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The good times keep rolling for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are flying in the Premier League, unbeaten in the Champions League and now through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

The North Londoners had the tough task of beating Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, and they did so even with an almost entirely changed starting lineup.

There were impressive displays across the pitch for the hosts, including from Max Dowman, and if that wasn’t enough good news, Hale End is already brewing another version of the teenage sensation.

Dowman's performance against Brighton

Several Arsenal players shone against Brighton, from Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to the centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.

In The Pipeline

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

However, when it comes to the starter who got everyone talking and the fans on their feet the most, it’s impossible to ignore Dowman.

The 15-year-old became the youngest player to start a game in the club’s history, but you wouldn’t have guessed that from the way he played.

From the first minute until he was taken off, the Hale End gem gave the Seagulls’ backline hell, so much so that within no time at all, they were forced to double and triple team him.

Amazingly, that did little to stop him, and by the time he was taken off for Bukayo Saka in the 71st minute, he had completed five of nine dribbles – the most of anyone – played one key pass, won nine of 14 ground duels and won a foul.

Minutes

71′

Touches

34

Dribbles (Successful)

8 (5)

Fouls Won

4

Accurate Passes

14/16

Ball Recoveries

3

Ground Duels (Won)

14 (9)

Key Passes

1

Described as a “certified worldie of a talent” by analyst Rohan Jivan, the young Englishman was utterly sensational on the night, but given his performances earlier this season and in the summer, it was hardly a surprise.

With all that said, Dowman is still just a child, and as such, Arteta and Co have to be incredibly careful with how they manage him. Therefore, it may be a couple of years before he starts playing games regularly.

However, by that time, there might be another unreal Hale End talent playing alongside him in the team.

Hale End's next Max Dowman

Now, it must be said that Dowman currently appears to be a genuinely generational talent, the kind of player who will regularly compete for Ballon d’Ors in the future.

Therefore, the likelihood of Arsenal producing another talent of equal calibre in the coming years is extremely low.

However, that doesn’t mean the club won’t have another young gem who could come into the side and make them far more dangerous in attack while having some of the same skills as the 15-year-old.

In fact, there are a few players in Hale End today who could do just that, but one of the ones who feels most likely to succeed and follow Dowman into the side is Ceadach O’Neill.

The extremely exciting Northern Irishman joined the club from Linfield on an initial trial in November 2023 and has been a star of the academy ever since.

Right Winger

11

2

3

Left Winger

7

3

1

Centre-Forward

5

4

1

Right Midfield

2

0

1

Left Midfield

1

0

0

Like Dowman, the 17-year-old has already shown a great deal of positional versatility, as he’s played on both wings, up front and in wide midfield.

Moreover, he’s no stranger when it comes to chipping in with goal involvement, as in just ten appearances this season, he has already scored five goals and provided three assists.

Described as “brilliantly” talented by the Gunners’ U21 coach David Horseman, the Kilrea-born dynamo is also someone who could get the fans on their feet.

For example, one analyst has highlighted his “great technique, impressive ball striking and finishing with both feet,” which sounds quite a bit like the youngster who started on Wednesday night.

Ultimately, it’s still so early on in his career, but O’Neill looks like someone who could follow Dowman into the first team in the coming years and potentially form a brilliant partnership with him.

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England captain says England will lick their wounds and try to come back stronger at Brisbane

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2025

Stokes consults with his senior team-mates as the Perth Test runs away from England•Getty Images

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, admitted he and his team had been left “shellshocked” by Travis Head’s stunning 69-ball century, as Australia transcended the chaos of the first three innings of the first Ashes Test at Perth to romp to victory by eight wickets and with three whole days to spare.Head left the field to a standing ovation after his stunning knock of 123 from 83 balls had ripped the momentum away from an England team that seemed to have the contest in their grasp when they went to the second-day lunch break on 65 for 1, with a lead of 99 and nine wickets in hand.But a calamitous collapse of 4 for 11 in 19 balls, initiated by a fine spell from Scott Boland, turned the contest back in Australia’s favour. Though England’s lower-order rallied to set the hosts 205 for victory – the highest innings total of the game – Head’s promotion to the top of the order, in the absence of the injured Usman Khawaja, proved a blessing in disguise as he came out swinging, to blaze Australia to their target in a mere 28.2 overs.It was an example of England being comprehensively beaten at their own hard-hitting game, and Stokes was in awe of Australia’s matchwinner at the post-match presentations.”We’re a little bit shellshocked there,” Stokes told the host broadcaster. “That innings from Travis Head was pretty phenomenal. It’s quite raw, quite fresh at the moment but, geez, that was some knock. It’s knocked the wind out of us.”Asked if he regretted England’s approach to their own second innings – in particular a trio of big shots from Ollie Pope, Harry Brook and Joe Root in the midst of that post-lunch collapse – Stokes insisted that England’s approach had not been the wrong one, as Head’s own success demonstrated, but their execution had been lacking.”If you look at the way the game eked out, the guys who seemed to have success out there with bat in hand were the guys who were really brave and took the game on,” Stokes said. “Anyone who tried to stay around there and try and occupy the crease didn’t really seem to have too much success.Related

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“On wickets like this, you never think you’ve got enough, so if you find yourself in a position where you’re the guy who’s managed to get in, try and give yourself the best chance of going on. There was a lot of assistance there when the bowlers put the ball in the right areas. The guys who were brave enough to knock the bowlers off their lengths seem to find success on that.”Ultimately, however, England were blown away by Head’s extraordinary onslaught. Asked what more he could have done to contain such an aggressive innings, Stokes said: “We tried three or four different plans at him. When he was going like a train, those plans can change quite quickly, because those runs were coming down quickly.”I’ve seen Travis play a lot of knocks like that, whether it be in Test cricket or white-ball cricket. He’s very hard to stop.”Because of the two-day finish, England now have close to a fortnight to prepare for the day-night Test in Brisbane, beginning on December 4. Stokes admitted that his team would have to lick their wounds after such a bruising defeat, but said that the performance of his five-man pace attack in the first innings was proof that there will be some positives to take into the rest of the series.”The way in which we bowled yesterday was simply phenomenal,” Stokes said. “A lot happened on day one, 19 wickets fell, so it was a good day for the bowlers.”This is a very tough one to get the series going when we felt we were in control of the game, and we were coming out there to bowl in that fourth innings. We’ve got four more games here.”We’ll obviously let this sink in. Obviously it hurts extremely, but we got to get our heads round and move on to Brisbane, and then hit the ground running there.”

Suspended Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is in line for a surprise return to action next month after not featuring for over a year, according to reports.

Mykhailo Mudryk banned for positive drugs test

Mudryk’s absence from Chelsea’s first-team setup has now exceeded twelve months, with the Ukrainian international last appearing competitively on November 28 last year before his career ground to a dramatic halt.

The 24-year-old tested positive for meldonium, a performance-enhancing substance prohibited under anti-doping regulations.

Following confirmation of his B sample analysis in June, the FA formally charged Mudryk, leaving him facing a potential ban ranging between two and four years if found guilty.

Throughout the ordeal, Mudryk has maintained complete innocence, and even voluntarily undertook a lie detector test which supported his version of events.

Ukrainian sports journalists have theorised that contaminated stem cell treatment administered during international duty may explain the adverse finding, suggesting the injection originated from cattle previously exposed to meldonium.

Chelsea sanctioned the record £88.5 million transfer from Shakhtar in January 2023, initially viewing him as a transformative attacking signing after hijacking Arsenal’s deal.

However, his Stamford Bridge career proved underwhelming even before the suspension materialised, with inconsistent performances failing to justify the enormous investment.

The club reassigned his prestigious number ten shirt to Cole Palmer following Mudryk’s suspension, signalling their acceptance of a prolonged absence.

Chelsea also reinforced their attacking options by striking deals for Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens in the summer, further blocking any potential pathway back into Enzo Maresca’s plans.

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Reports have suggested that, once Mudryk is eligible to play again, Chelsea could allow the forward to join sister club Strasbourg on loan in a bid to reignite his career.

Mykhailo Mudryk in line for January return as Sevilla eye Chelsea loan deal

Now, according to journalist JM Villalba and Canal Sur Radio, that eligibility could be as early as next month.

Speaking to the Spanish broadcaster, Villalba has reported that Mudryk will be able to play again after January 17, and this has piqued interest from La Liga side Sevilla.

The club are considering a deal for Mudryk once he comes back midway through next month, which is a surprise when factoring in how very little we’ve heard about the winger’s return timeline.

If Mudryk is indeed eligible for a January renaissance, BlueCo should certainly green-light a temporary move away for him.

He quite simply needs game time and renewed confidence following the lengthy layoff, controversy and serious drop down Maresca’s pecking order, with the Spanish top flight potentially providing that needed reintroduction to competitive action.

That being said, it should be a dry loan with no option or obligation to buy, with Chelsea poised to make a key decision about Mudryk’s long-term future.

He still has six years remaining on his current contract, giving the Blues plenty of time to do so.

Spinners have thrived in Guwahati, taking 33 of the 44 wickets that have fallen at the venue so far in this World Cup

Sruthi Ravindranath09-Oct-20253:00

Amelia Kerr: NZ wary of spin-heavy Bangladesh

Big Picture: NZ under the pumpTwo matches in, New Zealand are already at risk of playing catch-up in the Women’s World Cup. Two brilliant innings from captain Sophie Devine haven’t been able to save them as they lost to Australia and South Africa. That makes them one of two winless teams in this tournament.New Zealand hadn’t played an ODI in six months prior to the World Cup. The rust has shown: before losing to Australia and South Africa, they suffered defeats in their warm-up games against India and India A. Apart from Devine, who has contributed 42% of New Zealand’s runs in the tournament so far, the batters have struggled for fluency and the bowling has lacked bite. Against South Africa, they also let themselves down in the field with seven misfields, a reflection of a team that has looked undercooked.Bangladesh, in contrast, are on the rise. They stunned Pakistan, pushed England hard, and are brimming with belief. Their batting hasn’t quite clicked, but their bowlers have done the job with Marufa Akter consistently striking with the new ball and the spinners keeping a tight leash through the middle overs. With Brooke Halliday the only left-hander in the batting order, New Zealand’s right-hand-heavy line-up could be tested by left-arm spinner Nahida Akter and the legspin duo of Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan.They’ve never beaten New Zealand in ODIs, having lost both their completed games by a big margin in 2022. But with spin expected to play a big role in Guwahati on Friday, Bangladesh will be keen to use the conditions to their advantage. Unlike New Zealand, they have already played a game at this venue in the World Cup.Form Guide
Bangladesh LWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
New Zealand LLWWLSuzie Bates is yet to open her account in this World Cup•ICC via Getty Images

In the spotlight: Fahima Khatun and Suzie BatesFahima Khatun was near unplayable against England on Tuesday, returning remarkable figures of 3 for 16. She dismissed Nat Sciver-Brunt, Emma Lamb, and Sophia Dunkley, and celebrated each wicket with her trademark jig. Fahima’s slow, loopy legspin tied England down; she conceded just one boundary in 60 balls. She also had Heather Knight caught at cover, but the low catch was ruled not out by the TV umpire, a pivotal moment that arguably swung the game.New Zealand have missed the runs from Suzie Bates from the top of the order, who will be coming into this match off two consecutive ducks. She struggled to score off her first eight balls against Australia, eventually falling to left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, while she fell for a golden duck against South Africa to Marizanne Kapp. She will need to find a way to see off a red-hot Marufa, who’s coming off four wickets in two games.Team news: Is Mair fit and ready?Bangladesh are unlikely to change their combination unless there’s a last-minute injury or illness. Marufa, who bowled only five overs against England and was off the field with cramps, is “fit and ready” for Friday’s game, Nahida said at the press conference.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Rubya Haider, 2 Sharmin Akhter, 3 Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), 4 Sobhana Mostary, 5 Mst Ritu Moni, 6 Shorna Akter, 7 Fahima Khatun, 8 Nahida Akter, 9 Rabeya Khan, 10 Marufa Akter, 11 Sanjida Akter MeghlaNew Zealand assistant coach Craig McMillan had said that right-arm quick Rosemary Mair was “close to fitness” before their previous fixture against South Africa. If she’s fit, New Zealand may bring her in for Jess Kerr.New Zealand (probable): 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Georgia Plimmer, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (capt), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze (wk), 8 Jess Kerr/Rosemary Mair, 9 Lea Tahuhu, 10 Eden Carson, 11 Bree IllingPitch and conditions: Spin to winSpinners have taken 75% of the wickets (33 out of 44 total wickets) in the three matches in Guwahati so far this World Cup. There is a possibility of a rain-interrupted start.Stats and Trivia: Tahuhu gears up for 100th ODINew Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu will be playing her 100th ODI on Friday.Marufa Akter has eight wickets in the powerplay this year, the second most by a bowler in women’s ODIs. Brooke Halliday is 57 runs away from 1000 ODI runs. She will become the 18th New Zealand batter to the feat.Quotes”There has been quite a bit of turn and bounce in the nets, which is exciting for my bowling. But on the other hand with batting, it’s just being really disciplined in the best way to play spin. We know with Bangladesh, they’ve, I think apart from the opening bowler, they’re a spin-heavy attack and they’ve had a lot of teams in trouble as well throughout this tournament we’ve seen. So, I think being really disciplined with the bat, you have to sum up conditions really quickly and then work out what your best game plan is.”

Leeds United have made an approach to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, alongside two other Premier League clubs, and a January move could now be possible.

A lack of goals has been an issue for Leeds so far this season, having scored just ten Premier League goals, the joint-second lowest figure in the top flight, with Danny Murphy bemoaning their lack of quality attacking options back in September.

Murphy said: “I think the biggest problem for Burnley and Leeds is firepower. I agree with what we talked about earlier. I think all the newly promoted sides doing well is great for the Premier League.

“I’d like to see them all stay up, actually. But I don’t think it’ll be the case.

Since then, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has continued to struggle in front of goal, having found the back just once in nine league outings, although Daniel Farke will be glad Lukas Nmecha scored his first goal from open play at the weekend, albeit in a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

As a result of that loss, the Whites are just one point above the relegation zone, sitting in 16th place, and it has been revealed they have now made an approach to sign a new forward ahead of the January transfer window.

Leeds make contact to sign Gonzalo Plata

According to journalist Fabricio Lopes (via Sport Witness), Leeds have now made contact to sign Flamengo winger Gonzalo Plata, and the Brazilian club could be willing to sanction a move in the January transfer window.

Indeed, Flamengo have become increasingly frustrated with Plata, given that he went to a nightclub before an important match, which means they will now be open to offers this winter, although there could be competition for his signature.

AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United have also made enquiries over a deal for the Flamengo star, who remains under contract until June 2029, putting his current employers in a strong negotiating position.

There may be some concerns over the 25-year-old’s off-field issues, but he certainly has plenty of ability, having been lauded as “exceptional” by scout Jacek Kulig earlier this year.

The Ecuadorian is established at international level, having scored eight goals in 45 appearances for his national side, while the versatile attacker, who is also capable of playing at centre-forward, has also chipped in with 17 goal contributions in 63 appearances for Flamengo.

Leeds may need a fresh injection of quality in attack if they are to avoid the drop, given that not a single one of their players has scored over two goals this season.

Leeds’ top scorers

Number of goals

Joe Rodon

2

Lukas Nmecha

2

Noah Okofor

2

Sean Longstaff

1

Brenden Aaronson

1

Anton Stach

1

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

That said, it would be a risk to sign Plata, given that the Ecuador international is unproven in the Premier League, and wasn’t exactly prolific in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A, netting four goals in 24 outings.

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The New York Mets are in a prolonged slide, having dropped 13 of their last 16 games on the heels of a torrid 45-24 start. This has moved them out of the top of the National League East and caused much frustration for fans. Owner Steve Cohen, the highest-profile of these supporters, acknowledged that things aren't going well in a Monday morning post on X.

"Tough stretch," Cohen wrote. "No sugarcoating it. I didn’t see this coming. I’m as frustrated as everybody else. We will get through this period. Our injured pitching will come back over the next few weeks. It is unlikely the team’s hitting with RISP will continue at this weak pace. Keep the faith!"

These seem like fairly reasonable points. Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill and Sean Manaea are all on the injured list with hopes to return in July. Losing this many starting pitchers at once is not a good recipe for success. As for the clutch hitting, New York is 29th in baseball with runners in scoring position and the season is past the midway point. So that might actually be a problem.

With the highest payroll in MLB, big things are expected for the Mets. Optimism at the highest level remains.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Mauricio Taricco has quit South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors after a racism scandal. The 52-year-old Argentinian, who served as assistant coach under Gus Poyet, was sanctioned by the K League’s disciplinary committee for making what officials deemed a racist gesture toward referee Kim Woo-seong during a league match.

• Controversy erupts after late-match incident leads to misinterpreted gesture

  The incident occurred in stoppage time, with Jeonbuk leading 2-1 when a handball appeal was initially waved away by the referee. As tensions built, the video assistant referee intervened and awarded a late penalty. Taricco, incensed by the earlier decision, continued protesting aggressively. His dissent earned him a yellow card and, moments later, a second caution, at which point he made a gesture by placing his fingers near the corners of his eyes. Referee Kim interpreted the action as a derogatory "slanted-eye" insult targeted at people of Asian descent and promptly reported him to the disciplinary authorities. The committee ultimately agreed, releasing a strongly worded statement accusing Taricco of making a universally recognised racist gesture.

  The league’s disciplinary panel issued its ruling on November 19, declaring Taricco guilty of conduct that constituted ethnic mockery.

  "In the video footage of the incident, coach Mauricio Taricco was seen placing his index finger in the centre of his eye and then pulling it toward the edge, narrowing his eyes," the committee said. "The coach’s action was identical with the so-called slanted-eye gesture that derides people of Asian descent, and it was enough to insult the other person. Such a gesture is universally regarded as something that mocks the appearance of a certain ethnic group. It matches the gesture that has been penalised on many occasions by FIFA."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Taricco denies racist intent and announces departure

  As punishment, Taricco received a five-match ban and a fine of 20 million won ($13,646). But the fallout would go much further, prompting soul-searching within the club and eventually culminating in Taricco’s decision to leave South Korea entirely once the season concludes. 

  However, in a lengthy statement published on Jeonbuk’s website, Taricco vehemently rejected the accusation, insisting his gesture had been misunderstood and taken out of context. He argued that he had merely been asking the referee whether he had clearly seen the contested handball incident.

  "I have worked with many people in many countries and have lived and socialised with them without any problems related to their culture or race, and I have considered this a blessing," he wrote. "However, I have now been branded a racist by ‘self-proclaimed’ authorities due to a single misunderstanding where the context, cultural expressions, and meanings of all situations I continuously explained were ignored. I merely covered my eyes to emphasise that the referee should have directly seen the handball foul. 

  "My life, regardless of nationality and race, must continue in a place where there is safety, respect, peace, and equality before the law as a football person, so with a heavy heart, I have decided to leave this place after the end of this season. I would like to express my gratitude to the club and players with whom I could share success and history, and I am truly grateful to the fans who have given me unwavering support. I will not forget you."

• Jeonbuk rally behind their assistant coach

  Jeonbuk issued their own statement defending Taricco, arguing that the gesture lacked malicious intent. 

  "It would be unreasonable to view [Taricco’s behaviour] as an intention of racial discrimination," the club said. "The club expects a more objective and balanced judgment to be made through the appeal process and will do its best until the end so that coach Tano [Taricco] can quickly get out of this dishonourable situation and his memory of the K League and Korean football does not remain as a bitter pain."

  Several Jeonbuk players also expressed support, most notably Lee Seung-woo, the former Barcelona academy forward who has played in Italy, Belgium and Portugal.

  “The coach respects Korea more than anyone else,” Lee said. “The judgment that ignores intent and context is far from the truth. This punishment is even more shocking because I know the sincerity of the coach I’ve been with for a year.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next?

  Despite Jeonbuk’s defence, the K League rejected Taricco’s appeal on Monday, ruling there were no procedural errors in the disciplinary process and no new evidence to justify overturning the verdict. The committee reaffirmed its stance that the gesture met the definition of racially offensive behaviour. The rejection all but sealed Taricco’s exit, leaving him to finish his duties for the season before departing.

  The controversy has overshadowed what had been another successful year for Jeonbuk. The club secured their 10th K League title in October with five matches remaining, reaffirming their place as one of Asia’s dominant footballing forces. Jeonbuk’s final match of the season, the Korean FA Cup final against Gwangju on December 6, will now serve as Taricco’s farewell, though the circumstances are far from ideal.

“I feel such things [about Kohli making it to the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs,” Sitanshu Kotak says

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-20252:15

Kotak: We don’t need to talk about Kohli’s future

Virat Kohli has the most centuries in ODI history, and yet, each time one sees him bat in the only format he is still active in internationally, thoughts turn to the 2027 World Cup. Kohli is 37 now. Will he still be playing two years on? For Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, “there’s no point talking about all this” and fans should stay in the moment.”I don’t know why we need to look at all this – he’s really batting well, and I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future,” Kotak said after Kohli’s 135 from 120 balls took India to victory in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.”Just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant. The way he’s performing, [and] his fitness – there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said. “I feel such things [the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs. That is something which is two years away. There’s no point talking about all this. For us, once the team arrives and we start practice, we just enjoy.”Related

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Vastly experienced players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who is a year older at 38, add value to the dressing room even otherwise, Kotak pointed out. And it’s not like they aren’t performing. Rohit’s last three innings in ODIs have been worth 73, 121* and 57.”Obviously, they do share their experience with others,” Kotak said. “I don’t think we’re talking anything about the 2027 World Cup. They are just brilliant, and they are performing. They are contributing to the team, which is a great thing for us.”Like Kohli, Rohit is also active only in ODIs internationally. That leaves both of them with very limited game time. But, despite that, for the second successive match, Kohli and Rohit showed good form while stitching together a match-winning century stand.After adding an unbeaten 168 against Australia in Sydney last month, they had a stand of 136 in the first ODI against South Africa. While Kohli followed 74* in Sydney with 135 in Ranchi, Rohit scored 57 at better than a-run-a-ball against South Africa after hitting 121* in a win over Australia.”They are such experienced players; it’s always great to have them,” Kotak said. “The way they bat – like today also, that partnership – it makes a huge difference. Obviously, they batted really well.”

Stina Blackstenius came to the rescue as a beleaguered Arsenal limped to a nervy 2-1 win over Women's Super League basement side Liverpool on Saturday. Former Reds star Olivia Smith banged in a sublime individual goal before Beata Olsson levelled up for a well-earned first-half equaliser. The Gunners were poor for lengthy spells but substitute Blackstenius' quality finish gave the home fans a huge sigh of relief.

Much of the build-up to the game centred on Canada international Smith facing her old side, and, sure enough, the livewire forward gave Arsenal the lead with a 25-yard strike after beating three defenders in the 16th minute. But an all too familiar story played out on the pitch for the Gunners as they failed to grab a second and were punished on the half-hour mark when Olsson tucked the ball home for a relatively soft equaliser. The Swedish forward, who became the first WSL player to score in four of her first five starts, was the home side's tormentor-in-chief as the north London team were second-best for sustained periods. 

England forward Alessia Russo spurned some good opportunities in front of goal as Arsenal regrouped in the second half, and then substitute Stina Blackstenius was denied by some heroic, last-gasp defending by Gemma Evans. But the Swede grabbed the winner three minutes from time when she emphatically whacked a terrific finish into the top corner in front of nearly 35,000 fans. The result sees Arsenal climb up to third in the WSL for the time being, whereas Liverpool are rock bottom.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Anneke Borbe (4/10):

The pressure was on the keeper on her Arsenal debut but she didn't look convincing in between the sticks. She was flat-footed and didn't get a strong enough hand on the ball to keep out Olsson's goal. Not a good first outing.

Emily Fox (5/10):

Got into some dangerous positions but some of her decision-making at important moments wasn't quite good enough.

Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10):

Probably should have given Arsenal an early lead but her header from two yards out somehow hit the post. However, she did make some good recovery tackles.

Steph Catley (5/10):

Was undone by Mia Enderby's through ball, but she was well out of position anyway. Her place could now be under threat.

Taylor Hinds (6/10):

Fired in some nice crosses into the box against her old team and didn't do much wrong before being taken off.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Frida Maanum (5/10):

The experienced campaigner didn't do a great deal on and off the ball and was hooked before the hour mark.

Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

The Spaniard was one of Arsenal's few lively players in the first half as her creativity and crosses into the box caused problems. But even some of her passing was downright sloppy.

Kyra Cooney-Cross (5/10):

Even though she isn't a defender, Cooney-Cross' slack marking allowed Liverpool to draw level – an opportunity they duly took. Not the Aussie's best day.

Getty Images SportAttack

Beth Mead (5/10):

The England stalwart provided some dangerous deliveries into the box but was part of an attack that was too cumbersome.

Alessia Russo (5/10):

Played with her back to goal on a number of occasions but when she did get into good positions, she wasted some big chances. 

Olivia Smith (7/10):

Was able to conjure something out of nothing as Arsenal's lukewarm attack uninspiringly huffed and puffed. Faded as the game wore on.

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Caitlin Foord (4/10):

Initially added a bit more dynamism off the bench but made a right meal out of a golden chance after the hour mark and some of her passing was very shoddy.

Katie McCabe (6/10):

Didn't really have much to deal with as Arsenal turned the screw in the second half.

Stina Blackstenius (7/10):

The striker was caught offside on too many occasions, with the Swede not needing to make her runs so early. She should have made it 2-1 but wasn't clinical enough when one-on-one with the keeper, but spectacularly took her goal at the end.

Kim Little (6/10):

The captain was competent enough when she was introduced. 

Laia Codina (N/A):

Had no time to make an impact.

Renee Slegers (6/10):

Her second-half substitutes helped wrestle the game's momentum back to Arsenal but she will be worried how her players don't put away teams and have lengthy lulls. 

Kane Williamson accepts that “managing priorities on the calendar is a big task” but hopes all Test-playing countries give the format the attention it needs

Abhimanyu Bose08-Oct-2025Kane Williamson wants all stakeholders to give “greater importance” to Test cricket, especially in countries where the format faces the most challenges.”There’s been a lot of discussion about the Test game and how to keep breathing life into it, especially in countries where it’s facing greater challenges,” Williamson said on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday. “The concern with a potential two-tier system is how teams in the second tier can continue to improve and work their way up to the top division.”There are already many conversations around this, but the reality is that the impact has been felt for some time, so finding a solution sooner would be better. The Test format needs greater importance placed on it by all playing nations, along with additional resources to support its growth. As a passionate supporter of Test cricket, I would love to see it thrive.”Related

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Williamson, who has called for tweaks, like designated windows for Test cricket in the past, supported the argument against two-match Test series, but also recognised the challenges faced by certain boards to host longer series.”These circumstances aren’t ideal, but the Test game faces more challenges in some countries than others. Organising three- or four-match Test series is difficult commercially, making it hard for boards to support,” he said. “However, the Test Championship has helped provide context, leading to more results and making the competition meaningful for teams.”While some adjustments are needed, the international schedule is very busy with both international and franchise cricket, creating clashes and challenges for players. Managing priorities on the calendar is a big task.”Two-match Test series aren’t ideal – I’ve played many for New Zealand and we always want more [games in a series] – but often this is the reality. I would love to see the Test game grow with more opportunities for teams and countries to develop, but those are complex discussions.”Williamson is now 35 and has opted out of a central contract with New Zealand Cricket and is on a casual agreement, meaning his international appearances have been and will continue to be sporadic. However, he insists that there is plenty more left in his international career.”I still love playing the game, and every opportunity to represent New Zealand remains special,” he said. “I recently spent some time in England, and although the team [New Zealand] hasn’t played a lot of cricket lately, we have a busy schedule ahead.If Test cricket is split in two tiers, West Indies could be one of the teams to be relegated•Associated Press”Looking back on my international career, I feel incredibly grateful for the journey. There have been transitions with new players coming in, and for me, it’s been about moving from captaincy to continuing as part of the group. I still feel connected to that community and want to contribute to a team that’s heading in the right direction. There’s always plenty to look forward to.”Last year, injuries had ruled Williamson out of New Zealand’s three-Test series in India where they inflicted a historic 3-0 whitewash on the hosts, the first time India had been swept in a series of three or more Tests at home and also India’s first Test series defeat at home since England beat them in 2012.Williamson, who had captained New Zealand to another famous win over India – the one that won them the World Test Championship title in 2021 – dubbed the series win he had missed as New Zealand’s greatest achievement in Test cricket.”I believe our achievement in a three-Test series in India stands as probably our finest accomplishment as a Test-playing nation,” he said. “As we have witnessed over the years, competing – and especially winning – here is a major challenge. What the New Zealand team accomplished was remarkable and is undoubtedly a standout highlight in the history of our game.”