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Fulham have registered their interest in a £12 million midfielder who could be a replacement for Harrison Reed, according to a new report.

The Cottagers have made a good start to this Premier League season and have come into this international break in very good form, as they’ve beaten Brentford and Crystal Palace in their last two games and have collected 18 points from a possible 33.

Fulham make enquiry to sign £2.49m star likened to "unstoppable" ace

Fulham have their eye on a player who has been impressing this season.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 12, 2024 Fulham transfer news

Fulham have been a strong side in the Premier League under Marco Silva, but their next step will be to try to challenge for a place in Europe. They are certainly in a good place to do just that, and the January transfer window may offer them a chance to refresh their squad ahead of the second part of the season.

It emerged earlier this week that Fulham hold an interest in signing Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich. The young star looks set for a loan move in January, as he’s struggled for game time under Vincent Kompany this season, and the Cottagers are among the teams who are willing to take him onboard.

As well as Tel, Silva’s side have also made an enquiry to sign Celtic player Nicolas Kuhn. The 24-year-old has been in impressive form in Scotland, and he has now caught the attention of Fulham, who could look to make a move in January but do face competition from Brentford.

Fulham register interest in £12m Liverpool outcast

According to Football Insider, Fulham have registered their interest in signing Wataru Endo from Liverpool. The midfielder joined the Merseyside club from Bundesliga side Stuttgart in August 2023, but after playing a key role under Jürgen Klopp has become unwanted under Arne Slot, with FSG now ready to sell.

Endo played over 40 times for Liverpool in all competitions last season, but this season he has yet to start a game in the league. This situation has left the 31-year-old frustrated, and Liverpool are now prepared to sell him when January arrives.

Slot is not relying on Endo, and therefore, an exit is on the cards, and that has alerted Fulham, who have registered their interest. However, they are not the only team interested in signing the player, as Ipswich Town and Wolves are also keen.

Apps

34

Goals

1

Assists

0

It was reported earlier this week that Liverpool would be looking for around £12-14 million for Endo, which could be an ideal price for a team like Fulham. Should the Cottagers sign Endo, he would likely be seen as a replacement for Harrison Reed, who operates in that deep midfield role but has lost his starting place in Silva’s side this season.

Endo’s potential arrival would add to the likes of Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic in that deep midfield role, offering more depth in the absence of Joao Palhinha, who joined Bayern Munich.

Crystal Palace currently sit in 18th place in the Premier League on only seven points after 11 games played, winning just one game, drawing four and losing six times.

Oliver Glasner’s side is averaging 45.8% possession, the seventh lowest in the division, but have only scored eight goals, the second-fewest in the division despite taking the sixth most shots per game (14.4).

The Eagles aren’t struggling to get shots off, but evidently, the quality of shot and chances being created isn’t the best. Therefore, Glasner could be inclined to make a risky change in order to add more creative spark across the forward line.

Tthe time for that change could be now, with multiple injuries, and the suspension of Daichi Kamada, who won’t be available for their clash with Aston Villa on Saturday.

Why Kamada needs replacing

Kamada was sent off against Fulham in their 2-0 loss at Selhurst Park, receiving a straight red card for a tackle on Fulham’s Kenny Tete.

Before his dismissal, the 28-year-old had already lost possession seven times, lost four of his five ground duels, lost both of his aerial duels and was dribbled past twice.

Signed on a free transfer over the summer, Kamada has made 14 appearances for the Eagles, scoring two goals, providing two assists and totalling 853 minutes.

He has impressed on the whole but won’t be available this weekend in a big blow for Glasner and Co.

Chalkboard

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

Crystal Palace's Kamada solution

Glasner may already have the perfect replacement in the pipeline, with 19-year-old Asher Agbinone, who could provide an extra spark in attack.

The 19-year-old forward has made two appearances totalling four minutes from the bench for Palace so far this season, coming on in the last two minutes against both Nottingham Forest and Fulham. Agbinone has also made five appearances for the Palace U21 side, scoring one goal across 435 minutes.

Agbinone can play as a left-winger, a right-winger, and even an attacking midfielder, with his best trait being the blistering speed the youngster possesses, which has even been mentioned by Glasner himself, saying: “he has lots of pace, he can run in behind and dribble”.

Goals

0.21

Assists

0.21

Progressive Carries

1.88

Progressive Passes

5.65

Shots Total

1.58

Key Passes

1.74

Shot-Creating Actions

3.33

Successful Take-Ons

0.29

Tackles + Interceptions

3.71

The metrics above show what Agbinone would be tasked with replacing, as Kamada has offered high levels of creativity for Palace so far this season, averaging 5.65 progressive passes, 1.88 progressive carries, 1.74 key passes, and 3.33 shot-creating actions per 90.

Agbinone could certainly bring an increased level of carrying, adding far more 1v1 threat – Kamada only averages 0.29 successful take-ons per 90 – but the question would be the level of final product from the youngster when he gets himself into the areas to deliver.

In the absence of Kamada, this could be the perfect time to unleash Agbinone, give the fans a boost by giving a deserving academy graduate significant minutes, and see if it can spark some better chance creation in the attacking third for the Eagles.

Their next Olise: Crystal Palace could have a £100m + star in the making

Crystal Palace could have their next Olise with £100m ace in the making

ByConnor Holden Nov 16, 2024

There is no sugar-coating it, Arsenal are in a serious slump at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side are supposed to be fighting for the Premier League title this season, but following their loss to Newcastle United last week, they are currently seven points behind leaders Liverpool.

Moreover, their defeat to Inter Milan during the week was their third in six games, and while the defence looks shaky, the attack looks blunt. In short, the Gunners need to change something and quickly.

Inter Milan (A)

1-0 (L)

Newcastle (A)

1-0 (L)

Preston North End (A)

3-0 (W)

Liverpool (H)

2-2 (D)

Shakhtar Donetsk (H)

1-0 (W)

Bournemouth (A)

2-0 (L)

So, fans should be excited about recent reports that have suggested the club now have a golden opportunity to secure the services of an exceptionally gifted number nine, even if that would impact Kai Havertz’s game time.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal will have the chance to launch an early bid for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres in January.

The report has revealed that there is a gentlemanly agreement between the player and club that he can leave in the summer for around £62.5m, but should clubs wish to jump ahead of the ever-growing queue, then they can opt to pay £71m in January.

While that’s good news, the bad news is that, alongside the Gunners, the report also claims that Paris Saint-Germain and several clubs from the Saudi Pro League are now keen on the Swede, meaning there could even be significant competition in January.

In all, it could still be a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but due to Gyokeres’ incredible ability, one worth pursuing, even if that negatively impacts Havertz’s game time in North London.

How Gyokeres compares to Havertz

So, if Arsenal are going to spend up to £71m – or more – on Gyokeres in January, it certainly won’t be with the intention of making him warm the bench, meaning he’ll be in direct competition with Havertz for a place in the starting lineup.

With that said, how to the pair stack up against one another? Is it an easy win for the Sporting ace?

Well, unfortunately for the former Chelsea man, it very much is, as across his 51 appearances for Arteta’s side last season, he racked up a reasonable tally of 14 goals and seven assists, meaning he averaged 0.41 goal involvements every game.

However, in his 50 appearances for the Portuguese giants last season, the former Coventry City star, whom ex-teammate Maxime Biamou dubbed “unplayable”, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists, equating to an obscene average of 1.16 goal involvements every game.

Things remain just as one-sided when we look at this season as well.

In just 17 appearances for the Lisbon side, the Stockholm-born goal machine has found the back of the net on 23 occasions and provided four assists to boot, meaning he’s currently averaging 1.58 goal involvements every game.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 29 has got on the scoresheet seven times in 16 games and has one assist to his name, which works out to a still impressive but significantly worse average of 0.50 goal involvements per match.

Appearances

50

51

Goals

43

14

Assists

15

7

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

0.41

Appearances

17

16

Goals

23

7

Assists

4

1

Goal Involvements per Match

1.58

0.50

Ultimately, even when you account for a slightly weaker league, the difference in goalscoring ability between Havertz and Gyokeres is enormous, and if Arsenal want to claw back lost ground on Liverpool and Manchester City in the new year, then they must sign the Swedish goalmachine in January.

Arsenal flop who was sold by Edu for £5m just silenced Sesko in the UCL

The former Arsenal dud has been sensational for his new team this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2024

Sri Lankan supporters had assembled in large numbers at the SCG, and there was music, dancing and plenty of cheering, as their team renewed their World Cup rivalry with Australia

Tharindu Vishwanath09-Mar-2015Choice of game:
When the Sri Lanka v Australia World Cup match was washed out in 2011, I missed the long-awaited opportunity to relive the memories of the 1996 final. As soon as the 2015 World Cup tickets were issued, I reserved them. As the day arrived, it became clear the match had a significant impact on who they will meet in the quarter-finals, and I had flown in from Singapore to be a part of it. Most Cricket experts predicted Australia to win the match.Team supported:
Sri Lanka every day.Key performer:
Glenn Maxwell. Not only did he add 30-40 runs to the possible total, he scored his first century which was eluding him for a long time (Almost did this time as well on 98), much to the delight of Australian fans. After scoring the century, he took time to let go of Watson from his embrace, and tears were visible in his eyes. Could feel even from the distance how much the century meant to him. He played an absolute peach of an innings.One thing you’d have changed:
Chandimal being cramped. Until then Sri Lanka had the momentum and the rhythm. Chandimal was scoring quickly, while Mathews was looking to stay till the end. After Chandimal retired hurt, the magic evaporated, and it was downhill for Sri Lanka since then.Face-off you relished:
I was looking forward to how the battle between David Warner and Lasith Malinga would pan out. They have a history: Malinga has got the better of Warner a few times. This time, too, Malinga set up him with his trademark yorkers, and followed them up with a slower ball to get him out.Under the microscope:
A string of events was set in motion when Dilshan started to bowl even as the umpire, Ian Gould, stretched out his arm, and asked the bowler to ‘hold on’. When the umpire saw Dilshan running into bowl, he exchanged words with Dilshan. Then during the drinks break, when Dilshan kicked the ball to Gould, who was not happy again, and was seen having a serious word with him before Dilshan joined the rest of his team-mates for drinks. Again, while Sri Lanka was batting, there was a third-umpire call during which time Dilshan asked for drinks to be brought onto the ground. Gould was unhappy this time, too, indicating that Dilshan was delaying the match. Dilshan pointed to the big screen that showed the decision was still pending.Wow moment:
The catch Thisara Perera took to get rid of Steven Smith had ‘spectacular’ written all over it. It was a very hard chance, and he did a brilliant job to get to the ball and take it safely.Close encounter:
Ironically, after spoiling the party for Sri Lankan fans, Glenn Maxwell had to field for a few overs near the boundary just in front of the Sri Lankan fan zone. The crowd made a lot of noise and for some time a rapport was building between the him and the crowd. Maxwell was responding dynamically with gestures and laughs.Shot of the day:It is really hard to pick one shot because there were some eye-pleasing shots from batsmen of both teams. My pick of the match is the six Dinesh Chandimal scored off Watson in 36th over. His quick innings came as a surprise package to most Sri Lankan fans.Crowd meter:
The match had been sold out before the Game day. More than 39,000 were present for the match, and although the Australian supporters outnumbered the Sri Lankans, going by the noise you would think the match was played at the Premadasa. In the sixth over, when Dilshan hit six boundaries in six balls off Mitchell Johnson, the Sri Lankan flags fluttered with cheers and chants typical to Sri Lankan supporters. A crowd wave, say Sydney wave, began and it was picked up by rest of the crowd. Glenn Maxwell got the biggest cheer when he scored the hundred. The moment when Sangakkara passed 14,000 ODI runs also received a standing ovation.Entertainment
They played English songs as well as Sri Lankan songs. When there was a wicket or a six, rock music was played while fireworks were set off near the sidescreens. From time to time, the giant screen entertained the crowd by picking up people with kiss cam, dancing cam, and costume cam. But the famous music stood out as always.Banner of the day
“In Sanga We Trust”Overall
It was fantastic game of Cricket. Though Maxwell walked away as the hero, there were other good innings from Steven Smith, Clarke, Sangakka, Dilshan, and Chandimal. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic with a pleasant weather and papare music.Marks out of 10
8. Would have given 10 had Sri Lanka won.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are now targeting an ex-Manchester City gem who’s been praised for his attacking excellence in the penalty area, with manager Ange Postecoglou and co attempting to bolster their squad further.

Postecoglou makes promise to win trophy at Tottenham

Spurs’ humbling 3-2 defeat away to Brighton – where they squandered a two-goal lead and showcased some questionable defending – highlights that there is still a lot of work for Postecoglou to do in N17.

Lange weighing up Tottenham move for in-demand talent after 22-goal season

The Lilywhites have been watching him very closely.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 10, 2024

Postecoglou stated in the summer that he usually wins trophies during his second season in charge, appearing to make a promise to supporters that the north Londoners will end their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware this season.

“Usually in my second season I win things,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham challenging for trophies.

“That’s the whole idea. First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully, the second year is going on to win things. Of course, it’s easier said than done, particularly in the Premier League and the competition we’re in. That’s always the way I’ve looked at it, is that the second year you should be in a position where you can push on, depending on how the first year has gone.

Tottenham vs West Ham

October 19

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

October 27

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

November 3

Tottenham vs Ipswich Town

November 10

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

“Last year we had some really good moments, obviously we had some tough moments. I think we learnt as much from the tough moments as we did from the good stuff and hopefully that means we’re in a good place. We’re definitely a better-prepared team than we were last year.”

If Postecoglou wants to fulfil his pledge, Spurs may have to strengthen in key areas this coming January. Before Brighton, the Lilywhites were on a winning run of five straight games, so there is clearly potential there.

However, they could need one or two more star options in key areas. Reports claim Tottenham are eyeing up Viktoria Plzen midfielder Pavel Sulc, and it is believed Spurs are also interested in Espanyol forward Javi Puado ahead of January.

Tottenham now targeting ex-Man City gem Jamie Gittens

According to German newspaper Bild (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are targeting Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens and have sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old ply his trade in the Bundesliga.

The former Man City gem, who left their academy a few years ago, is playing fairly regularly for Dortmund and scored in their opening league game of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Chelsea and Liverpool are also courting the forward, who Transfermarkt now values at around £29 million, perhaps highlighting his serious potential. As well as this, former Dortmund captain and current sporting director Sebastian Kehl has claimed that Gittens is “almost impossible to defend against”.

“The reaction from Jamie is that of a champion,” said Kehl.

“We expect that the lads that come on change the game. When he is in the penalty area, he’s almost impossible to defend against.”

da betsson： Real Madrid have made somewhat of a habit of buying Tottenham’s star players over the years, having previously splashed out on both Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.

da fezbet： Now, they’ve got their eyes on more Spurs stars. One of those is defender Cristian Romero, according to reports last month. A Spanish outlet reported that Madrid had sent their chief scout Juni Calafat to watch both Romero and Arsenal defender William Saliba play in the North London Derby.

The Frenchman came out on top, with Mikel Arteta’s side winning 1-0 on the day thanks to a second-half goal from Gabriel. The Spanish giants consider both Romero and Saliba to have “enormous potential” and believe they “could fit into the Real Madrid project.”

Real Madrid interested in Porro as well as Romero

Romero isn’t the only Spurs player Madrid currently have their eyes on. According to The Mirror, the 15-times European Champions are also interested in signing full-back Pedro Porro. The Spanish defender joined Spurs from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth around £40 million in January 2023 and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s top full-backs and a key player in Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The Mirror add that Porro “remains a focal part of Postecoglou’s plans and Daniel Levy is expected to drive a hard bargain, should Los Blancos come calling”.

The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana previously stated that while Madrid admire Porro, Spurs chairman Levy could be a roadblock in luring the former Manchester City defender to the Spanish capital in the near future.

“The most significant obstacles to any potential move are that he has a contract until summer 2028 and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is known to be a tough negotiator — something executives at the Bernabeu are well aware of, with Madrid having previously signed Luka Modric and Gareth Bale from the north London club,” he explained.

Porro open to Real Madrid move

While Spurs fans will no doubt be hoping they can keep hold of Porro, comments from the player himself suggest that they might not be able to if Madrid came knocking. Speaking with Relevo last week, Porro was asked how it feels to be linked with Madrid.

He replied: “It fills you with excitement, doesn’t it? You have to focus on your work, but the fact that Real Madrid is interested in you is because you are doing things well. That’s how I think about it on a day-to-day basis.”

Related Spurs want to sign £30m "wonderkid" who's better than Brennan Johnson

Tottenham are looking at strengthening their forward line.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Oct 13, 2024

“Well, if that moment has to come, it will come. And if it doesn’t, well, I’ll just keep working as I have been doing,” he added.

Asked if he sees himself playing for Los Blancos one day, Porro, on £85,000-a-week with Spurs, said: “Yes. Obviously, because as I told you, I try to work and give my best every day. If I get the chance to make that leap tomorrow, I’ll be prepared.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da betsson： O técnico Vítor Pereira resolveu desabar após a vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Fortaleza, neste domingo (1), na Neo Química Arena, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, e repetiu que é ‘impossível’ definir um time titular do Corinthians pelo acúmulo de competições, o calendário apertado e o média alta de idade do elenco alvinegro.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansVÍDEO! Confira os melhores momentos da vitória do Corinthians sobre o FortalezaCorinthians01/05/2022VídeoLANCE! Rápido: Corinthians assume a liderança, Coritiba bate o Flu e mais!Vídeo01/05/2022BrasileirãoAyrton Senna é homenageado durante vitória do Corinthians contra o FortalezaBrasileirão01/05/2022

da jogodeouro：
Na entrevista coletiva após a partida, o português voltou a lembrar da derrota para o rival por 3 a 0 e disse que reagiu com risadas quando foi acusado de não entender o significado de um Dérbi ao escalar reservas no jogo: ‘na Turquia eles matam por causa de derbis, já saí do estádio ao aeroporto de tanque, e não vou entender?’

– Quando eu ouço falar em time titular, isso é completamente impossível. Como é possível eu escalar uma equipe e no jogo seguinte repetir o mesmo time. Isso é completamente impossível, porque não vamos conseguir jogar. Nós assumimos que temos vários jogadores acima dos 30 anos. E eles podem fazer um jogo bom porque tem nível elevado. Mas passa três dias, não há hipótese nenhuma, porque se forem a campo não vão conseguir pressionar ninguém. A equipe não vai conseguir pressionar. É claro que tenho ansiedade em rodar a equipe, tentar fazer sempre uma equipe de acordo com o estudo e projeção do próximo adversário, para que ela seja competitiva.

– Essa gestão tem que ser criteriosa. Quando dizem assim, ‘vai jogar com o Palmeiras e não leva os titulares’, eu pergunto, mas quem é titular? Como vou levar os supostos titulares contra o Palmeiras e passados três dias tenho que ganhar do Boca Juniors em casa? Criticam porque não sabem o que se passa. Eu fiquei envergonhado de ver minha equipe jogar naquele nível. Foi uma facada no peito. Agora, o que fizemos a seguir contra o Boca? Demos a resposta, mostramos nosso potencial – completou o português.

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Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has named a Barcelona star as "one of the best players in La Liga" ahead of their crunch top of the table clash.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Barcelona host Atletico Madrid
• Simeone singles out Barca star
• "One of the best players" in La Liga

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  La Liga leaders Barca host second-placed Atletico on Saturday in a crunch encounter. Ahead of that match, manager Simeone has singled out Raphinha as a top-class talent in the division.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT DIEGO SIMEONE SAID

  He told Mundo Deportivo: "We’re facing a team that is playing very well, I like the youth they have in the middle of the pitch with kids who play very good football. Raphinha is one of the best players in La Liga – for his bravery and his way of playing.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barca are only top of the league by goal difference and Atletico have a game in hand on Hansi Flick's side. The Blaugrana have won just one of their last six games whereas the Madrid outfit have notched 11 victories in a row in all competitions. With Lamine Yamal out injured, Raphinha – who is in the form of his life – will have to be at his best to secure Barca a much-needed victory.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Barca captain Raphinha, who has scored 17 goals and bagged 10 assists in 24 games this season, will lead his side against Atletico at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday night.

England battle hard on second day but flaws in attack come home to roost

Andrew Miller25-Mar-2022

Joshua Da Silva and Kemar Roach put on a vital half-century stand•Getty Images

West Indies 232 for 8 (da Silva 54*, Roach 25*) lead England 204 (Mahmood 49, Leach 41*, Seales 3-40) by 28 runsSome 13,000km lie between Lahore and St George’s, and a similar distance would appear to lie between the teams that have been taking part in their respective Test-series deciders. If Pat Cummins’ Australians have just demonstrated, in their hard-fought series victory over Pakistan, that a side blessed with great bowlers can transcend any conditions, then England and West Indies would appear to be hostages to a less palatable truth.On the face of it, the decisive third Test in Grenada could scarcely be more intricately poised. By the close of the second day’s play, West Indies’ lower order had chiselled out a precious lead of 28, and every extra run looks set to be vital on a two-paced surface that promises awkward times ahead in even the most nominal of fourth-innings chases.And yet, the evidence of the first two innings has been revealing. Two flawed teams, battling their own insecurities with bat and ball alike, with each facet of their play winning out at alternate moments, with the implacable obstinacy of a pushmepullyou.On the first day, England collapsed in seaming conditions to 114 for 9, before their tenth-wicket pair cashed in on the softer old ball to ease to a serene 90-run stand. And on the second, West Indies staged a near-replica of their own – a collapse of seven for 78, either side of lunch, as Chris Woakes dragged his length back and with it, fleetingly, his reputation in overseas conditions, then a late-evening revival with Joshua Da Silva’s diligent 54 not out to the fore, as West Indies’ eighth and ninth wickets racked up 104 series-tilting runs.And by the close, England were huffing and puffing as if they were back in Antigua or Barbados – including with the second new ball, which came and went in six anodyne overs with as little malice as the first. And in the contest’s final analysis, the combined analysis of 72 for 0 that West Indies have been able to pick off while those balls have been at their hardest may yet prove to be pivotal. For whatever else England may have achieved in the name of their red-ball reset, finding an answer to their toothlessness up top is not one of them.That said, the most successful of England’s bowlers in the innings to date is that man Woakes, although his current analysis of 20-6-48-3 – already among his best in 20 overseas Tests – tells only a fraction of his story. Prior to this series, West Indies’ openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell hadn’t made a half-century stand on home soil since England’s last visit to the Caribbean in 2019 – and they’ve never yet made a century stand in 35 attempts, the most by a top-order pair in Test history.They have, however, now racked up three fifty stands in as many Tests this series, including this latest effort – a disarmingly serene alliance of 50 that, in following directly on from Jack Leach’s and Saqib Mahmood’s casual progress on the first evening, appeared to confirm that the spice of the first morning had long since been and gone.Chris Woakes had Jason Holder caught for a duck•Getty Images

But just as had been the case with their guileless first innings in Antigua, Woakes and Craig Overton were culpable in floating the ball up too full and wide for a cracked surface that demanded the ball be driven into the deck to extract the uneven bounce, and both men were all too easily thwarted as England’s first-innings 204 was made to look grossly inadequate.But then Ben Stokes, inevitably, showed the way with a back-of-a-length shin-botherer to dislodge Brathwaite for his lowest score of the series, and one over later, Campbell got in a tangle to a fearsome visor-smasher from Overton. He carried on after a mandatory concussion test, but the success of that length was an indication of the threat that awaited if England were willing to test the facilities.Sure enough, Mahmood was the next to drag his own length back to pin Shamarh Brooks in front of leg stump, and then, six balls later and in the penultimate over of the session, Overton’s aggression into Campbell’s body paid dividends, as he scuffed an attempted pull down the leg side, and was sent on his way after a review.It was a sign of lengths to come, and straight after lunch, it was Woakes’ turn to drag it back, in more ways than one. Just when it seemed that his unquestioned good-eggery was finally going to run out of caveats in overseas conditions, he came hurtling in for his second spell with spirit and threat renewed.His first breakthrough came via a startling change-up in pace, as he fired in a cross-seam bouncer to the obdurate Nkrumah Bonner, who flapped with his gloves as the ball skidded through lower than anticipated, and Ben Foakes scooped the deflection to confirm West Indies’ panic at 82 for 4.Three balls later, and it was all hands to the pump for a floundering batting line-up. Woakes fired in another short ball to the imposing Jason Holder, whose response was his third unworthy shot in as many innings – a spiralling top-edged pull to Jonny Bairstow at square leg, and in the space of a single over, Woakes had doubled his series wickets tally, and halved his average, from 88.50 and climbing to the mid-40s.Suddenly his tail was up and his luck had turned. Two overs later, Jermaine Blackwood – who had already survived a rare drop on 14 by Foakes off Mahmood – hacked a flashy cut past the diving Overton at gully for four, only to fall to his very next ball, as Woakes fired in the fuller length, and extracted an umpire’s call lbw with the batter pinned in front of leg stump.But Kyle Mayers, in the earliest sign that England’s threat was transient, took it upon himself to inject some impetus into a stalled innings. First he bludgeoned Woakes out of the attack with a pre-meditated pull for six over midwicket, then he twice climbed into Overton with unconventional hacks in front of square for boundaries before deflecting Jack Leach to third man after his belated introduction for the 43rd over.Related

West Indies keep it real on not-quite-perfect day

Leach, Mahmood find tenth-wicket fight to halt West Indies rampage

Tenth-wicket tenacity makes a mockery of England's familiar failings

West Indies name unchanged squad for third Test against England

Root praises England progress as Kraigg Brathwaite takes pride in resilience

Once again, it was Stokes – discomforted, not for the first time, by his long-standing knee injury – who rejoined the attack to end Mayers’ threatening stay on 28. There was perhaps a hint of reverse swing at play as he bent a full ball into middle stump, and Mahmood at mid-on swallowed a comfortable chip.But from 128 for 7, Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph guided their side to tea before setting themselves to chip off the remaining deficit of 70. At first Joseph was the more proactive of the partners, including another mashed six off Woakes, whose short ball was suddenly lacking its previous zip – and as England’s desperation for a breakthrough became more apparent, so too did their use of their remaining reviews, all of them burned in hope rather than expectation.In the end, it was pilot error that downed Joseph to end a key stand of 49, as he charged once more at Overton – a forgiveable tactic with the new ball looming – and under-edged to the tumbling Foakes for 28. But Roach, West Indies’ senior pro, was in no mood to give his innings away so tamely. He held his own to the close as Da Silva brought up a gutsy fifty from 143 balls in the fading light. It was the first of the match, and it’s not done yet.

Arsenal's set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, is in talks over extending his contract at the Emirates.

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• Jover the mastermind of Arsenal's set-pieces
• In remarkable form from dead balls
• Have scored 22 goals since start of 2023-24

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal have carved out a reputation as perhaps the most effective team from set-pieces in the Premier League over the last two seasons. And now, Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the club are in talks with their set-piece guru Jover over extending his stay at the Emirates.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since the beginning of last season, Arsenal have scored 22 goals from corners, more than any other side. Jover is also reportedly in line for a potential pay rise, with the Gunners indebted to his tactical ingenuity. In midweek, they beat Manchester United 2-0, with both goals being scored from corners.

• WHAT ARTETA SAID

  Arrteta confirmed that multiple members of his coaching staff are in negotiations, telling reporters: "It is difficult because four or five people committing at the same time is not easy to do.

  "I am so happy with them and I value them at the highest level. I want to continue together so hopefully it will be revolved very soon."

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Arsenal face Fulham on Sunday at Craven Cottage. They will then welcome Monaco to the Emirates in the Champions League.