester City.

"Amazing" Kounde would be upgrade on White

As impressive as Ben White has been since arriving in 2021, Kounde would give Arteta plenty to think about down that right-hand side and potentially leave White without a place. The Frenchman impressed at Euro 2024 and even earned the praise of former manager Xavi at Barcelona last season.

The Spaniard said via Barca Blaugranes after Kounde did exceptionally well up against Kylian Mbappe: “He was one of the transfers that I asked for. He’s one of the best defenders in the world right now. Stopping Mbappé was a collective effort. Kounde did amazing against Mbappé but Lamine [Yamal] also helped him a lot.”

League stats 23/24 (via FBref)

Jules Kounde

Ben White

Assists

2

4

Progressive Passes

67

44

Tackles Won

23

28

Ball Recoveries

157

120

The battle between the right-backs would certainly be one to watch if Arsenal did make their move for Kounde in January and that competition would be no bad thing. Likely pushing White on even further, Arteta’s side would only benefit from having two players of such high quality down the right-hand side.

After an international break that saw them lose Martin Odegaard, Arsenal resumed their Premier League campaign over the weekend with a brilliant 1-0 win over fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

It wasn’t a vintage performance from Mikel Arteta’s side, but they managed to nullify their opponent’s hyper-attacking style of play and claim all three points courtesy of a Gabriel Magalhães header in the second half.

However, while the fans should still be basking in their club’s derby win, the team have to prepare for their first match of the Champions League tonight, away to Atalanta.

With the format being changed to a league competition, the Gunners have to get off to a winning start. As such, Arteta needs to put out another strong lineup, although he should make a few changes, one of which is dropping Gabriel Martinelli.

Gabriel Martinelli's recent form

Over the last 18 months or so, Martinelli hasn’t been in the greatest form. He ended last season with eight goals and five assists in 44 games, a far cry from the 15 goals and six assists he racked up the campaign prior.

There was some hope that the former Ituano gem would return to his best at the start of this season after a reasonably impressive showing in preseason.

However, after four appearances, three of which have been starts, he still hasn’t scored or assisted a single goal and has amassed a paltry expected goals figure of just 0.25, which is seriously underwhelming.

In his defence, while he missed that big chance against Spurs on Sunday, he was lively and kept Pedro Porro on his toes while also providing some defensive cover to Jurrien Timber, but it is starting to feel like last year all over again.

Overall, the Guarulhos-born gem is clearly a talented player, but it would make sense for Arteta to take him out of the spotlight, give him a rest for tonight’s important game, and start another winger who has an awful lot to prove in his place.

Why Raheem Sterling should start

Now, the first thing to say is that, yes, Raheem Sterling is in a similar boat to Martinelli at the moment in that his stock has fallen quite dramatically over the last couple of years.

However, there are two key differences. The first is that the Englishman’s struggles have come in the context of a massively dysfunctional Chelsea side, where Kai Havertz was also struggling before he moved to North London.

Second, while he’s not been at his best, the 29-year-old has still been productive.

Appearances

43

Minutes

2759′

Goals

10

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153′

For example, in his 43 appearances for the Blues last season, the “incredible” winger, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, scored ten goals and provided eight assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.38 games.

Moreover, with a must-win clash away to Manchester City coming up on the weekend, the 82-capped international might not get another chance to start a game until next week, which in turn could make him less sharp when called upon in other matches.

Ultimately, despite putting in a useful performance against Spurs on Sunday, Martinelli’s struggles in front of goal continue, and even though his reputation has taken a hit, Sterling was surprisingly productive last year.Therefore, the Brazilian should be dropped from the starting lineup for the Englishman this evening.

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Carlo Ancelotti has been discussing Real Madrid’s plans for the January transfer window amid links to Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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• Blancos linked with more marquee additions
• Liverpool right-back on recruitment radar
• Manager happy with his current squad

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blancos have recovered from making a slow start to the 2024-25 campaign to put themselves in contention for more major honours. They are only one point off the pace in La Liga, while positive progress is being made again in defence of a Champions League crown.

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  Kylian Mbappe became another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu last summer, but there is plenty of speculation to be found regarding more marquee additions. England international right-back Alexander-Arnold is said to be registering on Real’s radar – as his contract at Anfield runs down towards free agency.

• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Real are reported to have asked about the possibility to landing Alexander-Arnold in the winter window, but Ancelotti is giving little away when it comes to movement in and out of the Spanish capital. He told reporters when asked about possible transfer deals: “I don’t want to talk about it, because it’s not the right time to talk about it here. We’ll see what will happen, considering that I’m happy with the squad I have.”

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  Alexander-Arnold may end up making his way to Madrid in the summer of 2025. Real will hope to have collected more silverware by then, with Ancelotti readying his troops for a return to action against Valencia on Friday.

Glasgow Rangers take to the field in the Europa League for the first time this season as they travel away to face Malmo away from Ibrox this evening.

The Light Blues are in the competition after they lost to Dynamo Kyiv on aggregate in their Champions League qualifier, and now have their first of eight matches in the league phase today.

Philippe Clement’s side come into this clash with the Swedish outfit off the back of a 3-0 win over Dundee in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Saturday.

The Belgian manager should make at least one change to his starting XI from that victory, as Dujon Sterling should be ruthlessly ditched from the line-up.

Why Dujon Sterling should be dropped

The former Chelsea prospect was handed a chance to shine in the middle of the park alongside Connor Barron and failed to make the most of his opportunity, as he was subbed off at half-time.

RangersNews awarded him a player rating of 4/10 and criticised his lack of impact and physicality in midfield, which has also been the case in the Scottish Premiership.

The versatile 24-year-old has made four appearances in the top-flight so far this season for the Gers, but has struggled in and out of possession in Clement’s side.

On the ball, Sterling has contributed zero goals, zero assists, zero ‘big chances’ created, and zero key passes. He has also lost 56% of his duels, which suggests that opposition players have found it too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.

Chalkboard

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

Therefore, Clement should ruthlessly ditch the Englishman from the starting XI for this Europa League clash with Malmo, and unleash Mohamed Diomande instead.

Why Mohamed Diomande should start

The Ivorian dynamo, who replaced Sterling at half-time on Saturday, should come back into the line-up for this game because of the quality he can provide in the middle of the park.

Signed on a permanent deal from Nordsjælland in the summer transfer window, Diomande is a creative midfield player who has the ability to unlock the Malmo defence – based on his form in the Premiership this term.

The 22-year-old, who was described as “absolutely fantastic” by former boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, has taken a step forward in the division this season, after his initial loan spell at Ibrox in the 2023/24 campaign – in terms of his creativity.

Appearances

13

5

Starts

11

4

Goals

2

0

Big chances created

1

3

Assists

0

1

Key passes per game

1.5

1.0

As you can see in the table above, Diomande has already created three ‘big chances’ for his teammates in four starts, after only creating one in 11 starts last term.

The left-footed star has also made 1.6 tackles per game and won 51% of his ground duels in the league, which shows that he can handle himself out of possession.

Rangers may need him to be at his defensive and creative best in midfield to secure all three points in this European away match, and that is why Clement must unleash him ahead of the underperforming Sterling tonight.

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Tector, Dockrell and the bowlers combined to set up Ireland’s first ODI win against South Africa

Firdose Moonda13-Jul-2021

Andy Balbirnie scored his seventh ODI hundred•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Ireland have beaten South Africa for the first time in seven ODIs and taken 10 World Cup Super League points to advance to fifth spot on the points table. After upsetting England last year, then losing a series to Netherlands earlier this year, Ireland’s 2023 World Cup ambitions are somewhat back on track. They have also taken an unassailable lead in the ODI series, which has been reduced to two matches after Sunday washout which means Friday’s finale is a must win for South Africa to avoid conceding the trophy.It was also lucky No. 7 for Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie, who brought up his seventh ODI century to set the innings up. Balbirnie opened the batting and built the innings until the 42nd over before handing over to Harry Tector, who smashed 79 off 68 balls to take Ireland to their highest total against South Africa. Tector and George Dockrell put on 90 for the fourth wicket at a scoring rate of 11.73 to set South Africa a tough target of 291.South Africa partly had themselves to blame for the task they gave their batters. They dropped four catches – Paul Stirling on 6 and 10, Tector on 0 and Balbirnie on 74 – and lost their lengths at the death. The attack conceded 103 runs in the last 10 overs. Contrastingly, South Africa lost 8 for 88 between the 32nd and 49th overs and needed 102 runs off the last 10 overs but were unable to keep up with the required scoring rate.Ultimately, South Africa may also have cause to question their team selection after resting Quinton de Kock for a second successive match and opting to bench Lungi Ngidi after he enjoyed a good outing in the first game. Not for the first time, South Africa’s batting line-up appeared too short and they lacked a sixth bowling option.Josh Little picked up two big wickets to dent the chase•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Anrich Nortje, who returned to the team in place of Ngidi, should have had the first wicket when he squared Stirling up and induced a thick edge. Aiden Markram, at second slip, dived across Janneman Malan at first to try and take the catch, juggled it several times and it slipped out of his hands. Stirling could have been out in the next over too, when he hit Kagiso Rabada over the covers to give David Miller a catchable chance. Miller timed his jump but the ball just brushed his fingertips. At the other end, Nortje thought he had Balbirnie caught behind off the inside edge and South Africa reviewed. Replays showed the ball had caught the top flap of the pad and Balbirnie, on 11 at the time, survived. He also took back-to-back boundaries off the next two balls of the over.South Africa’s third seamer, Andile Phehlukwayo, did not concede a boundary in his first four overs leaving Stirling to attack Keshav Maharaj. Stirling slog-swept Maharaj’s for four in the 14th over and tried the same shot off the next ball but was beaten by flight, missed and was bowled. Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi operated in tandem for eight overs and conceded just 24 runs, including just one four, in that period to leave Ireland at 106 for 1 at the halfway stage. By that point, Balbirnie had reached fifty and would have known there was time, and need, for him to go big.Initially, Andy McBrine was the enforcer. He took boundaries off Maharaj and Shamsi before being given out lbw off Shamsi. The wristspinner would have had another off the next ball when Tector leaned forward to drive a wrong’un and edged but Kyle Verreynne, keeping in place of de Kock, could not hold on. Shamsi also thought he had Tector lbw the ball after that as he struck the front pad but replays confirmed an inside edge. Tector’s troubles didn’t end there. Five overs later, he ducked into a Nortje short ball and was struck on the helmet. Tector received his on-field check and was cleared to continue. The blow may have shaken Balbirnie, who rushed to a Phehlukwayo full ball in the next over and drove aerially to Rabada at deep point. Rabada had to move forward to take the catch and got to it but it popped out.Simi Singh got the big wicket of David Miller•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Luckily for Ireland, that was the end of their wobbles. Balbirnie’s century came up off 114 balls to take his average against South Africa to 75 and when he was dismissed by Rabada, left Tector to finish off. He survived a stumping chance, showed his cheek when he ramped Rabada for six and his class when he drove Phehlukwayo through the covers to bring up fifty off 54 balls. There were only 4.5 overs left in the innings at that stage but Tector was hitting the ball well enough to think about a century. He fell on his sword, and 21 runs short, when he holed out to Rabada in the deep in the last over.South Africa’s reply started confidently as Malan and Markram scored 28 runs in the first four overs. Markram appeared in good touch but tried to pull a length ball from Craig Young and found extra cover. Temba Bavuma went in similar fashion after the powerplay when he pulled a Josh Little delivery to square leg, where Dockrell took a good catch diving forward.But South Africa stabilised through Malan and Rassie van der Dussen, who shared in a 108-run third-wicket stand. Malan, opening in place of de Kock, was particularly powerful in clearing the rope on the leg side, and rotated strike well with van der Dussen but when he was dismissed, South Africa unraveled.Dockrell, who had been playing as a specialist batter and had bowled six overs for 33 runs, was given a seventh over. Malan, chasing the 90s, was on 84 when he hit Dockrell to deep midwicket and found Mark Adair. Seven balls later, van der Dussen was struck in front of middle and leg by a McBrine ball that turned past the bat and was given out lbw. He reviewed but multiple checks from the umpire confirmed no inside edge and umpire’s call on hitting leg stump.Ireland saw two new batters at the crease and brought back Little to try and prise a wicket. In his third over of the spell, Little had Verreynne caught behind, throwing his hands at a wide ball, which put expectation on Miller and Phehlukwayo’s finishing abilities. Phehlukwayo holed out to long-off to give McBrine a second and Miller played a similar stroke four balls later to all but end South Africa’s chase.But there was time for one more disaster. Kagiso Rabada was run out after Maharaj was caught off a waist-high no-ball. Rabada was running to the wicketkeeper’s end but did not make his ground, perhaps assuming the ball was dead. Maharaj and Nortje were dismissed on successive deliveries in the 49th over as Ireland completed a historic win.

Newcastle United could sell Kieran Trippier with a January move abroad on the cards, three years after he first joined the club.

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Trippier one of the highest-paid playersNewcastle looking to offload in JanuaryMagpies eager to balance books to comply with PSRFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Signed from Atletico Madrid in January 2022, Trippier has 18 months left on his lucrative £200,000-per-week contract. According to the club hopes to recover approximately £7.5m – half the sum they originally paid for him – should they finalise a transfer. The Magpies are striving to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and offloading Trippier will be regarded as a step in that direction.

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A return to continental football appears to be on the cards for Trippier, who enjoyed success with Atletico Madrid, including a La Liga title win, before moving to Newcastle. The defender is reportedly open to exploring opportunities in Spain, Italy, or Turkey, with clubs from these leagues expressing interest in acquiring his services. Such a move would be preferable for both the player and Newcastle, as it eliminates the possibility of strengthening a Premier League rival.

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Trippier has seen his role diminish this season under Eddie Howe. While he has started Newcastle’s last two games, including an impressive 2-0 victory against Manchester United on Monday, he has not been the first-choice right-back for much of the campaign. Howe has increasingly relied on Tino Livramento, the 22-year-old who joined Newcastle in 2023 from Chelsea and has made 18 Premier League appearances this season, solidifying his position as the team’s preferred option on the right side of the defence.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR TRIPPIER?

During his tenure, Trippier played a key role in Newcastle’s resurgence, helping them secure Champions League qualification and reach the League Cup final in 2023. Howe reportedly values Trippier’s experience and leadership qualities and would prefer to retain him for the remainder of his contract. Yet, the club’s broader objectives and adherence to financial regulations may ultimately outweigh the manager’s preferences.

The remainder of IPL 2021 in the UAE will resume in Dubai on September 19 with MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings taking on Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians. The fixtures were unveiled on Sunday, with a total of 31 matches spread across 27 days. Click here to access the full scheduleThe Super Kings will return to these same shores where they finished second from last on the points table in IPL 2020. However, they have bounced back this season to be placed second, with five wins in seven matches.That opening fixture of the second leg will be followed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi. Like the Super Kings, the Royal Challengers are in contention for the playoffs, and are currently placed third. The Knight Riders, meanwhile, need a succession of wins to remain in the race.The matches will be held across three venues. Dubai will host 13 games, including Qualifier 1 (October 10) and the final on October 15, while Sharjah, which will host a blockbuster first game between Super Kings and Royal Challengers on September 24, is also slated to host Qualifier 2 (October 11) and the Eliminator (October 13) as part of their 10 matches. The Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host eight matches.There will be seven double-headers in all during the UAE leg. There will be no change in the timings of the matches: afternoon matches will start at 3.30pm IST while the evening games are scheduled for 7.30pm starts.The BCCI’s top brass – president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah – were in the UAE last week to finalise preparations for the tournament.The IPL was postponed in May after members from a number of teams tested positive for Covid-19 amid a devastating second wave that hit India.The tournament will be followed by the BCCI’s hosting of the T20 World Cup immediately in UAE from October 17.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has heaped praise on a £100,000-per-week star, insisting that he is just "meant" to play under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal preparing for all-important north London derby against Tottenham

The Gunners have two blockbuster encounters coming right after this international break, with both Tottenham and Man City awaiting Arsenal after their disappointing 1-1 draw against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.

Fabrizio Romano: Arteta backs £21m Arsenal ace for "really important" role

He’s also extremely popular in the dressing room.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 3, 2024

Joao Pedro's strike for the Seagulls cancelled out Kai Havertz's expertly taken lobbed finish over Bart Verbruggen in the first half, resulting in Arsenal's first dropped points of the new Premier League campaign, so it is imperative that Arteta's side get back to winning ways immediately.

City have won each of their opening three league matches in comfortable fashion, and it will take a near-perfect season from Arsenal to stop Pep Guardiola from making it five-consecutive Premier League title wins.

Arsenal's next five Premier League games	Date
Tottenham (away)	September 15
Man City (away)	September 22
Leicester City (home)	September 28
Southampton (home)	October 5
Bournemouth (away)	October 19

They could hardly ask for tougher tests than Spurs and the Sky Blues up next, and Arsenal are also set to be without key players for their trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mikel Merino has been sidelined for nearly two months after fracturing his shoulder in training, while Declan Rice's sending off against Brighton means their star midfielder will miss the north London derby through suspension.

A silver lining for Arsenal is the potential debut of headline-grabbing summer deadline day signing Raheem Sterling, who wasn't registered in time to play a part against Brighton last weekend.

Arteta has explained to the press that Arsenal are preparing for Sterling his imminent first Gunners appearance, as the England international looks to get up to speed tactically and physically.

“We have to see him, speak to him (about) what he’s been doing and how he’s feeling about it," said Arteta on Sterling.

“And try to find quick wins to get him up to speed as quickly as possible and for him to understand what we are looking for from him in the dynamics of the team. We will use that time to do that and get him involved as soon as possible.”

Sterling arrives to hand Arteta a proven back-up to Bukayo Saka who can also play further forward, and it is believed they're only paying £100,000-per-week of the 29-year-old's sky-high Chelsea salary over the course of his loan move.

Ian Wright says Sterling is just "meant" to play for Arsenal

Speaking on The Wrighty's House Podcast this week, fan favourite ex-star turned pundit Wright says Arsenal signing Sterling is a "magnificent" deal, and the former Man City star's transfer was just "meant to be".

“I’m absolutely delighted, the way the deal’s panned out,” said Wright. “When I heard Fulham were in for (Nelson), I thought yeah, I think Raheem’s on his way.

“And when you consider the deal, Raheem, family doesn’t have to move, point to prove, knows the manager, ain’t got a problem with rotation playing, experience.

“You think to yourself that is a magnificent deal for us, a really good signing for us, at 29, Chelsea are paying the majority, it’s almost like it can’t get any better. The only way it’s gonna get any better is when he scores the winner against Tottenham. That’s when you think this is it, it’s meant to be.

“You know when you see a player in your shirt… he suits our shirt, 100 percent.”