O Ituano foi do inferno ao céu na rodada final da fase de grupos do Paulistão. O Galo de Itu estava brigando contra o rebaixamento, mas a vitória por 3 a 0 sobre o Santos e uma combinação de resultados fizeram a equipe garantir vaga às quartas de final, onde encontrarão o Corinthians.
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+ Giuliano vai renovar com o Timão?Veja 40 nomes do futebol brasileiro em último ano de contrato
O zagueiro Claudinho, autor do primeiro gol contra o Peixe, revelou que o técnico Gilmar del Pozzo pediu para os jogadores não pensarem no Timão após o duelo da rodada final, mas o defensor não se conteve e mostrou ansiedade para a partida.
+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!
– O professor Gilmar comentou após o jogo que estávamos proibidos de falar sobre o Corinthians, mas é inevitável. A partir do momento que atingimos nosso objetivo, livrar o clube do rebaixamento, e ficamos sabendo da classificação, não tem como não pensar em Corinthians. É um jogo diferente, grande, que queremos estar jogando – afirmou o atleta que vestiu a braçadeira de capitão contra o Santos.
Uma das preocupações do Ituano para a partida é Róger Guedes. Ao lado de Galoppo, o camisa 10 corintiano é o artilheiro do Paulistão, com oito gols marcados. Mesmo assim, Claudinho preferiu não individualizar os méritos do Corinthians no atacante, e sim valorizar o coletivo da equipe de Fernando Lázaro.
+ Veja como ficou a tabela e simule o mata-mata do Campeonato Paulista
– Não só o Róger Guedes, a equipe geral do Corinthians dispensa comentários. Muitos jogadores de qualidade, é o coletivo mesmo. Vamos trabalhar essa semana, ver qual estratégia o professor vai usar para pararmos o time do Corinthians – concluiu o zagueiro de 32 anos.
Corinthians e Ituano se enfrentam no domingo (12), às 16h, na Neo Química Arena. Em caso de empate no tempo normal, o vencedor será decidido nos pênaltis.
O Fluminense divulgou, na tarde deste domingo, uma nota sesolidarizando com os dois torcedores do clube que foram baleados nos arredores do Maracanã, em um bar, depois do clássico diante do Flamengo. O clube lamentou a morte deThiago Leonel Fernandes da Motta e frisou que torce pela recuperação deBruno Tonini Moura, que está na UTI.
+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro
– O Fluminense Football Club lamenta profundamente a morte de Thiago Leonel Fernandes da Motta e torce pela recuperação de Bruno Tonini Moura, ambos tricolores, vítimas de agressão em um bar próximo ao Maracanã, após o jogo de sábado – diz a nota.
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Segundo as autoridades, o autor dos disparos é o inspetor de Polícia Penal Marcelo de Lima. Os amigos de Thiago lamentaram e se despediram do companheiro nas redes sociais. O sambista foi caracterizado pelos amigos próximos como um excelente profissional. Além disso, ele também foi apontado como um amante do samba, paixão que o levou a ser um dos fundadores do projeto solidário Samba Pra Roda, que tinha mais uma edição confirmada para este domingo.
+Marcelo não sai do banco contra o Flamengo e adia estreia pelo Fluminense; auxiliar de Diniz explica
No perfil oficial, o grupo lembrou que ele era morador do Morro do Pinto, e que em na comemoração do seu aniversário, em 2017, no Bar do Omar, famoso na região. De acordo com a postagem, o evento foi o pontapé inicial para o início do grupo de samba.
– A partir de agora, toda vez que nos reunirmos vai faltar um amigo, um irmão, um colega de trabalho e um incentivador dos nossos encontros repletos de samba e alegria – publicou a página.
+Auxiliar de Diniz no Fluminense detona arbitragem do primeiro jogo da final: ‘Bê-a-bá da aplicação da regra’
De acordo com a apuração do ‘g1’, a vítima era cinegrafista e teve, inclusive, participações em produções de atrações do Globoplay. Em suas redes sociais, o jovem demonstrava todo seu amor pela profissão.
O Fluminense Football Club lamenta profundamente a morte de Thiago Leonel Fernandes da Motta e torce pela recuperação de Bruno Tonini Moura, ambos tricolores, vítimas de agressão em um bar próximo ao Maracanã, após o jogo de sábado. pic.twitter.com/qurM0gK8Lm
O Bahia venceu o Itabuna por 4 a 1 e conseguiu reverter a desvantagem no confronto de ida das semifinais do Campeonato Baiano. Everaldo e Cauly marcaram duas vezes para os mandantes, neste sábado (18).
No primeiro jogo, o Tricolor de Aço foi derrotado por 1 a 0. Agora, o time comandado por Renato Paiva aguarda o vencedor do outro duelo.
No primeiro tempo, oBahia explorou os lados do campo com as chegadas de Jacaré, pela direita, e Biel, pela esquerda, para levar perigo ao Itabuna. Foi de Jacaré a primeira chance de gol do Tricolor, mas o goleiro Thiago Passos fez ótima defesa.
Após cruzamento da esquerda finalizado por Jacaré, a bola bateu na perna de Elivelton, mas o árbitro Bruno Pereira Vasconcelos marcou pênalti por mão do atleta do Itabuna. Everaldo converteu a penalidade, e colocou o Bahia em vantagem.
O Itabuna tentou reagir e chegou com perigo em cobrança de falta de Flavinho, que passou perto do gol. O Bahia teve nova chance, também por meio de bola parada, que finalizada por Jacaré e defendida por Thiago Passos.
Na volta do intervalo, a vantagem no placar.Em jogada ensaiada, Jacaré passa para Chávez, que cruza à área. Marcos Victor cabeceia para o meio, e Cauly, livre, mandou para a rede de cabeça.
Em seguida, o terceiro.Biel fez linda jogada e cruza na medida para Everaldo anotar o seu segundo na partida. Hebert pelo lado do Itabuna, e Daniel pelo Bahia ainda foram expulsos.
O Itabuna diminuiu com Cesinha, mas nos minutos finais, Cauly invadiu a área e anotou o quarto gol dos mandantes.
O Palmeiras iniciou sua maratona de jogos do mês de abril de maneira inesperada, com derrota diante do Água Santa na partida de ida da final do Paulistão no último domingo (02). Além disso, o Verdão agora tem mais uma preocupação: Piquerez, diagnosticado comum entorse no joelho direito. Logo, o substituto imediato do uruguaio será o jovem Vanderlan, de apenas 20 anos.
>ANÁLISE: Primeira derrota do Palmeiras em 2023 expõe deficiência no meio e dificuldade com inversões
No final do primeiro tempo contra o Água Santa, Piquerez acabou torcendo o joelho depois de ter seu tornozelo atingido por Igor Henrique. O lateral recebeu tratamento médico e fez testes no local para tentar retornar para a partida, mas isso não foi possível e ele foi substituído por Vanderlan no intervalo da partida.
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Com a ausência do uruguaio, Vanderlan deve se tornar o lateral-esquerdo titular da equipe do técnico Abel Ferreira, principalmente com a sequência de jogos que o Alviverde terá no mês de abril, em que disputará quatro competições diferentes em partidas com intervalo de praticamente apenas três dias.
Vanderlan chegou ao Palmeiras ainda no Sub-15 para jogar como zagueiro, mas se firmou na lateral esquerda e já fez também aparições como ponta. Pela base, além de ter conquistado o título inédito da Copinha, ele também foi campeão do Mundial de Clubes (2018), da Copa do Brasil (2019) e da Supercopa do Brasil (2019) pelo sub-17, e foi três vezes campeão do Paulistão (2019, 2020 e 2021) pelo sub-20.
Sua primeira partida como profissional aconteceu em janeiro de 2021, diante do Vasco, entrandono lugar de Lucas Lima aos 13 minutos da etapa complementar. Já o seu primeiro gol pelo elenco principal foi na vitória por 3 a 0 contra o Avaí no Brasileirão do ano passado. Na ocasião, Vanderlan comentou sobre a confiança depositada por Abel em seu futebol.
– O Abel sabe que posso jogar como ponta, mas minha posição mesmo é lateral. Então eu estava tranquilo… Ele me passou as orientações técnicas, mas eu já sabia o que fazer dentro de campo.
> Saiba quais foram as reações de Leila Pereira na derrota do Palmeiras para o Água Santa
Além de Vanderlan, atletas jovens como Fabinho e Naves também devem atuar por mais minutos nas próximas partidas. O próprio treinador português já havia falado sobre a rotação do elenco e voltou a comentar sobre o assunto na entrevista coletiva após o confronto diante do time de Diadema, na Arena Barueri.
– Já tinha dito que este ano vamos correr riscos com muita gente jovem no plantel. É ter que jogar, ter que assumir, ter que entrar. Hoje estávamos com três pontas no banco, o Dudu de um lado, Breno do outro e depois queria fazer substituições para a ponta e só tinha o Giovani, não tinha outro. Se eu quisesse trocar o Rony no final por outro ponta, não tinha – disse Abel.
– Portanto, o Fabinho tem entrado muito bem, eu disse e vou voltar a repetir, esse mês vai testar o nosso elenco, não o nosso 11 base, mas vai testar o nosso elenco e perceber o nível que nós estamos. É tão simples quanto isso.
O Palmeirasestreia na Libertadores diante do Bolívar (BOL), nesta quarta-feira (05), às 21h30, no estádio Hernando Siles, em La Paz. Já com os reforços regularizados, no final de semana o Verdão enviou a lista com os 50 jogadores inscritos na competição. Dentre eles, está o lateral Ian, do sub-20, que se torna mais uma opção do lado esquerdo.
O elenco palmeirense viaja para a Bolívia na manhã desta terça-feira (04) e treina às 17h (horário local) no Club de Tênis Huajchilla, em La Paz. A expectativa é de que Abel poupe alguns jogadores na estreia da Libertadores visando o jogo de volta da final do Paulistão diante do Água Santa, no próximo domingo (9), no Allianz Parque.
Australia assistant coach Dan Vettori is impressed with the young spinners for playing the conditions and not the big-name India batters
Andrew McGlashan06-Mar-2023
Todd Murphy’s tight spells allowed the other spinners to cash in with wickets•Getty Images
Indore. India’s first innings. Todd Murphy to Virat Kohli.It was Murphy’s only wicket of the third Test among the 18 that Australia’s spinners claimed, but it was just about the perfect set-up from the young offspinner following the seven he took on debut in Nagpur. It came amid Matthew Kuhnemann’s five-wicket haul on the opening day in Indore as India fell apart for 109.Related
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Going around the wicket to take buckets of wickets
Nathan Lyon went on to enjoy one of the finest days of his stellar Test career with eight wickets in the second innings, but it’s the performance of Australia’s inexperienced spinners in this series that has been equally noteworthy.That dismissal of Kohli was the third time Murphy had removed him in the series: overall Murphy has conceded 41 runs from 99 balls against him. Kuhnemann has had Kohli twice in three innings.Spinners will rarely get better conditions to operate in, but with that comes the expectation to perform and with Murphy and Kuhnemann holding a combined first-class match tally of 20 before the series, they could easily have been overawed.”That’s the main challenge on these surfaces, the expectation is so high that you are going to do well [and] you are going to take a wicket every ball,” Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori, who made his Test debut after just two first-class matches back in the 1996-97 season, said. “To be able to be consistent against some of the best players of spin you’ll come across in these conditions and with these expectations has probably been the most impressive thing so far.”I think the guys who do it consistently, there are quite a number of them on show in this series from both teams… they don’t wilt to the pressure. They just understand their process and they repeat, repeat and repeat. I think that’s the real skill over here. To repeat as much as you can because you can get carried away by what’s going on, the expectation, but all six spinners so far in the series have been able to manage those expectations.”Kuhnemann was more expensive in the second innings, although he did claim Kohli’s wicket, and Murphy’s wicketless 14 overs, which cost just 18 runs, have been praised for keeping a lid on India.Daniel Vettori: Todd Murphy can attack as well as defendAlex Carey, who was able to complete his first Test stumping when Murphy defeated Kohli in the second innings in Delhi, has had the perfect vantage point.”Credit to the two young bowlers coming in and not playing the batsmen,” he said. “Playing the conditions, playing the way that they have been for their state. I probably look to that second innings… at a time where Matty was leaking a little bit. So for him [Murphy] to do that, that’s a huge role. Although he didn’t get the wickets, we acknowledge that spell of bowling, the dryness that he had from his end.”Matthew Kuhnemann has dismissed Virat Kohli twice in three innings•BCCI
“Steve Smith singled him [Murphy] out around his performances in the last Test,” Vettori added. “Obviously Nathan and Matt got all the wickets but… his spell allowed everyone around him to take those wickets. And I think that probably embodies it, that series of balls that he’s bowled to Kohli.”Todd has that skill that he can be a defensive bowler and he can be an attacking bowler and work around pretty much whatever is required from him in the game. For such a young and inexperienced spinner… to be able to come here and handle these tough situations and perform the role that’s required has been impressive.”Vettori played eight Tests in India where he claimed 31 wickets at 44.77 in an era where the pitches were often in favour of the bat, at least in the first half of the game. It meant he hasn’t always been able to impart first-hand experience of the pitches served up in this series.”That’s been a question a lot of the guys have asked, if I’d played on these sorts of wickets and I just haven’t,” he said. “They were always just a war of attrition the wickets that I played on – India won the toss and got 600, you get 400 then hang on for dear life in the last couple of days. Now the game’s in fast forward in a lot of ways.”A game in fast forward that Australia’s young spinners are showing they can keep up with.
The deal covers the broadcast of 14 international events across men’s, women’s and Under-19 World Cups
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2023
The US market is of particular interest to the ICC, with its potential for growth•Gareth Copley/ICC/Getty Images
The ICC has signed a four-year deal with Willow TV and Digital in the USA and Canada, giving Willow digital and broadcast rights for all men’s and women’s major events till the end of 2027.The first direct live TV contractual relationship between the ICC and Willow will cover the broadcast of 14 international events across men’s, women’s and Under-19 World Cup and T20 World Cup competitions. All the senior men’s and women’s ICC events will receive TV coverage, beginning with the men’s T20 World Cup in 2024, scheduled to be held in the USA and the West Indies.Related
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“USA is an important strategic market for the ICC and the direct partnership with Willow will provide us with a number of exciting opportunities to strengthen engagement with fans in the region,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC CEO, said.The ICC had invited bids for media rights to global cricketing events over the next four (or eight) years for the Australian, US, Caribbean and Canadian markets last September.This is the first time the ICC has unbundled its media rights, choosing to sell them territory by territory. In August last year, the ICC sealed a deal in the Indian market for an undisclosed sum. That winning bid, thought to be in the region of just over US$ 3 billion, came from Disney Star* and covers both television and digital rights to men’s and women’s global tournaments between 2024 and 2027. Days after the winning bid was announced, Disney Star announced it would in turn be licensing part of the rights to Zee Entertainment Enterprises in another landmark deal.In January this year, the ICC struck an eight-year deal with Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, giving them access to broadcast all World Cups between 2024 and 2031.
Australia A and Sydney Sixers seamer reunites with head coach Charlotte Edwards
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2023
Maitlan Brown in action for Australia A Women•ECB via Getty Images
Southern Vipers have signed Sydney Sixers and Australia A seam bowler Maitlan Brown for their remaining July fixtures.The 26-year-old Brown will be available for Vipers’ Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy clash with Thunder on Friday and will be a part of their squad for matches up to and including the one against Northern Diamonds at Arundel on July 22 with fixtures against the Blaze and Western Storm in between.Brown made her debut for Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL in 2016 before moving to Sydney Sixers for the 2021-22 season. It was in Sydney that she was coached by Vipers head coach Charlotte Edwards in the 2022-23 competition.Edwards signed Brown to Southern Brave for £18,750 (A$35,875) in the inaugural women’s Hundred draft, held in March for the upcoming season, which begins in August.Brown was part of the Australia A squad which played three 50-over games and three T20s against England A on a tour running concurrently with the beginning of the Women’s Ashes, as well as a three-day red-ball warm-up game against England ahead of last month’s Test. She made her Australia A debut in 2018 against India, where she picked up figures of 2 for 16, and she has taken 20 wickets at an average of 28.25 in 24 matches.Adam Carty, Vipers’ regional director of women’s cricket, said: “As a cricketer and a person, Maitlan has all the characteristics and attitude to be a Viper and we are delighted to bring her into the fold for what will be a pretty busy 50-over period for us.”As a highly skilled, competitive bowling allrounder, we hope we’ll provide an environment that will allow Maitlan to show her best side both on and off the pitch at a time when we’ll be without a number of our senior players.”Three Vipers players – seamer Lauren Bell, offspinner Charlie Dean and batter Maia Bouchier – are part of England’s T20 squad currently locked 1-1 with Australia in their three-match Ashes contest, with a squad yet to be named for the three ODIs which will complete the multi-format series.
England A captain shows class in run chase after Sparks recover from slow start
ECB Reporters Network01-May-2024
Grace Scrivens was in the runs for Sunrisers•Getty Images
A high-class century from Grace Scrivens ensured that Sunrisers continued their strong start to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy season with a five-wicket victory over Central Sparks at Kidderminster.Put in, Sparks lost both openers for ducks and recovered only partially to post a moderate 213 all out thanks principally to Abi Freeborn’s accomplished 93. Only Freeborn stayed long enough against a disciplined attack led by openers Kate Coppack (3 for 26) and Nicola Hancock (3 for 34).It looked a under-par total on a decent batting pitch and Scrivens navigated Sunrisers’ pursuit of it to perfection, with a stroke-laden unbeaten 118 off 123 balls to take her side to 214 for 5 with 10.2 overs to spare.A third win from four games strengthened Sunrisers’ place among the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy front-runners but Central Sparks need to reboot after following their opening-round win with three successive defeats.Abi Freeborn scored 93•Getty Images
“It was great to get another bonus-point win,” Scrivens said. “I’m feeling nice at the moment and when you are feeling nice you have to cash in. I was just happy I did that today and helped get us over the line.”I thought we kept them to a total which was a little bit below par. We bowled well up top to take some wickets and then bowled well through the middle too. Sometimes you can let things drift when you don’t take wickets but we stuck at it really well and it was nice to restrict Freeborn to the mid-nineties when she was in and set.”Sparks captain Eve Jones endured a bracing start to the day: at 10am, she lost the toss. At 10.30am, she edged the first ball of the match, an absolute beauty from Coppack, to wicketkeeper Amara Carr.When Chloe Brewer edged Coppack behind, both Sparks openers had departed without scoring and debutant Courtney Webb walked in to bat with the score at 1 for 2. The pressure on the batters remained high – Coppack opened with 5-2-8-2 and Hancock 5-1-6-0 – but Freeborn and Webb withstood it to add 67 in 20 overs before the latter miscued a straight hit and was caught by Scrivens in front of the sightscreen.Freeborn completed her second half-century of the season from 99 balls but partners continued to come and go as Davina Perrin and Katie George sent up catches in successive overs from Jo Gardner.Freeborn had her good fortune – on 69 she should have been out twice to the same ball from Gardner, stumped at one end then run out at the other as she tried to scramble a bye – but batted with selective assertion. The 27-year-old struck 12 fours and was seven short of emulating her century against Sunrisers last season when she top-edged a pull and fell to a fantastic diving catch by Mady Villiers.Related
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Bethan Ellis offered some impetus with a 35-ball 31 which included the only six of the innings, but Coppack and Hancock returned to lop off the tail, supported by more excellent catching.When Sunrisers replied, the catching bar was raised still further by George’s brilliant, one-handed grab at second slip off Grace Potts as Ariana Dowse became the third opening batter in the day to bag a duck.The fourth opener filled her boots though. Reprieved on 22 when wicketkeeper Freeborn grassed a tough chance from an edge off Grace Potts, Scrivens played with the freedom and confidence of a batter in top form. She reached 50 from 53 balls and celebrated by lifting Ria Fackrell over long-on for six.Scrivens and Cordelia Griffith (37) added 110 in 19 overs before Fackrell struck twice to retain a Sparks toe-hold in the game. Griffith belted a full toss straight to a fielder and Jodi Grewcock fell lbw, sweeping. When George took another fine catch, at midwicket off Ellis, to end Villiers’ counter-attack, it was 149 for 4 and Sparks had a glimmer of opportunity.That glimmer was emphatically extinguished by Scrivens and Carr (26), the former reaching her century from 108 balls in a victory-clinching fifth-wicket partnership of 59 in nine overs.
Ladies and gentlemen, Bukayo Saka is back. Wow, what a sight that was. Three months Arsenal fans have had to stand by to watch him kick a ball again and boy was it worth the wait.
The club’s heralded number 7 hasn’t been seen since sustaining a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace on 21st December and since then, the Gunners’ title challenge has been extinguished swiftly.
Yet, there is still hope for Arsenal’s season. Despite their 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening, a game Saka scored in, they are unlikely to win the Premier League title.
However, the winger’s return is timely with Real Madrid to look forward to in just under a week’s time in the Champions League.
For once, Mikel Arteta has a bunch of positives to swoon over. That hasn’t been said too often about the club’s season now has it?
Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore
The biggest positives from Arsenal's win over Fulham
Oh Saka, you little beauty. It’s been a hellish 12 week period for Arsenal since the Englishman took to the field but he is back and back with a bang.
He had only been on the field for seven minutes before he found the net. It wasn’t in classic Saka fashion but it raised the roof off the Emirates Stadium nonetheless.
Mikel Merino moved into the left channel and swung in a ball that was guided towards Saka with remarkable skill and audacity by Gabriel Martinelli.
The returning hero was just inches out from goal and couldn’t miss, heading the ball past former Gunner Bernd Leno.
Saka wasn’t the only positive either, far from it. The aforementioned Merino and Martinelli were both in top form, the former scoring the game’s opening goal and the latter unfortunate not to leave proceedings with a goal to his name as well.
Saka’s return in numbers
Minutes played
24
Touches
13
Accurate passes
7/8 (88%)
Key passes
0
Shots on target
1
Accurate crosses
1/1
Duels won
1/3
Was fouled
x1
Stats via Sofascore.
The Brazilian was a constant livewire, not just providing the assist for Saka’s goal, a game-winning strike, but he also found the back of the net himself, albeit it was ruled out for offside.
Nonetheless, it was phenomenal to see the winger back at top speed. He was a constant nuisance throughout, terrorising Fulham’s Timothy Castagne with a performance that was remeniscent of 2022/23 Martinelli.
He left the field having had three shots, completed two dribbles and produced five key passes.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Beyond Saka’s incredible return, the biggest positive that aside was perhaps the performance of the club’s makeshift centre-forward.
Arsenal have found their modern-day Olivier Giroud
When Gabriel Jesus went down with an injury during Arsenal’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United, there was a collective panic. But…it was alright…they were going to strengthen in the January transfer window. Famous last words and all that.
Arsenal did not strengthen. Their reward? A season-ending injury for Kai Havertz too.
Arsenal's KaiHavertzwith manager MikelArtetaafter being substituted
Since then, Arteta has preferred to field the aforementioned Merino as his out and out centre-forward and it’s had mixed success.
Truth be told, the £28m summer arrival has done an admiral job. He’s scored five goals in eight games as a striker. Had he started the campaign as the club’s number 9, he’d on for a 23-goal season. Not bad indeed.
Unlike many others during the club’s injury-hit season, he’s stepped up big time and in the words of Arsenal writer Oli Price Bates, is “not getting enough credit for his performances.”
Another game came and went against Fulham where the Spaniard made quite the impression. His goal was a scruffy finish, finding the net via a deflection but it was a crucial goal all the same.
It’s not the first time the former Real Sociedad man has come up trumps, notably scoring that brace off the bench in the 2-0 win over Leicester City.
Since then, he’s been much-maligned, rather in the same way as a certain Olivier Giroud. Now, there are clear differences between the two. Giroud was a direct centre-forward first and foremost.
However, there are specific similarities in the way the two play the game. The Frenchman scored some beautiful goals but he always had quite an awkward play style, a technique that looked rather awkward. At the same time, his left peg was certainly pretty special.
Those traits can certainly be applied to Merino too. He’s not the most technically elegant – he’s a bit scruffy and awkward like Giroud. He’s also pretty underappreciated and underrated. That’s not to mention their ability to act as target men and link play too.
Merino vs Fulham
Minutes played
90
Touches
28
Accurate passes
14/16 (88%)
Key passes
1
Shots
2
Shots on target
1
Accurate crosses
1/1
Duels won
3/9
Tackles
2
Interceptions
1
Stats via Sofascore.
Against Fulham, the Spain international certainly showcased that. He scored the opening goal and went on to complete 88% of his passes and make a key pass too. The 28-year-old was subsequently handed an 8/10 player rating by GOAL.
Merino’s future is certainly not in the final third but credit where credit is due, he’s been a huge servant to Arteta in the back end of this unforgiving season for Arsenal.
Better than Merino: Arsenal must rue selling 'one of Europe's best CFs'
The lean-mean-scoring-machine would have solved Arsenal’s biggest problem this season.
Nottingham Forest are now chasing the signing of an “elusive” £30m forward, but there could be competition from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.
Forest pursuing new forwards as Nuno prepares for Europe
Forest’s Champions League aspirations have taken a hit in recent weeks, succumbing to back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, although they remain in a strong position to secure a top-five finish.
However, should the Tricky Trees achieve their goal of Champions League qualification, they may have to strengthen their squad in order to be competitive, and they appear to be particularly keen on strengthening in attacking areas.
Nuno’s side are eager to bring in a new striker, with owner Evangelos Marinakis now ready to pay £75m for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, given the Brazilian’s impressive campaign in the Premier League.
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There is also a desire to strengthen in wide areas, with Marseille’s Luis Henrique among the main targets, and there has now been a development in Forest’s pursuit of the winger, having made contact with his agents.
Henrique is not the only option, however, with a report from Turkey revealing that Nottingham Forest are now in the picture to sign Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz, who has been a major target for West Ham United for quite some time.
Baris Alper Yilmaz for Galatasaray.
The Hammers made a €25m (£21m) bid for Yilmaz back in January, which was knocked back, with the Turkish club looking to hold out for €35m (£30m), and the Tricky Trees are now positioning themselves to potentially hijack the move.
Napoli are also in the race for the 24-year-old, who is seemingly set to leave Galatasaray at the end of the season, with the report stating he is ‘set to pack his bags’.
"Elusive" Yilmaz impressing in Turkey
The left-winger has established himself as a key player for Galatasaray during their Turkish Süper Lig title push this season, making 28 league appearances and picking up ten goals and three assists.
Not only does the Turkey international have a keen eye for goal, but he has showcased his dribbling, aerial and tackling ability over the past year, ranking in a very high percentile on each metric when compared to others in his position.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
1.97 (88th percentile)
Aerials won
2.89 (99th percentile)
Progressive carries
5.09 (85th percentile)
There are also clear signs the Galatasaray star could be capable of making an instant impact at Premier League level, given that he gave Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk a very tough time in the quarter-final of Euro 2024.
Van Dijk said: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”
Yilmaz could be an excellent signing for Forest this summer, and European qualification would surely give them the edge over West Ham in the race for his signature.